English Grammar Lesson No 1

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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

English Grammar.

Lesson No. 1.

Preface:

      It has been practically proved that it is no more effective to teach students explicit grammar; i.e. teaching discrete grammar rules such as talking about the structures and functions of the tenses or parts of speech. Therefore, it is preferable to tackle these rules through practising them into contexts. So, we begin with a comprehension passage in which words of grammar structures are indicated in underlinedbold type.

     Then we put some comprehension questions with a view to achieving twin purposes: learning how to compose complete sentences for answers; and to practising grammar aspects implied in the passage.

      In Part B, we give multiple-choice questions to consolidate the grammar structures that have been presented in the passage. However, we advise the students to tackle them on their own, without consulting the model answers so as to see how far they can manage before receiving help. After answering, the students may check their answers against the model answers. Checking students' answers against model answers saves time that students may spend in submitting their answers to us and receiving feedback of corrections.

      However, in the model answers, we tried to satisfy the need of those who are only familiar to explicit grammar, and we make some explanations.

 

Part A: Comprehension Passage:

      To get up comfortably, it requires sleeping comfortably. Realizing this fact, Unlucky Jim saved up for years to buy a nice bed. For the first time in his life, he became the proud owner of a bed which had springs and a mattress. Because the weather was very hot, his bed was carried by him to the roof of his house. Every night his neighbours saw him carry the bed and climb onto the roof . He slept well for the first two nights, on the third night a storm blew and sent the bed crashing into the courtyard below. Unlucky Jim didn't get up until the bed had struck the ground. Although the bed was smashed to pieces, Unlucky Jim was miraculously unhurt. When he woke up, he was still on the mattress. Glancing at the bits of wood and metal that lay around him, he became sad for the bed that needed a lot of repairing. He picked up the mattress, stretched it on the floor and went to sleep again.

 

Comprehension Questions:

1. What does it require to get up comfortably ?

 .............................................................................................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................................................................................

2. What did neighbours see Unlucky Jim do every night ?

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3. What happened to the bed when it had struck the ground ?

 .............................................................................................................................................................................................

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Part B: Grammar Questions

 Make a circle round the best answer from a , b , c  or  d.

1. I don't think this ............. an answer, thank you.

    a. requiring              b. requires             c. to require         d. need

 

2. Lorries ............. by merchants to carry goods.

    a. use                   b. is used                c. used        d. are used

 

3. The children saw the man .............  the house and come out quickly.

     a. entered          b. to enter         c. enter           d. entering

 

Part C: Correct Your Mistakes

      In this part, we discuss some mistakes related to misuse of certain words. We show the correct usage, and explain why it should be like this and not like that.

 

1. Don't say:Please, remember me to take a camera with me. (هو بنفسه يتذكّر)

    Say:           Please, remind me to take a camera with me.       (يُذكِّر شخصاً آخر)

                      - because you remember to do something; you bring to your own memory,

                         but you remind somebody to do something; you bring to his memory or 

                         you let him remember something by telling him to do it.

2. Don't say:The man shot the bird by a gun.

    Say:           The man shot the bird with a gun.

                       When using instruments, we use "with", e.g. open the door with a key;

                       write with a pen, but write in ink; travel by bus, and go on foot.

3. Don't say:She lived at Khartoum.

    Say:           She lived in Khartoum.

                       For large or famous places, we use "in"; but for small and places which are

                       not famous, we use "at".

 

Part D - 1: Model Answers for Part A (Comprehension):

 

     1. To get up comfortably, it requires sleeping comfortably

     2. Neighbours saw Unlucky Jim carry the bed and climb onto the roof.

      3. When the bed had struck the ground, it was smashed to pieces.

Part D - 2: Model answers for Part B (Grammar).

1. Correct Answer: b. (requires). It is a present fact stated by "don't" for negative present, and "this" for near/present demonstration.

Rejected Answers:

     a. requiring: this is either gerund (noun), but he answer requires a verb; or it is present participle (-ing verb) which needs verb to be (is, are, ... etc) before it. Even if there is (verb to be), it doesn't work out because the verb (require) does not come in progressive as it is a verb of perception.

     c. to require: this is to-infinitive verb which is:

            1. generally preceded by a main verb such as: ought, is, have, etc.

            2. not precede any subject such as the subject "this" in our question.

     d. need: if it infinitive verb, it should agree to rule 1. in c above, and take a verb like will, may, etc.

                    if it is present simple, it needs "s" for the subject "this" because it third person singular. 


2. Correct Answer:d. (are used) because the sentence is in passive voice. We usually consider the verb and see if it is an active verb "action" which can be done by the subject mentioned or it is an action done to the subject mentioned.  Lorries do not use, but people/merchants use them.

 

Rejected answers:

     a. use: this is active present simple, but the sentence is in passive voice.

 

     b. is used: this is present simple in passive voice, but "is" is not used for plural "lorries".

 

     c. used: this is past simple in active voice will, but we need passive voice.


 

3. Correct Answer:c. (enter). For verbs of sensation such as "see, hear, feel, notice", we have the structure: We see somebody do/ doing something. E.g. I saw him run/ running.

Rejected answers:

    According to our rule above, a and b do not apply.

    d. (entering) is rejected because we have another verb "come out"; the neighbours saw the man "do" two actions: "enter" the house and "come out".

 

 

 

(( The End ))