AQA English Language Methods

What is an adjective?

A word that describes a noun (e.g., beautiful, dark, cold).

What is a verb?

A word that shows action or a state of being (e.g., run, think, is).

What is an adverb?

A word that describes how an action is done, often ending in -ly (e.g., quickly, softly).

What is a noun?

A word that names a person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., teacher, city, happiness).

What is a simile?

A comparison using like or as (e.g., as brave as a lion).

What is a metaphor?

A direct comparison saying one thing is another (e.g., Time is a thief).

What is personification?

Giving human qualities to something non-human (e.g., The wind whispered).

What is alliteration?

Repetition of the same starting sound in nearby words (e.g., big, bold, beautiful).

What is repetition?

Repeating a word or phrase for effect or emphasis.

What is a rhetorical question?

A question asked for effect, not needing an answer (e.g., Who wouldn’t want to be happy?).

What is emotive language?

Words used to make the reader feel emotions (e.g., heartbreaking, joyful).

What is the difference between a fact and an opinion?

• Fact: Something that can be proven true.

• Opinion: A personal belief or feeling, not provable.

What is direct address?

When the writer speaks directly to the reader using you or we.

What is an imperative?

A command or instruction (e.g., Stop, Listen carefully).

What is tone?

The writer’s attitude or feeling expressed through their writing (e.g., angry, hopeful).

What is mood?

The overall feeling or atmosphere created for the reader.

What is pathetic fallacy?

Using weather or nature to reflect emotions (e.g., dark clouds for sadness).

What is hyperbole?

An extreme exaggeration for effect (e.g., I’ve told you a million times).

What is onomatopoeia?

A word that sounds like the noise it describes (e.g., buzz, bang).

What is a pronoun?

A word that replaces a noun to avoid repetition and make sentences clearer (e.g., he, she, it, they, we, you, and I).