Key Language Concepts
1. Parts of Speech
Each part of speech serves a unique purpose in
sentences:
• Nouns: Names of people, places, things, or ideas
(e.g., dog, city, love).
• Pronouns: Substitute for nouns to avoid repetition
(e.g., he, she, they).
• Verbs: Words showing action or state (e.g., run,
is, think).
• Adjectives: Describe nouns to give more detail
(e.g., big, blue, happy).
• Compound Adjectives: Made of two or more words
that act as a single adjective, usually linked with a
hyphen when before a noun (e.g., well-known
actor, high-speed chase).
• Adverbs: Describe verbs, adjectives, or other
adverbs (often end in “-ly”) (e.g., quickly, very,
extremely).
• Prepositions: Show relationships between
nouns/pronouns and other words (e.g., under, over,
between).
• Conjunctions: Connect words, phrases, or clauses
(e.g., and, but, although).
• Interjections: Express emotion or sudden reaction
(e.g., wow, ouch, hey).
2. Punctuation and Their Functions
Punctuation is key to understanding sentence
structure and meaning.
• Full Stop (.): Ends a sentence.
• Comma (,): Separates items in a list, clauses, or
introductory elements in a sentence.
• Semi-Colon (;): Links closely related independent
clauses or separates items in a complex list.
• Colon (:): Introduces a list, explanation, or quote.
• Question Mark (?): Ends a direct question.
• Exclamation Mark (!): Shows strong emotion or
emphasis.
• Quotation Marks (” “ or ‘ ’): Enclose direct speech
or quotes.
• Apostrophe (’): Shows possession (e.g., John’s
book) or creates contractions (e.g., don’t for do not).
• Hyphen (-): Joins words to form compound terms,
like compound adjectives (e.g., well-known).
• Dash (—): Adds emphasis or introduces an
additional thought.
• Ellipsis (…): Shows an unfinished thought or a
pause.
• Parentheses (()): Enclose extra information or
clarifications.
Tip: Be aware of the function of each punctuation
mark, as misusing them can change the sentence’s
meaning.
3. Concord (Subject-Verb Agreement)
Concord ensures that subjects and verbs match in
number (singular or plural).
• Example: The cat runs fast (singular subject +
singular verb) vs. The cats run fast (plural subject +
plural verb).
• Tip: Look at the subject and verb together to
make sure they match. Pay attention to tricky
structures like “either…or” and “neither…nor.”
4. Redundancy
Redundancy is when unnecessary words are added
that do not contribute meaning.
• Example: “Return back” (just “return” is enough,
as it implies coming back).
• How to Improve: Remove repetitive words to
make writing clearer and more concise.
5. Malapropism
Malapropism occurs when a word is mistakenly
replaced with a similar-sounding one, often changing
the meaning and adding humour.
• Example: “He’s the pineapple of politeness”
(instead of pinnacle).
• How to Spot It: If a word seems out of place,
check if it might have been mistaken for a similar-
sounding one.
6. Direct and Indirect Speech
These are ways of quoting or reporting what someone
has said.
• Direct Speech: Quotes the exact words spoken,
with quotation marks.
• Example: She said, “I am happy.”
• Indirect Speech: Paraphrases or reports the
speech without using the exact words and without
quotation marks.
• Example: She said that she was happy.
Changes from Direct to Indirect Speech:
• Tense: Generally changes to a past form (e.g., am
becomes was).
• Pronouns: Adjusted based on the speaker (e.g., I
may become she or he).
• Time Words: Might change if the context shifts
(e.g., today becomes that day).
Tips for Approaching Question 5 (Language
Section)
1. Read Carefully: Understand exactly what the
question asks. Look for errors or awkward language
use.
2. Identify Parts of Speech and Punctuation:
Recognise each part of speech and punctuation to
spot any misuse, like malapropism or redundancy.
3. Practice Direct and Indirect Speech: Review how
sentences change between direct and indirect
speech.
4. Proofread: Ensure everything flows well and
makes sense.
