USTET REVIEWER

E N G L I S H A phrase is a group of words without a

FIGURES OF SPEECH subject-verb component, used as a single
Figurative language is the opposite of part of speech.
literal language. Literal language means EXAMPLES:
exactly what it says. On the other hand, ➔ Doctor
Figurative language means something (acts as a noun)
different from what it says on the surface. ➔ Needs assistance
EXAMPLES: (acts as an adjective; see Adjectives
➔ SIMILE - says that one thing is like and Adverbs)
another different thing. We can use ➔ With the black skirt
similes to make descriptions more (acts as an adjective; see
emphatic or vivid. We often use the Prepositions)
words ( as and like ) with similes. ➔ For forty days
❖ Life is like a box of chocolates (acts as an adverb)
➔ METAPHOR - says that one thing is
another different thing. This allows VOICES
us to use fewer words and forces ● ACTIVE VOICE
the reader or listener to find the - When the subject of a sentence
similarities. performs the verb’s action, we say
❖ Love is a ruthless game that the sentence is in the active
➔ HYPERBOLE - uses an exaggerated voice. Sentences in the active voice
or extravagant statement to create have a strong, direct, and clear
a strong emotional response. As a tone.
figure of speech, it is not intended ★ The cashier counted the
to be taken literally. It is frequently money.
used for humor. ● PASSIVE VOICE
❖ You made me stay here - A sentence is in the passive voice
forever. when the subject is acted on by the
➔ OXYMORON - deliberately uses two verb. The passive voice is always
contradictory ideas. This constructed with a conjugated form
contradiction creates a paradoxical of to be plus the verb’s past
image in the reader or listener's participle. Doing this usually
mind that generates a new concept generates a preposition as well.
or meaning for the whole. ★ The money was counted by
❖ A living death the cashier.

PHRASES AND CLAUSES MODIFIER

A clause is a group of words containing a A modifier is a word/phrase/clause which
subject and a verb. modifies other words in a sentence. To be
● INDEPENDENT CLAUSE specific, a modifier is either an adjective
is a simple sentence. It can stand on or an adverb. The adjectives modify the
its own. nouns, and the adverbs modify the verbs
★ She is fragile. or the adjectives or the other adverbs.
● DEPENDENT CLAUSE EXAMPLE:
cannot stand on its own. It needs an Asher bought a black dress
independent clause to complete a yesterday.
sentence. Dependent clauses often
begin with although, since, if, when, LITERARY TERMS
and because. ❖ IMAGERY – The use of visually
★ Although she was fragile… descriptive or figurative language in
writing. One way to describe this is
DEPENDENT INDEPENDENT showing versus telling, and we’ll
cover more on this later in this blog
Although she was every prohibition lost post.
fragile, substance in her
presence.
❖ PERSONIFICATION – When you give
human characteristics to
non-human objects or elements.
This will also be covered in more
detail below.
❖ POINT OF VIEW - How your story is
told and through whose perspective
is what your point of view is. This
could be first person, second
person, third person, or more.
❖ PROTAGONIST - This is the “good
guy” in your story or the person
your readers will root for.
Oftentimes, this is the main
character or even you, if you’re
writing a nonfiction book.
❖ ANTAGONIST - Also known as the
“bad guy,” or the person trying to
prevent your protagonist from
succeeding. This person, group, or
organization will likely be the reason
for your protagonist’s hardships in
your book.
❖ FORESHADOWING - is the
placement of clues about what will
happen in the future of your story.
❖ CONFLICT - This is a basic term to
describe the difficulties your
protagonist or you face in your
book. Any issues between
characters or elements are known
as conflict.
❖ RISING ACTION - the events that
directly lead up to the climax of
your novel.
❖ FALLING ACTION - When writing a
novel, this is often the last chapter
or two after the climax to “tie up”
loose ends in your story.
❖ CLIMAX - The biggest, most pivotal
point in your novel. This is when
your protagonist faced challenges
head-on and either “wins” or “loses.”
❖ VOICE - A writer’s voice is the
unique narrative of the writing. This
is the way the author chooses to
display sentences and even down to
the phrasing they use.
❖ STYLE - the style is the unique way
the author writes but also
encompasses the entirety of the
novel and story. Their style can
mean how they write, but also how
they tell a story and the way they
allow events to unfold.
ALLUSION
An allusion is a literary device that
references a person, place, thing, or event
in the real world. You can use this to paint
a clear picture or to connect with your
readers.
EXAMPLE:
➔ She was really pretty Sofia, the
Snow White of her time.
- In this example, the narrator
is using Snow White as the
allusion by referencing the
person they’re describing as
being the fairest of them all.
DICTION
Diction is a literary device that’s the
choice of words or style used by the writer
in order to convey their message.
Basically, it is the way in which the author
wants to write to a specific audience.
TYPES OF DICTION
FORMAL DICTION – This is when the
word choice is more formal or high
class. Oftentimes, writers use formal
diction as a literary device when
more educated individuals are
speaking or the content is for those
with higher education.
INFORMAL DICTION – When your
characters (or you are writing
nonfiction) are speaking directly to
everyday people, this type of diction
would be used as it’s more
conversational.
SLANG DICTION – is commonly
used for a younger audience and
includes newly coined words or
phrases. An example of this would
be the use of the word, “fleek” or
other new slang phrases.
COLLOQUIAL DICTION – This is
when words that are used in
everyday life are written. These may
be different depending on the
culture or religion present in the
writing.
ALLITERATION
Alliteration is a literary device that uses
the same letters or sounds at the
beginning of words in a sentence or title.
ALLEGORY
An allegory is a figure of speech where
abstract ideas are described using
characters, events, or other elements.
That’s more of a fancy way of saying that
instead of being literal with an idea, you
use characters, events, or other elements
in order to describe it in a way the reader
can better understand. Think of it like a
story within a story. You use characters,
events, or other means to represent the
literal meaning.
COLLOQUIALISM
Colloquialisms are expressions, words, and
phrases that are used in informal,
everyday speech, including slang. You can
use these in a couple of different ways.
Firstly, you can use these as slang in the
real world, and secondly, you can even
create your book’s own colloquialisms for
their world and culture, and even when
writing dialogue.
EXAMPLE:
Gonna - Going to
EUPHEMISM
In euphemism, we create phrases or other
words in order to avoid using the actual
term because they’re impolite, rude, or
indecent.
EXAMPLE:
Tipsy - Drunk
FLASHBACKS
Flashbacks in literature are when the
narrator goes back in time for a specific
scene or chapter in order to give more
context to the story. Oftentimes, we see
flashbacks in books where the past greatly
impacts the present or as a way to start a
story off on an interesting note.
FORESHADOWING
Foreshadowing is when the author places
elements within the writing that gives
clues about what will happen in the future
of the story. These can often be small bits
and pieces that some readers might not
pick up on the first read-through. They
might even look back and realize that
certain elements were foreshadowing once
they hit the climax or a big plot twist was
revealed.
IMAGERY
Imagery is when you use visually
descriptive or figurative language in your
writing. Think of it more like showing
versus telling in writing where you use
more sensory language versus blunt, plain
words. You would also use stronger verbs
in order to present stronger imagery in
your writing.
PERSONIFICATION
Personification is a literary device where
you give human-like qualities to
non-human elements.
EXAMPLE:
The moon yanked a blanket of silver
light over the forest.
JUXTAPOSITION
Juxtaposition means placing contrasting
elements next to one another in order to
emphasize one or both, including words,
scenes, or themes.
EXAMPLE:
I hate loving you.
ONOMATOPOEIA
An onomatopoeia is a word or phrase that
shows you the sound something makes.
Since we can’t hear books, this literary
device is best used to paint a clear picture
and include the sense of hearing in your
writing.
EXAMPLE:
splash, bang, buzz
SYMBOLISM
Every story uses symbolism in some way.
This literary device is the use of a
situation or element to represent a larger
message, idea, or concept.
EXAMPLE:
Crows are used to symbolize a bad
omen, like death.
TONE
The tone of a book is something that
conveys the narrator’s opinion, attitude,
or feelings about what is written. This
literary device has the power to shape the
entire narrative.