Grammar and vocabulary, Year 10: spelling, grammar and ambitious vocabulary

necessary

HintOne collar and two sleeves: count the c and the s.

The why'Necessary' has one c and a double s. Picturing a shirt (one collar, two sleeves) fixes the pattern; the same pattern holds in 'necessarily' and 'unnecessary'.

c; m

HintIt has room for two pairs.

The why'Accommodation' is one of the most often misspelt words in English. Remember that it is big enough to accommodate two c's and two m's.

effect

HintThe gap needs a noun, and it follows 'a powerful'.

The whyIn almost every sentence you will write about a text, 'effect' is the noun (the result) and 'affect' is the verb (to influence): the short sentences affect the reader; they have an effect.

No: 'offered'

HintSay both words aloud and listen for which syllable is stressed.

The whyA single final consonant after a single vowel doubles when the stress falls on the last syllable (oc-CUR, be-GIN, pre-FER). It does not double when the stress falls earlier (OF-fer, VIS-it). British spelling also doubles a single final l after a single vowel whatever the stress, as in 'travelled'.

practise

HintSay the word aloud as a verb in 'I must ___ my spelling' and recall the verb pattern.

The whyYou practise the piano; you do an hour of practice. 'Licence' (noun) and 'license' (verb) work the same way. American English uses 'practice' for both, so spell-checkers set to US English mislead.

rhythm

HintA Greek-derived word beloved of spelling tests because of its odd letter pattern; it relates to beat.

The why'Rhythm' is worth learning because you need it in essays on both language and poetry. One memory aid: Rhythm Helps Your Two Hips Move.

A minor sentence

HintGrammar splits full clauses from verbless fragments; recall the label for the fragments used for emphasis.

The why'Silence.' 'Nothing.' 'Not yet.' A minor sentence stops the reader short. Used once or twice it creates shock or emphasis; used by accident, the same thing is a fragment and an error.

B

HintThink about when a reader finally learns what happened, and what has been put before it.

The whyBoth sentences contain the same words. Putting the main clause last holds the event back, so the sentence builds towards it; putting it first gives the event away at once.

exclamation

HintRecall the fourth function from the grammar you learned in earlier years.

The whyThe grammatical names are declarative, interrogative, imperative and exclamative. Choosing between them is a tool: a command draws the reader in, and a question makes them think.

Very short

HintThink about what happens to impact when the final sentence differs sharply in length from the rest.

The whyAfter several long sentences the reader has settled into a rhythm. A sentence of three or four words breaks it, and whatever those words say is thrown into relief.

modal

HintThe group also includes 'can', 'could', 'should' and 'will'.

The whyModal verbs show how certain, possible or necessary something is. Changing one changes the force of the whole sentence, from a hint to an order, which is why writers of arguments choose them with care.

B

HintCheck each sentence by asking whether the quantity the word implies fits what is described.

The why'Plethora' means a large or excessive amount of something you can count or collect. Spices can come in a plethora; an exam cannot be one. A rare word used wrongly costs more than the plain word would have.

'Meagre'

HintThink of which adjective carries a negative judgement as well as describing amount.

The why'Small' is neutral: a small meal might be exactly what was wanted. 'Meagre' adds the idea of too little. That extra meaning is the reason to reach for the rarer word.

Technical accuracy

HintThink about the second of the two mark-scheme headings, which rewards correctness more than content.

The whyThe top level for content looks for ambitious vocabulary used with craft; the top level for accuracy looks for ambitious words spelt correctly. A precise, well-spelt word therefore counts in both places.

meticulous

HintThink of a word for a perfectionist's care over small details; its first syllable is 'me'.

The why'Meticulous' is stronger and more exact than 'careful': it says that every small detail has been attended to. It is useful in description, in argument and in writing about a writer's craft.

A voice that suits the story

HintConsider what is wrong with prose which is accurate but unnatural for the speaker.

The whyAmbitious vocabulary has to fit the piece. Words that no narrator of this story would use pull the reader out of it, so the writing becomes less convincing as it becomes more ornate.