English glossary Year 6 Unit 1 - Key terms and definitions

Oct 1, 2026

English glossary for Year 6 Unit 1 compiling key narrative and language terms with clear definitions. Covers grammar and writing concepts such as adverb, clause, noun, and noun groups, alongside storytelling elements including plot, plot structure, orientation, complication, climax, falling action, conflict, chronology, and character development. Includes guidance on literary strategies and devices like characterisation, emphasis, exaggeration, metaphor, and mood, plus comprehension skills including infer, supporting language features and narrative point of view.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Key terms

Adverbs and grammar terms

Story and plot structure terms

Character, viewpoint, and literary devices

Comprehension and language analysis

English glossary Year 6 Unit 1 | Key terms | Definition | | --- | --- | | adverb | An adverb is a word class that may modify (add a description to) a verb. For example, the word ‘beautifully’in ‘She sings beautifully’. In English, many adverbs have an –ly ending. | | antagonist | A person or character whose actions usually pose a problem for the main character; this problem functions to provide an opportunity for the main character to develop or change. | | character development | The manner in which a character develops or changes over the course of a narrative. | | character traits | The qualities of a person or character involved in a story. For example, honest, hard-working. | | characterisation | The process by which the writer reveals the personality (character traits) of a character and creates a recognisable identity. Characterisation can be direct (telling the reader what a character is like) or indirect (showing the reader through the use of techniques and strategies such as language features) . | | chronology | The order of past events. That is, arranging events based on when they occur in time. For example, timelines start from the earliest event to the latest. | | clause | A grammatical unit that refers to a happening or state. It usually contains a subject and a verb group/phrase. For example: the dog ran after the ball. | | climax | The most intense or exciting part of a story, usually the moment of significant change for the main character and their dilemma (conflict); usually takes place during the complication and after the rising action, but it can occur in the orientation. | | complex sentence | A sentence with one or more subordinate clauses. In the following example, the subordinating clause is indicated by square brackets. I took my umbrella [because it was raining]. | | complication | A complication is a series of events that takes place after the orientation. The events include the rising action, climax and falling action. Each event in the complication advances the plot and increases tension and suspense for the reader. | | conflict | Conflict is the struggle between two or more forces in a story. Conflict can be internal—in a character’s mind—or external—between characters or between a character and other outside forces. | Department of Education and Training Eng_Y6_U1_ILM16_L01_Sh01 Page 1 Independent Learning Materials | Key terms | Definition | | --- | --- | | cultural context | The culture in which the text was created. The cultural setting of a narrative can impact on the development of characters and the plot. | | dialogue | Dialogue is the conversation (written or spoken) between two or more people. In narrative stories, dialogue is denoted by either single or double quotation marks such as “dialogue” or ‘dialogue’. Dialogue is also known as direct speech. | | emphasis | A strategy authors use to achieve a purposeful effect, specifically to give importance to particular aspects of a story. | | exaggeration | A strategy authors use to achieve a purposeful effect, specifically to overstate or distort the essence of a thing or person in an excessive manner. | | falling action | A stage in plot structure that takes place during the complication. The falling action happens after the climax. | | first person | A particular type of narrative point of view in which the reader knows the thoughts and feelings of the character who is telling the story. | | historical context | The time in which a text was created or set. | | infer | To infer is when a reader uses information in the text and combines it with their own knowledge. For example, to use what you are reading to work out why things are happening or why people behave the way they do. | | language features | The features of language which support meaning. For example, sentence structure, noun group/phrase, vocabulary, punctuation, figurative language. The use of language features varies according to the purpose of the text, its subject m

FAQs

What is an adverb and how is it commonly formed in English?

An adverb is a word class that modifies a verb and adds a description. Many adverbs in English end with -ly, such as “beautifully” in “She sings beautifully”.

How do orientation, complication, climax, and falling action relate to plot structure?

Orientation introduces important narrative elements at the beginning. Complication includes events that raise tension and suspense and includes the climax, the most intense turning point. Falling action occurs after the climax during the complication.

What is characterisation and how can it be direct or indirect?

Characterisation is the process by which the writer reveals a character’s personality and creates a recognisable identity. It can be direct by telling the reader what a character is like, or indirect by showing it through techniques such as language features.

Oct 1, 2026

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