Words and Phrases Flashcards
All 13 cards in this deck
What is a connotation?
The ideas and feelings a word suggests beyond its literal meaning. A lair and a home are both places to live, but lair suggests a hidden, dangerous animal.
Why is naming the word class (noun, verb, adjective…) useful in Question 2?
It is precise subject terminology, and it shows you are looking at the writer's choice of a single word. It only earns credit when you go on to explain that word's effect.
What effect can a precise verb have?
It shows how an action is done, which can reveal mood or character. 'She crept downstairs' suggests secrecy or fear in a way 'she went downstairs' does not.
What does an adjective typically do in description?
It shapes our impression of a noun and builds mood. 'A brittle laugh' suggests nervousness, as if the laugh might snap.
What does an adverb typically add?
It changes how we read a verb, often showing attitude. 'He smiled thinly' suggests the smile is forced or insincere.
What is an abstract noun, and what can it do in fiction?
A noun for an idea or feeling, such as dread, hope or silence. It can make a feeling seem to fill a whole scene: 'Dread settled over the kitchen.'
What effect can pronouns have in a narrative?
First person (I, we) creates closeness to the narrator. Holding back a name ('He was waiting again') creates mystery or menace.
What does repeating a word do?
It draws attention to the word and can suggest emphasis, obsession or a mounting feeling. 'Cold hands, cold tea, cold bed' makes the coldness feel total and inescapable.
What is an oxymoron, and what is its effect?
Two contradictory words placed together, such as 'a cheerful funeral'. It surprises the reader and suggests mixed or uneasy feelings.
How do you "zoom in" on a single word?
Ask why the writer chose this word rather than a near-synonym. Why 'crawled' rather than 'moved'? Then explore its connotations and what they suggest about the focus.
In 'The bus wheezed up the hill', which word is most powerful and why?
'Wheezed': a verb that suggests an old or ill person struggling for breath. It makes the bus seem old, tired and barely able to climb.
In 'The headteacher's voice was clipped and cold', what does 'clipped' suggest?
That she speaks in short, cut-off, controlled words. She seems unfriendly, impatient and firmly in charge.
In 'Brambles had strangled the garden', what is the effect of 'strangled'?
It is a violent verb suggesting a deliberate killing, so the garden seems a victim. Neglect becomes aggressive and deadly, not just untidy.