Download Key Stage 2 English Definition of Terms This is a reference tool to

Key Stage 2 English
Definition of Terms
This is a reference tool to help mark to the
national standards, this is not an exhaustive
list, alternative terms may appear in some
mark schemes.
Sentence Structure & Punctuation SSP
Simple
sentence
Clause
Subordinate
clause
Compound
sentence
Complex
sentences
A sentence with only one clause (main important clause)
Eleanor jumped out of the window
Simple sentences vary in length ‘Oi’ as a short example
and ‘Right in front of him was an underground cave of
monumental size’ as a longer example.
Part of a sentence which includes a verb, a main clause is
a clause which makes sense on its own. Clauses can be
abbreviated into phrases for economy, by omitting the
subject/verb: Although in a panic, Ali crept slowly on.
Amplifies the main clause but does not make complete
grammatical sense on its own. The position of
subordinating connectives can vary
She heard a noise that sounded like a dog barking.
When a family of four have a bath, they may empty and
fill it 3 times.
A sentence which has 2 or more clauses of equal weight
joined by and, but, or, so (co-ordinating conjunctions)
A floorboard creaked and he started to shiver.
A sentence with at least one main clause and one or more
subordinate (or dependent) clauses. Usually joined by a
subordinating conjunction/connective (e.g because, if,
whether, until) or a relative pronoun (e.g. who, that,
which). Varying the position of the main or subordinating
clauses is one way of varying sentence structure.
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Embedded
clauses
Building up
sentences
Connectives
Verb terms
An embedded clause does not need to refer to the
subject or be placed between the subject and the verb.
When clauses are embedded, we may need to credit for
‘economy of expression’.
Noun phrases/expanded noun phrases:
Noun phrase is a wider term than ‘noun’ and may refer to
a single noun ‘money’ or a group of words that functions in
the same way as a noun in a sentence ‘a lot of money’. A
noun phrase may be expanded in various ways to include
more information about a noun ‘thousands of pieces of
litter’, the little bit of light shining from under the door’.
Noun phrases allow the writer to expand information
economically.
Adverbials/adverbial phrases:
Adverbials can be single words or phrases. They are used
to express a wide range of meanings such as time, place,
manner, degree. They can be used in several positions in a
clause or sentence and can perform several roles, for
example, linking parts of a sentence as well as modifying a
verb, Adverbials can have nouns or noun phrases within
them. Conscious selection and placing of adverbials can
increase effectiveness and precision e.g. ‘If these things
do not change, the earth will be damaged beyond repair,’
At sentence level, connectives are single words or
phrases which link clauses within a sentence (within
sentences, connectives are sometimes referred to as
conjunctions). Connectives can be:
Co-ordinating connectives: can express a limited range of
relationships between ideas and events within the
sentence ( hot or cold, arms and legs)
Subordinating connectives: one of the ways of indicating
that one clause is grammatically subordinate to or
dependent on another in complex sentences. They
introduce a subordinate clause in a sentence and
determine the relationship of meaning between the
subordinate and main clause e.g. because, as, when, if
Simple past tense: single word form of the past She ran
Complex verb forms:
Present continuous: He is walking
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Past continuous: She was running,
Present perfect: He has walked,
Present perfect continuous: He has been walking,
Past perfect: She had run,
Past perfect continuous: She had been running.
English has no specific future tense – it can be expressed
in a number of ways, the modal will or present tense We
will certainly win tomorrow, we are going to win tomorrow,
we win tomorrow … or else!
Passive
constructions
Impersonal
constructions
Modals: modal verbs express different degrees of
conditionality about the likelihood of events – will, shall,
may, might, can, could, would. If rare animals ate this
litter they would die and a whole species could be wiped
out.
These are constructions which use the passive voice.
Choice of voice enables the writer to place the focus on
the ‘doer’ of the action (active voice) or on the action
itself and its recipient (passive voice). The passive voice
is associated with more impersonal, formal forms of
writing e.g. Somebody saw her (active voice). She was
seen (passive voice).
These may use the passive voice, but not necessarily so.
The writer may choose to write a sentence from an
impersonal perspective for particular effect e.g. to
generalise or place the particular in a wider context, to
imply significance beyond the particular, to convey
objectivity. The effect of litter on the environment is
obvious. or It was a mystery.
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Text Structure and Organisation TSO
Coherence: this term is used to refer to the underlying logic
and consistency of a text. The ideas expressed should be
relevant to one another so that the reader can follow the
meaning. The relationships between sections/paragraphs give
structure to the whole text e.g. by referring forwards and
backwards.
Cohesion: this refers to the grammatical features of a text
which enable the parts to fit together. Cohesion can be
created by the following devices: pronouns, adverbials,
connectives and reference chains.
Pronoun
Adverbials
A word which stands in for a noun or noun phrase and
avoids repetition of the noun. The significance of
pronouns in terms of textual organisation is their ability
to act as cohesive devices by linking meaning economically
between sentences through reference to preceding
nouns/noun phrases. When a person buys a designer
purse, they may spend thousands of pounds. This is a bit
excessive. To resolve this, try promoting high street
brands.
As well as their function within sentences, adverbials
operate at text level and are one of the ways writers can
link different paragraphs or sections of text to signal
their relationship to each other to maintain whole text
coherence and within paragraphs or sections to maintain
cohesion by linking sentences with one another.
Connectives can link clauses in sentences ( e.g. although,
as, since) can connect adverbials (e.g. however, therefore,
then, nevertheless) maintain cohesion by addition ( e.g
e.g. also, furthermore) opposition (e.g. however, on the
other hand) cause (e.g. consequently, therefore) time
(e.g. immediately, as soon as, after)
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Reference
chains
In their cohesive function, pronouns also act as
connectives, as do prepositional phrases e.g Under the
circumstances…
Textual connectives also help build up referential meaning
so that the reader is guided through the text, by being
shown how the different parts relate to each other
within and across paragraphs, rather than having to
deduce the relationship purely from the connection
between the content. These connectives act as a sort of
‘glue’ which makes the textual links between ‘content’
words such as nouns, adjectives and verbs more precise.
Keeping fit is a
contemporary obsession.
People keep fit in lots of
ways. Swimming, jogging
and aerobics are amongst
the commonest. Keeping
fit is about more than
vanity. Doctors stress how
important it is to combine
exercise with a healthy
diet. There has been
something of a ‘health
revolution’ in recent years
but some people remain
unconvinced. There are
plenty of Rab C. Nesbitts
and Jim Royles around.
Paragraph about exercise,
in terms of cohesion it is
made up from a series of
separate sentences. They
could be rearranged
without much loss of
meaning.
Maddy Barnes, 2012
Keeping fit is a
contemporary obsession.
It takes many forms, with
swimming, jogging and
aerobics amongst the
commonest. However,
keeping fit is more than
vanity. Doctors stress how
important it is to combine
exercise with a healthy
diet. Although there has
been something of a
‘health revolution’ in
recent years, some people
remain unconvinced. Alas,
there are still plenty of
Rab C. Nesbitts and Jim
Royles around.
Various connectives
between the sentences
means that most have
something which refers
backwards and forwards,
unfolding a relationship of
meaning through the
paragraph.
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