NEB Class 12 English cheat sheet

Skim the passage first for gist and text type (narrative, expository, argumentative, notice/advertisement), then read questions to locate target paragraphs.

Scan for keywords, synonyms, and paraphrases: exam questions rarely repeat the exact wording of the passage, so match meaning not surface form.

Main idea questions: the answer covers the whole passage, not one detail; reject options that are true but too narrow or too broad.

Inference questions: the answer must be supported by textual evidence plus logical implication; if it needs outside knowledge, it is wrong.

Vocabulary in context: substitute each option into the sentence and check whether the surrounding clause still makes sense.

True/False/Not Given: 'Not Given' means the text neither confirms nor contradicts; do not use real-world facts to fill gaps.

Sequence and reference questions: track pronouns (it, they, this) and discourse markers (however, therefore, then) to find what refers to what.

Time allocation for a typical 3-hour paper: roughly 15-20 minutes on the seen/unseen passage, leaving the bulk for writing and literature.

Formal letter format: sender's address, date, receiver's designation and address, salutation (Dear Sir/Madam), subject line, body in 3 paragraphs, complimentary close (Yours faithfully), signature.

Job application body structure: opening states the post applied for and where it was advertised; middle gives qualifications and experience; closing requests an interview and thanks the reader.

News story structure: headline, byline optional, lead paragraph answering who/what/when/where/why, then details in descending order of importance (inverted pyramid).

Essay/article: thesis in the introduction, one controlling idea per body paragraph with a topic sentence and supporting example, conclusion that restates without new claims.

Narrative/descriptive composition: consistent tense, sensory detail, and a clear climax; dialogue in new paragraphs with correct punctuation.

Cohesion devices to deploy: however, moreover, consequently, in contrast, for instance; avoid starting every sentence with 'And' or 'But' in formal writing.

Word limits are usually 150-200 words for letters and 200-250 for essays; being 10-20% under or over is safer than a large deviation.

Register check: no contractions, slang, or abbreviations in formal letters; contractions and direct address are acceptable in informal letters and personal essays.

Tense agreement: use present perfect (has/have + past participle) for past actions with present relevance; past simple for finished past with a stated time.

Conditionals: Type 1 if + present, will + base; Type 2 if + past simple, would + base; Type 3 if + past perfect, would have + past participle.

Passive voice: be + past participle; the object of the active clause becomes subject; keep tense and aspect unchanged in the transformation.

Reported speech: shift tense back one step, change pronouns and time/place words (now to then, here to there, tomorrow to the next day); no backshift for universal truths.

Subject-verb agreement: ignore prepositional phrases between subject and verb; indefinite pronouns (everyone, each, nobody) take singular verbs; 'neither...nor' agrees with the nearer subject.

Relative clauses: 'who' for people, 'which' for things, 'whose' for possession, 'where' for place; non-defining clauses take commas and cannot use 'that'.

Question tags: positive statement takes negative tag and vice versa; tag pronoun and auxiliary must match the main clause (She has left, hasn't she?).

Common error traps: 'since' with a point in time and 'for' with a duration; 'used to + base verb' versus 'be used to + -ing'; 'a number of' takes a plural verb, 'the number of' singular.

For each text, hold four facts ready: author, central theme, main characters or speaker, and one memorable image or line to quote.

Short-story answers should name the conflict (person vs person/self/society/nature) and state how it is resolved or left unresolved.

Poetry analysis: identify form (sonnet, ode, free verse), rhyme scheme, and at least two figures of speech (metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, symbolism) with their effect.

Tone and mood are distinct: tone is the writer's/speaker's attitude, mood is the feeling created in the reader; justify with diction.

Essay answers: state the writer's purpose or argument, then give two textual examples and comment on style (irony, humour, persuasion).

Character questions require evidence: one action, one line of dialogue or description, and what it reveals about the character's motive.

Theme answers must be stated as a claim (e.g., 'the poem argues that...') and supported, not just labelled with a single word.

Quotation discipline: short embedded quotes of 3-8 words integrated into your sentence score better than long block quotations; paraphrase if unsure of exact wording.

Functions map to fixed exponents: requesting (Could you...? Would you mind...?), offering (Shall I...? I'll...), inviting (Would you like to...?), apologising (I'm sorry for/about...).

Responding to offers and invitations: accept with 'Yes, please'/'I'd love to'; decline politely with 'I'm afraid...' plus a reason, never a bare 'No'.

Asking for and giving permission: 'May/Can I...?' answered 'Yes, you may/can' or 'I'm afraid not, because...'; 'Do you mind if...?' answered 'No, not at all' to grant.

Making and responding to suggestions: 'Why don't we...?', 'How about + -ing?', 'Let's...'; agree with 'That's a good idea', disagree with 'I'm not sure that would work'.

Expressing opinions and agreeing/disagreeing: 'In my view...', 'I see your point, but...'; partial agreement ('I agree up to a point') is often the target answer in dialogue-completion tasks.

Telephone and message functions: taking a message uses reported speech ('She said she would call back'); check name spelling and number repetition.

Listening strategy: predict content from the task rubric, note numbers/names/spellings while listening, and answer in the gap with the exact word class required (noun, number, time).

Politeness markers (please, could, would, I'm afraid, actually) signal the intended function; a bare imperative in an option usually marks it as the wrong, impolite choice.

Skim passage for gist and text type; scan questions for keywords and paraphrases.

Main-idea answers cover the whole text; reject true-but-narrow options.

Inference must be text-supported; outside knowledge makes an option wrong.

Vocabulary-in-context: substitute each option and re-read the clause.

Not Given means text neither confirms nor contradicts the statement.

Track pronouns and discourse markers to resolve reference and sequence.

Budget 15-20 minutes for the passage in a 3-hour paper.

Formal letter: two addresses, date, subject line, Dear Sir/Madam, Yours faithfully.

Job application: post and source, qualifications, request for interview.

News story: headline, lead answering who/what/when/where/why, then details.

Essay: thesis in introduction, one idea per body paragraph, restating conclusion.

Narrative: consistent tense, sensory detail, clear climax, dialogue in new paragraphs.

Use linking devices (however, moreover, consequently) for cohesion.

Target 150-200 words for letters, 200-250 for essays.

Formal register: no contractions, slang, or abbreviations.

Present perfect for past with present relevance; past simple with stated past time.

Conditionals: if + present/will; if + past/would; if + past perfect/would have.

Passive: be + past participle, tense preserved from active clause.

Reported speech: backshift tense, change pronouns and time/place words.

Subject-verb agreement: ignore intervening phrases; each/everyone take singular verbs.

Relative pronouns: who (people), which (things), whose (possession), where (place).

Question tags mirror auxiliary and pronoun, opposite polarity.

since + point in time; for + duration; a number of + plural verb.

Know author, theme, characters/speaker, and one quotable image per text.

Name the conflict and its resolution in story answers.

Poetry: identify form, rhyme scheme, and two figures of speech with effect.

Tone = writer's attitude; mood = reader's feeling; justify with diction.

Essay answers: state purpose, give two textual examples, comment on style.

Character answers need one action or line plus the motive it reveals.

State theme as a claim, not a single word.

Embed short quotations of 3-8 words; paraphrase if unsure.

Requesting: Could you...? Would you mind...? Offering: Shall I...? I'll...

Accept invitations with 'I'd love to'; decline with 'I'm afraid' plus reason.

Permission: 'May I...?' grants with 'Yes, you may'; 'Do you mind if...?' grants with 'No, not at all'.

Suggestions: Why don't we...? How about + -ing? Agree: 'That's a good idea'.

Opinion: 'In my view...'; partial agreement: 'I agree up to a point'.

Messages use reported speech: 'She said she would call back'.

Listening: predict from rubric, note names/numbers, match required word class.

Politeness markers (could, would, please) signal the intended function.