quinta-feira, 23 de julho de 2020

introduction to English grammar

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Learning language is not so difficult. Most of us pick up language from our parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles. grandparents, teachers and other members of our community.
Our earliest memories of reading, writing and speaking give us insight into how language develops. Consider your first memories of using language in different ways.

Do you remember your first words?
 Do you have any early memories of reading?

These people, captured on video are talking about their earliest memories of writing.

The only thing I remember was that I was chosen as the secretary of the class every year so I assist the teacher in writing some notes on the board. But that was during my elementary years.

he rules of English

All languages have rules and once you know these you should have a grasp on how to communicate effectively.

How often have you been in a situation where something has been communicated badly and everyone is left confused? Try the activities in this animation to see how well you understand some of the rules of English.
Language is all about communicating with people. Writing, for example, has different rules to those used when speaking.

When speaking you may be more informal and use body language to get your message across.

In writing you need to follow the rules of the language you're writing in.

The English language is perhaps one of the trickiest to learn because there appears to be so many rules.

The English language is tricky because it has been influenced by other languages such as: French, German, Latin, Greek, Scandinavian, Arabic and Indian.

It is little wonder that even professional writers such as editors and journalists don't always communicate clearly.

Words in context

To use words as building blocks properly you need to work out how they are used with other words. You need to look at how a word is used in context. This way you'll become a master of working with words; a wordsmith!

If you really want to communicate well, it is important to learn how to manipulate the words you use and make them work for you. Let's have a look at an example showing how words are used in different ways.It is important to be precise when using the English language. If we are not precise our words can be ambiguous or read in ways that we did not intend.

In order to communicate clearly we need to understand the rules of language. Imagine playing a football match or a game of chess without rules. Just like the rules of a game there are rules to consider when using the English language.

These guidelines for using language will help you to be precise and to communicate clearly.

Learnings the conventions of language ensures that communication is clear and effective.
The basis of the English language is the alphabet forwards. However, try placing the 26 letters of the alphabet into reverse order.

Language is all about communicating with people. Writing, for example, has different rules to those used when speaking.

When speaking you may be more informal and use body language to get your message across.

In writing you need to follow the rules of the language you're writing in.

When writing quickly the rules of English are occaionally forgotten.
Journalists, for example, are often under the pressure of time to write articles and headlines. Sometimes headlines can have more than one meaning.

"Two sisters reunited after 18 years in checkout counter."
Something went wrong in jet crash, expert says.
Police begin campaign to rundown
 Jaywalkers.
Teacher strikes Idle kids.
CLinton wins budget, more lies ahead.
Plane too close to ground, crash probe told.
Miners refuse to work after death.
Juvenile court to try shooting defendant.
Stolen painting found by tree.
war dims hope for peace.
red tape holds up new bridges.
kids make nutritious snacks
hospital sued by 7 foot doctors
Local High School dropouts cut in half.
Typhoon rips through cemetery, hudreds dead.
New vaccine may contain rabics.
Enfield couple slain, police suspect homicide.
cold wave linked to temperature.

The English language is perhaps one of the trickiest to learn because there appears to be so many rules.

The English language is tricky because it has been influenced by other languages such as: French, German, Latin, Greek, Scandinavian, Arabic and Indian.

It is little wonder that even professional writers such as editors and journalists don't always communicate clearly.

Words in context

To use words as building blocks properly you need to work out how they are used with other words. You need to look at how a word is used in context. This way you'll become a master of working with words; a wordsmith!

If you really want to communicate well, it is important to learn how to manipulate the words you use and make them work for you. Let's have a look at an example showing how words are used in different ways.

Write a headline, of no more than eight words, foreach of the following images.
Imagine these images will appear on the front page of a major daily newspaper.
write your headline by clicking in the space provided.
Watering 4 Babies is Easy
Sunbathing Is Dangerous
Who Plays Who?

When we have a good understanding of the rules of the English language we can begin to play with them and to have fun with words. Once the rules are mastered we can then use tools such as ambiguity deliberately. In this cartoon ambiguity has been used as a tool to provide humour.

When we have a solid grasp of how to use the English language we can use it to fulfil our purposes, whether that be to make an audience laugh, to move them to tears or simply to communicate our ideas.
When you read newspapers, especially newspaper headlines, you will see the English language is very flexible. We can use it, as you have seen, to provide humour. It can also be used to explain, to instruct, to describe and to report.

The English language enables us to communicate in various ways. It is important to understand how we can be flexible in the way we use language. We can mould language, shape it and form it according to our wishes if we know the basic rules for its use.
Chef throws his heart into Helping Feed Needy.
Words are the building blocks of our communication whether we speak them or write them. Words are the means by which other people understand our thoughts and ideas. Without words to express what we want to communicate we become frustrated.
When you read newspapers, especially newspaper headlines, you will see the English language is very flexible. We can use it, as you have seen, to provide humour. It can also be used to explain, to instruct, to describe and to report.

The English language enables us to communicate in various ways. It is important to understand how we can be flexible in the way we use language. We can mould language, shape it and form it according to our wishes if we know the basic rules for its use.


The sad thing is we are losing words from our language faster than you think.

Do you know why?

A cartoon character of a roman aristocrat stands bewildered with his sandal undone and the leather thong that would have wound around his leg is tangled around his ankle. He calls; Could somebody come and tie my latchet?

The list of rare words in the previous animation was gathered from a random glance through a dictionary published only in 1962 and it only represents half the alphabet. The only words chosen in that list were naming words (nouns) and words of action (verbs). Some words like "latchet" have disappeared because we do not wear leather sandals with straps up our legs any more. They went out with the Romans! Other words though, like "mottle" or "haver" are words that we have stopped using through laziness.

Archaic words

In this animation you will see a number or words that are no longer used or are used rarely. See if you have heard any of them. Drop the terms to the definitions to see if you have a match.
fulminate to flash like lightning.
delate - to inform against someone
caulk - to seal the seams of a ship
evince - to show or illustrate a quality
mottle - to spot or blotch
haver to talk foolishly
baize coarse woollen material usually for covering
inveigh to speak violently against
knurl - a knot or knob
jorum - a large bowl for drink such as punch
aurist - an ear spcialist
latchet a strip of leather for fastening a shoe

new and troublesome words
Many new words in the English language have appeared as new technologies have arisen and as new social movements have developed. Watch the animation and then see if you can match the terms to the definitions.
cyberspace disk email gigabyte intranet moden RAM
black hole quark quasar sputnik teleporter
compact disk  minidisk MP3
blding cross training televangelist road race artsy






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