Language Features

Language FeaturesLets make a concerted effort to learn them!!!AdjectivesAdverbsVerbsSimilesMetaphorsPersonificationRepetitionDialogueDialectSymbolismPersonal Pronouns

The choice of verb used helps to give more information about how the person/thing behaves.E.g. He walked into a roomDoes not tell us as much as:He crept into the room OrHe stormed into the roomVerbsAction WordsDoing WordsWhich of these words are verbs?

TestconsiderthrewdenyforbidsailingthinksorryhappinessconsiderationjoysturdyheavenlyAdverbs are descriptive words that add information to a verb. They give information about how something happens.E.g.She read the letter.does not tell us as much as:She read the letter slowlyOrShe read the letter anxiously.

AdverbsMost adverbs end in lyThese are also descriptive words. This time, they give more information about a noun. (Person, place, thing).Remember Ad verb: Add to verbSo Adjectives must add to nounIf it makes sense in front of man or dog, then it is an adjective!!!E.g. smelly man/smelly dog cautious man/cautious dogSilky man/silky dogIt only has to make grammatical sense not actual sense!AdjectivesTest

Pick out the Adverbs and the Adjectives amongst these words.

happyfoolishirrationaldeterminedmightysuddenlyintentionallyfriendlyfoolishlythoughtfullyclearlyusefullyfortunedreamgaspA comparison using the words like or as

The word similesounds likeSimilarWhich means the same as like

Thats how you can remember the difference between a simile and a metaphor!

Simile = similar = like = comparison using like or as.SimileHe flopped like a fish.

Her skin was as soft as downy feathers.

With a face like thunder.

He had a tongue as sharp as a murderers dagger.Examples

A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that usually describes one thing is used to describe another. E.g. "a sea of troubles The sea is made of water but this metaphor helps to emphasise how many troubles there are.E.g. the smell of fearIt can also imply a comparison between two usually unconnected things.E.g. Her love was a fragile rose suggests that her love can easily be destroyed. This is like a simile but does not use like or as in the comparison.E.g. her words were bullets in his heart

MetaphorIdentify the similes and metaphors in the following phrases.Testwith a head like an encyclopaedia

tore her heart to shreds

as rough as an athletes foot

Completely and utterly dependent on the truth

Wrapped in a blanket of snow.

The serpent twisted its periscope head.the house was shrouded in mystery..

Cold and calculating, he shrugged his shoulders.

Moving like tortoise on valium.

Intensely angry..

My hate is deeper than the sea

He snuck in like a furtive criminal.

A figure of speech in which inanimate objects are described as having human qualities.E.g.The sun smiled sown on the townsfolk.It waved its branches furiously as the angry wind roared.She cruised contentedly at top speed, her engine purring with little effort.PersonificationCome up with some of your own examples of personification to describe

A plant that is dehydrated and dyingA very high and rocky mountainHailstonesBowling pins

TestThis is where words or phrases or sentence structures are used more than once in a small space of time.It can be used to add emphasis to somethingIt can help to foreground an important idea or theme.If it is within dialogue, it can help to show how a character is feeling.RepetitionRepetitionThis is an important technique to mention. Look at what the characters say, what does this tell us about their feelings and relationships?Questions to ask yourself:Does the character ask a lot of questions? Does this show that they are a good listener? Does it show that they are easily confused and need reassurance?Does the character use simple vocabulary and or simple sentences? does this tell us something about the speaker or the person he/she is speaking to?Does the character curse? Why?

DialogueThis is language that is particular to a regional area or group of people.

Steinbecks characters in Of Mice and Men speak in American dialect.

DialectThese are the words that we use instead of proper nouns (names).E.g.He, she, it, hers, his, we, our, you, yours etc.

Look out for where these are used to help show relationships between characters.Within dialogue are they used to show how one character feels about another?Personal pronounsThe practice of representing things by means of symbols or of giving symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships.E.g. Darkness can symbolise deathRed can symbolise dangerEtc.

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