This presentation explains the key high grade features for exam success. Terms include: modification, narrative voice, register, verb types, figurative language, participles, sentence moods, listing, fronted conjunctions, subordination, syntax, fronted adverbials, fronted subordinate clauses, passive and active voice, rhetorical features and phrases in apposition. The simple explanations will clarify any misunderstandings, with the help of clear bullet points, concise definitions, and examples. The presentation is perfect for English Language A Level at both AS and A2.

1. High Grade Features

2. Modification
Adjectives – words that describe nouns and
pronouns.
Manner adverbs – words that describe
verbs (usually end in ‘ly’)

3. Narrative voice
First person – things that start with ‘I’ or
‘we’
Second person – things that start with
‘you’ (generally only in instructions)
Third person – things that start with ‘he’,
‘she’, ‘it’, ‘they’ or a noun / noun phrase

4. Register
…describes how formal the text is
• Frozen
• Formal
• Informal
• Demotic
• Intimate

5. Verbs
• Dynamic verbs
…are active doing
words
• Modal verbs
…convey ideas of
intention, ability
or obligation

6. Figurative language
…includes any image including similes,
metaphors and personification.

7. Present participles
Present participles are the form of a verb
that ends in ‘ing’
They are used to show enduring action
that lasted over a period of time

8. Sentence moods
• Interrogative
ask questions
• Imperative
give instructions of some kind – orders,
warnings, advice, invitations
• Exclamatory
emphatic sentences, indicated by an
exclamation mark
• Declarative
make statements

9. Listing
Syndetic lists are lists that do contain a
joining word: ‘and’, ‘but’ ‘or’
Asyndetic lists do not contain a joining
word
A syndeton contains a joining word after
each item in the list

10. Fronted conjunctions
…when words such as
And, But, Or, If, Because, So, etc.
occur at the start of a sentence

11. Subordination
A subordinate clause is a part of a
sentence that can’t stand alone as a
simple sentence (and which contains a
verb)

12. Syntax
The syntax of a sentence is the order that words
come in.
Normal sentences come in the following order:
Subject – Verb – Object / Adverbial / Complement
Main Clause – subordinate clauses
Sentences with normal syntax are not worth discussing;
discuss sentences with unusual syntax

13. Fronted adverbials
Fronted adverbials are adverbials that
come at the start of a sentence
Fronted subordinate clauses
Fronted subordinate clauses are
subordinate clauses that come at the start
of a sentence

14. Passive and active voice
Active voice
• Is used when the
subject acts or does
something
• The sentence tells us
what the subject did
Passive voice
• Is used when
something is done to
the subject (it is the
receiver of the
action)
• The sentence tells us
what was done to the
subject

15. Rhetorical features
Parallel phrasing is the repetition of the same
grammatical structure to make supporting statements
“We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing
grounds. We shall fight in the fields”
Antithesis is the repetition of the same grammatical
structure to make opposing statements
“Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for
your country”
Hypophora is asking a question then immediately
providing the answer
"You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land,
and air”

16. Phrases in apposition
Noun phrases in apposition are two noun
phrases used to refer to the same thing
that both serve the same grammatical
function
Steve, my best friend, has moved to Belgium.
(“Steve” and “my best friend” are both the
subject of this sentence)
I hate Helen, my boss.
(“Helen” and “my boss” are both the object of
this sentence)