Year 6 English: Grammatical terms for the Year 6 book
Part of the Year 6 English formal and informal english and the subjunctive chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Grammatical terms for the Year 6 book
Good writers use grammatical terms accurately. These terms help you to talk about your writing, and to check it. The table below lists the terms used in this chapter and in chapters 5 to 9.
Terms to know
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| formal | language used in serious or official writing and speech, with no slang |
| informal | relaxed language used with friends and family |
| register | the level of formality that suits a situation, audience and purpose |
| subjunctive | a form of the verb, such as were or the base form, used for wishes, suggestions and formal demands |
| contraction | a short form of two words, with an apostrophe, such as can't for cannot |
| ellipsis | leaving out a word that the reader can work out, such as the subject |
| slang | very informal words that are not used in formal writing |
| base form | the plain form of a verb, such as arrive, be or read |
| clause | a group of words with a verb, which can be a main clause or a subordinate clause |
| tone | the attitude the writer shows to the reader, such as polite or friendly |
Key ideas
- Learn each term with one example.
- Use the terms to describe your writing and to check it.
- Register, formal, informal and subjunctive are the terms of this chapter.
Method. Think about the meaning of each term.
- Find the meaning. A form of the verb used for formal demands and suggestions.formal demands
- Name the term. That is the subjunctive.subjunctive
- Write the answer. subjunctive
Check. The subjunctive is used in formal demands. ✓
Method. Think about what the level of formality depends on.
- Find the meaning. Level of formality is the meaning of register.level of formality
- Name the term. Register is the term.register
- Write the answer. register
Check. register is the level of formality. ✓
Method. Think about what is left out.
- Find the meaning. A word is left out, and the reader can work it out.left out
- Name the term. That is ellipsis.ellipsis
- Write the answer. ellipsis
Check. ellipsis leaves out a word. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: formal and informal are not good or bad. Each suits a different purpose, and the choice depends on the reader.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to explain one term in this section to you, with an example from a book they have read.
Exercise 7E Practice: grammatical terms
Method. Look for the term that matches the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: language used in serious or official writing and speech, with no slang.language used in serious or official writing and speech, with no slang
- Name the term. The term for this is formal.formal
- Write the answer. formal
Check. formal has the meaning given. ✓
Watch out. Learn each term with one example, so that you can use it in your own writing.
Method. Look for the term that matches the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: relaxed language used with friends and family.relaxed language used with friends and family
- Name the term. The term for this is informal.informal
- Write the answer. informal
Check. informal has the meaning given. ✓
Watch out. Learn each term with one example, so that you can use it in your own writing.
Method. Look for the term that matches the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: the level of formality that suits a situation, audience and purpose.the level of formality that suits a situation, audience and purpose
- Name the term. The term for this is register.register
- Write the answer. register
Check. register has the meaning given. ✓
Watch out. Learn each term with one example, so that you can use it in your own writing.
Method. Look for the term that matches the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: a form of the verb, such as were or the base form, used for wishes, suggestions and formal demands.a form of the verb, such as were or the base form, used for wishes, suggestions and formal demands
- Name the term. The term for this is subjunctive.subjunctive
- Write the answer. subjunctive
Check. subjunctive has the meaning given. ✓
Watch out. Learn each term with one example, so that you can use it in your own writing.
Method. Look for the term that matches the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: a short form of two words, with an apostrophe, such as can't for cannot.a short form of two words, with an apostrophe, such as can't for cannot
- Name the term. The term for this is contraction.contraction
- Write the answer. contraction
Check. contraction has the meaning given. ✓
Watch out. Learn each term with one example, so that you can use it in your own writing.
Method. Look for the term that matches the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: leaving out a word that the reader can work out, such as the subject.leaving out a word that the reader can work out, such as the subject
- Name the term. The term for this is ellipsis.ellipsis
- Write the answer. ellipsis
Check. ellipsis has the meaning given. ✓
Watch out. Learn each term with one example, so that you can use it in your own writing.
Method. Look for the term that matches the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: very informal words that are not used in formal writing.very informal words that are not used in formal writing
- Name the term. The term for this is slang.slang
- Write the answer. slang
Check. slang has the meaning given. ✓
Watch out. Learn each term with one example, so that you can use it in your own writing.
Method. Look for the term that matches the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: the plain form of a verb, such as arrive, be or read.the plain form of a verb, such as arrive, be or read
- Name the term. The term for this is base form.base form
- Write the answer. base form
Check. base form has the meaning given. ✓
Watch out. Learn each term with one example, so that you can use it in your own writing.
Method. Look for the term that matches the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: a group of words with a verb, which can be a main clause or a subordinate clause.a group of words with a verb, which can be a main clause or a subordinate clause
- Name the term. The term for this is clause.clause
- Write the answer. clause
Check. clause has the meaning given. ✓
Watch out. Learn each term with one example, so that you can use it in your own writing.
Method. Look for the term that matches the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: the attitude the writer shows to the reader, such as polite or friendly.the attitude the writer shows to the reader, such as polite or friendly
- Name the term. The term for this is tone.tone
- Write the answer. tone
Check. tone has the meaning given. ✓
Watch out. Learn each term with one example, so that you can use it in your own writing.
Method. Name the term, then give an example.
- Name the term. The subjunctive is used in the rule.subjunctive
- Give the example. Every pupil be on time is the subjunctive.every pupil be on time
- Write the answer. The rule states that every pupil be on time, which uses the subjunctive.
Check. The sentence uses subjunctive correctly. ✓
Method. Think about the meaning.
- Find the meaning. The level of formality is the register.level of formality
- Name the term. That is register.register
- Write the answer. register
Check. register is the level of formality. ✓