Tesol UNIT 2 THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Unit 2: THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

WORDS THAT SIGNAL TYPES OF ORGANIZATION

An understanding of the signal words in this lesson will improve your reading and listening comprehension. Here are your goals for this lesson:

Use signal words to understand the organization of details within a paragraph Use words that signal chronological order Use words that signal example or illustration Use words that signal cause and effect Use words that signal comparison or contrast Anticipate conclusion or summary by using signal words

Vocabulary
communicate express feeling language signal Vocabulocity Flash Cards Spelling Bee Give information by talking and writing; receive information by listening and reading. Put your thoughts into words. An emotion such as love, sympathy, pain, and happiness. Human speech, spoken or written. An object or word placed to give notice or warning.

A signal is an important clue to understanding the situation in which you find yourself. You have already learned to interpret many signals. When you were younger, you learned about traffic lights that warn you when to stop and let you know when it is safe to cross the street. You know that drivers must be careful to notice and respond to all kinds of signs and signals in order to arrive at their destinations safely.

In much the same way, writers who want to communicate clearly use words for signals. These signal words give the reader important clues about the content of the writing. They help the reader make the correct connections between ideas. In this way, the author assists the reader to look at things they way he does. Chronological Sequence. You are already familiar with the signal words used in describing time relationships. Words like before and after clearly indicate when something happened in relationship to other events. Other signal words and phrases used to show sequence are listed below. Be sure you know what each of these words means. as soon as during finally following at last formerly immediately initially meanwhile eventually not long after preceding previously until ultimately

Example - Illustration. When a good writer presents the reader with a concept, he provides examples that clarify the concept. Even the dictionary uses this technique. If you were to look up the word pachyderm, you would find a definition similar to this: "Any of various large, thick-skinned, hoofed mammals..". Immediately following that definition, most dictionaries would provide an example to ensure your understanding: "...such as the elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus." Ah! Now you know what a pachyderm is. The phrase such as signaled you that an example would follow. Words and phrases used to signal you to look for the example include: for example in other words for instance generally such as typically

Compare - Contrast. You will frequently read material that compares and contrasts two or more persons, items, or concepts. When writers compare things, they show how they are alike. When they contrast things, they point out the differences. Many times, a writer

will examine two similar things, discussing both their likenesses and their differences. The paragraph or essay may include a great deal of information pointing you in different directions, just like the highway signs above. In reading complex material like this, it is especially important that you pay careful attention to the signal words that tell you whether to expect similarities or differences. Comparison additionally also as well as both compares with in addition Comparison in common like likewise similarly similar to still Contrast although as opposed to but conversely even though however instead Contrast nevertheless on the contrary on the other hand otherwise unlike whereas yet

Example: The Whangdoodle Pro runs on a 491k snarfle, whereas the Flopdiddle managed with just a 35X3 spankle. You don't know what the Whangdoodle Pro and the Flopdiddle are, but you know that a difference between them is the type of engine that operates them. Cause - Effect. Have you ever lined up dominoes standing on end like those in the picture? If so, you know the effect that you can get by pushing the front domino back. As each domino tilts backward, it upsets the balance of the one behind, all the way down the line. Eventually, all the dominoes are lying flat. Some hobbyists enjoy creating lengthy chains of dominoes that snake around a room, perhaps even on multiple levels, just so they can enjoy the progression of falling dominoes. This little game has even entered our language. The domino effect refers to a chain of events set off by a single cause. Of course, cause-and-effect relationships are not always so simple. Sometimes multiple factors work on various levels to accomplish an effect, or result. When reading about the causes of any event or situation, pay careful attention to these signal words and phrases. as a result because of brought about consequently due to effects of for this reason gave rise to hence if...then is caused by it follows leads to / led to made possible so that thereby therefore thus

Conclusion or Summary Signal Words. Just as it would be impolite to leave a friend's home without saying good-bye, writers know that it is important to help you come to a conclusion at the end of a piece of writing. They do not want to "leave you hanging." There are signal words and phrases that let you know the text is coming to an end. Some of them are the same phrases you have seen used to signal chronological order or cause and effect.

When you see these signals near the end of a piece of writing, they will help you wrap up your thoughts: as a result, finally, in conclusion, to summarize, therefore. To conclude, therefore, remember to look for signal words when you are reading and to include them when you are writing.

WORDS THAT EXPRESS FEELINGS

When you write, your objective is to convey your ideas and feelings to another person. In order to communicate clearly, it is important to use words that express exactly what you are feeling. This lesson explores some of the subtle differences among synonyms for emotions. Here are your goals for this lesson:

Understand that the physical, mental, and emotional parts of our beings impact one another Use words that express emotions specifically Select words that express degrees of emotion Distinguish between the subtleties of meaning of words expressing similar emotions

Have you ever had your feelings hurt? Of course, you have. We all experience hurt feelings at one time or another. At other times, our feelings soar. But what is a feeling? Is it physical? Is it mental? Is it emotional? The answer is yes. Although we define a feeling as an emotion, our feelings involve the physical and mental parts of ourselves as well. Our bodies have a complex balance of chemical signals going on inside us all the time. When our feelings are hurt, our brains and other glands produce certain chemicals. This may make us cry or get a stomachache. We may find it hard to think of anything but the thing or person that hurt us. When something causes us to feel happy, other chemicals are secreted. We become more alert, more energetic, and generally more optimistic. The world seems like a wonderful place. Our bodies and our emotions are so closely connected that we can even "trick ourselves" into feeling better by forcing a smile. After a little while, the brain begins

producing the chemicals that make us feel good in response to the signals the muscles around the mouth send out. When we are frightened or face an emergency or stressful situation, our body pours out chemicals that give us greater strength and sharper thinking. Then, when the emergency is over, we feel shaky and weak. Although emotions can be felt, they cannot be touched or examined directly by others. We can often guess, however, how a person feels by the way his face looks, whether he stands straight or slumps, and by his tone of voice. But we cannot really communicate how we feel without language. For this reason, it is helpful to know a number of words that express the subtle shades of feeling. Look at these words: hurt, pain, misery, agony, uncomfortable, and ache. These words mean similar things, having physical pain, yet they are not identical in meaning. There is a great deal of difference between feeling uncomfortable after eating and having a stomach ache. To say that something hurts does not express as much pain as to say you are in agony or misery. Misery also includes the emotional distress that often accompanies physical pain.

Words for Angry Feelings. We have all felt anger, and we have all faced someone else's anger. Let's look at some common words for anger and see exactly what they mean. Displeasure is dissatisfaction. If you have been told to clean your bedroom, and you have not finished it in a timely manner, your parent may express displeasure. This is a relatively mild level of anger. The word anger itself is defined as strong displeasure or hostility. Suppose that you feel someone has done something wrong to you. Whether this mistreatment is real or only imagined, if you carry an angry ill will in your heart toward that person, you are feeling resentment. Usually, the only way to get rid of resentment is by choosing to forgive the person you believe has wronged you. There are two words for extreme anger. The first is rage, which is violent, explosive anger. If you have seen someone suddenly "lose their cool" and "blow their top," then you are familiar with rage. Rage is often the result of keeping resentment in one's heart.

The resentment builds and builds until it suddenly explodes. Often, the person who receives the effect of rage is not even the person the rager is really angry with. Rage is usually destructive of relationships because it creates fear and distrust.

Words for Sorrowful Feelings.Sorrow is a feeling of great sadness, often accompanied by regret for having done something one shouldn't have done. When someone says, "I'm sorry," he is saying he feels great sadness for something. An apology without the emotion of sorrow behind it really doesn't mean much. Closely related to sorrow is remorse, which refers to bitter regret and moral anguish for having done something very hurtful. When we have sinned, we are in a state of guilt, whether or not we feel bad about it. The guilt is a fact, not a feeling. Shame is a painful emotion resulting from an awareness of inadequacy and guilt.

Words for Happy Feelings. Several words for happy feelings should become familiar to you. The word pleasure has to do with amusement, diversion, and the indulgence of our senses. One experiences pleasure at an amusement park, for instance, or when eating a favorite dessert. One can feel pleasure by listening to music, looking at a beautiful piece of art, or by partying. Pleasure can be a good thing, but it can also deceive, or fool, a person. The trouble with pleasure is that it is temporary. It just doesn't last, and it can attract us into

chasing it. As we spend more and more time looking for pleasure, we miss the things that bring lasting happiness. Intense happiness that is ecstatic and exultant is called joy. Joy is not a fleeting thing as pleasure is, but it lasts. A word closely related to joy is delight, which means extreme pleasure and satisfaction. Then there is contentment. The person who feels contented is happy with his situation in life. Words for Quiet Feelings. Calm, peace, tranquillity, harmony: these are all words that make us think of soothing, quiet times, but they do not mean exactly the same thing. Let's look at the differences among these four words. Peace is defined as inner contentment and serenity; it is the absence of mental stress or anxiety. It is a feeling, or emotion, but it is more than that. A person who is at peace has physical and mental quietness as well. Closely related is tranquillity, a disposition free from stress or emotion. A person who is tranquil feels quiet, peaceful, and at rest. The word calm refers to a steadiness of mind under stress not excited or agitated. A person may be calm when things around him are not peaceful. Have you ever been in the eye of a hurricane? Though the terrible storm rages all around, in the eye is perfect calm, complete stillness. You can feel calm, peaceful, and tranquil all by yourself, but it takes two to have harmony or its opposite, disharmony. In music, the melody is played on single notes and the additional notes provide harmony. Harmony is defined as agreement in feeling or opinion. Harmony requires two different musical notes that blend well together. Just as in music, when you are in harmony with someone else, you do not think or feel exactly alike, but you blend well together. There is no conflict.

Words for Loving Feelings. Finally, let's consider love. Love is one of the most complex of human emotions. It goes beyond the power of language to describe love adequately, but we frequently use the word casually: I love that

outfit. Don't you just love rocky road ice cream? We will look at some words that relate to love, and then we will examine love more closely. When most people talk of "being in love," they are referring to romance. Romance is ardent emotional attachment, with fascination, and often including an air of mystery. It is an exciting feeling. Sometimes it lasts a long time, but usually it doesn't. When the couple get to know each other well, the mystery is solved; the excitement is over; and they wonder where the love went. Mistaking romance for love has resulted in many broken relationships among family members. A tender feeling or fondness is often referred to as affection. If you feel affectionate toward someone, you enjoy being around them, but you may or may not want a longlasting relationship with them. A deep love characterized by dedication and selfless affection is called devotion. This is the kind of love that lasts. When a couple are devoted to one another, each individual works hard to provide for and please the other person without worrying about who is giving more. This kind of couple has children together, solves problems together, dreams together, and stays together.

SPELLING LESSON ONE: USING y AND ou

This spelling lesson will help you sharpen your spelling skills. Here are your goals for this lesson:

Spell words using y and ou Spell homonyms for ou words

Spelling Lesson One contains some words that are easy to misspell. Some of these words have different pronunciations for the same letters. Study the list of spelling words below for Lesson One. Click on each word to hear it said aloud.

badly cloud cylinder foul fowl Gypsy many mystery poultry pound rough shoulder sole soul spry symbol through tough type very yarn yell yesterday yet youth

bad in manner a puffy mass made up of tiny water particles in the sky a hollow tube-shaped object unpleasant; violating accepted standards or rules a domesticated bird used as food; poultry a nomadic person who originated in India; one who lives in the manner of these nomads (not capitalized) much; a large number puzzling; unknown a type of bird including chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese unit of weight equivalent to sixteen ounces not smooth the part of the human anatomy below the neck and above the chest being the only one; underside of the foot the part of the person with which The Most High is most concerned; that which lives on eternally frisky; energetic something that is representative of another between strong; difficult to cut or chew kind; sort; to write using a keyboard extremely; much wool or other fibers twisted together for the purpose of knitting to shout the day before today nevertheless young person; someone who is no longer a child, but not yet an adult

FORMAL, INFORMAL, AND NONSTANDARD ENGLISH

In this lesson, you will study about formal English, informal English, and nonstandard English. If you are to use English as an educated person, you should know the difference and should know what usage is appropriate. Here are your goals for this lesson:

Understand that there are different usages of English based upon occasion Distinguish between formal and informal usage

Vocabulary
colloquial formal English illiterate informal English nonstandard English usage Vocabulocity Flash Cards Spelling Bee Informal and casual speech. English language giving strict attention to the rules of correct English grammar, syntax, pronunciation, and usage. Unable to read or write; not educated; incorrect speaking and writing. English language used in everyday speech, but not used in formal speaking and writing. English language that does not follow the rules of correct English grammar, syntax, pronunciation, and usage. A way of using words and phrases; an established procedure.

Formal, informal, and nonstandard are three levels of English usage. Formal English and informal English are sometimes referred to as standard English. These two types of English are the accepted forms for English usage. Formal English generally is used in writing, while informal English generally is used in speaking. Nonstandard English is never acceptable in educated circles. Formal English is used particularly in writing school assignments and in giving formal speeches or oral reports. Neither slang nor colloquial expressions are appropriate. Contractions are not used. Correct grammar and a "polished" writing style are important. Example of formal English:

My father was an unusual man. He had a unique sense of humor, and his perception of persons and events that touched his life caused him to overlook anything negative and emphasize, instead, what he found to be amusing. Very little escaped his attention. He had an uncanny ability to find a humorous aspect in any situation. He was constantly inventing parodies, mimicking what people said, and laughing at his own witticisms. My mother, by contrast, was a serious woman. At times she seemed genuinely annoyed by my father's "incessant prattle," as she called it, but inwardly, I think she enjoyed his jocularity even more than the rest of our family. He was a very likable man. This style of English may be difficult to use all of the time, but learning the differences between formal English and informal English and learning the acceptable time and place for using both are very important. Informal English is used when speaking to friends or when writing a letter or a note to a friend or to a relative. Colloquial expressions are acceptable in informal English. Certain slang terms, though not all, are usually acceptable. The use of contractions is common. The style can be less polished and have a 'folksy' or casual quality. Correct grammar, however, is still important even when using informal English. Example of informal English: My dad was quite a guy! He had a fantastic sense of humor, and he found everything and everybody around him funny. He hardly ever found something he didn't like. That's the kind of man he was by nature. Even the smallest incident scarcely escaped him and because of this special ability, he could always find something funny in what was going on around him. Anytime or anyplace, he was always making up funny stories, swapping jokes, imitating others, and then acting as cheerleader as he would laugh harder than the people whose fancies he was trying to tickle. Mom, on the other hand, was something of a pickle. She sometimes seemed to come unglued because he was likely to tell a joke at the wrong time. I suspect that inwardly she enjoyed his humor as much as anyone else in our family. He was a very likable sort of fellow. Both informal and formal English have their place. With practice, you can develop a sense of which type of English fits the purpose. Using nonstandard English can make you sound illiterate. Nonstandard English is out of place, just as arriving late for class or dressing in old clothes for a formal party is out of place. Incorrect grammar, unacceptable slang, and improper usage are characteristics of nonstandard English. Examples of nonstandard English: Nonstandard: Correct: Nonstandard: Correct: I didn't go nowhere. I didn't go anywhere. He had did the job. He had done the job.

Nonstandard: The sky ain't blue today. Correct: The sky is not blue today. You will now have a chance to study and to apply certain words and phrases so that you will understand the difference between formal and informal English usage more clearly. A pair of words or phrases is in each example. The first part of each pair is informal usage. The second part shows what should be used when you are writing formal English. Informal It is about 4:00 o'clock. Sit anyplace you like. I am done with my homework. I dove into the water. I expect you are tired. He was fired from his job. Formal

The time is approximately 4:00 o'clock. Sit anywhere you like. I am finished with my homework. I dived into the water. I believe you are tired. He was dismissed from his job. I have an odd (or peculiar) feeling about I have a funny feeling about him. him. I hope I don't flunk my math I hope I do not fail my mathematics class. class. Remember that both of these forms of English are correct at the proper place and time. In this section you will not be able to learn everything about formal English, informal English, and nonstandard English. You will study the most common mistakes people make. You will begin to be aware of when to use formal speaking and writing and when to use informal speaking and writing. If you continue to be aware of these differences as you continue your study of English in the years ahead, you will have no difficulty using formal English when you reach higher levels of education. Informal My older brother will stick up for me. Would you like to swap bikes? He borrowed a dollar off of me. Don't tell on your friends. I used to take swimming lessons. Try and do your best. I see where our team won by two runs. Our team has three wins this season. She is trying to fix her alarm clock. Formal My older brother will defend me. Would you like to trade bicycles? He borrowed a dollar from me. Do not betray your friends. I once took swimming lessons. Try to do your best. I see that our team won by two runs. Our team has three victories this season. She is trying to repair her alarm clock.

To be successful at the following game, you should review these lessons in this unit: "Words That Signal Types of Organization," "Words That Express Feelings," and "Smooth and Clear Expression."

SMOOTH AND CLEAR EXPRESSION

Much of what is termed informal English usage includes such things as colloquial expressions, slang, idioms, clichs, and other phrases that should be avoided in formal English usage. Here is your goal for this lesson:

Simplify wordy expressions

Vocabulary
cliche A worn-out idea or trite expression.

idiom redundant

A phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary meanings of its words. Using too many words to express an idea; extra and not needed. Flash Cards Spelling Bee

Idioms. Informal language is full of idioms. Their use is so common that we often don't realize we are not saying exactly what the words mean. Imagine how confused a person just learning to speak English as a second language would be over the expression, the crack of dawn. Even if she knows the meaning of the word crack and dawn, it would be impossible to figure out that you meant at the earliest possible moment of the day. Here are some other common idioms and their literal, or actual, meaning. Idiom all thumbs draw a blank fall for a line go all out in the doghouse Meaning clumsy not remember believe a clever lie try your hardest in trouble

Clichs. Most clichs started out as clever comments, colorful expressions, or highly descriptive similes. People liked them and repeated them. However, just like a popular song on the radio that finally gets tiresome, the clichs have "worn out their welcome" (to use a clich). They are no longer fresh, and they often cause groans rather than nods of agreement or smiles of amusement. It is best to leave them out of your writing unless you have a special purpose for using them. Here is a list to help you recognize clichs as you hear them. He's as sharp as a tack. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

I see him once in a blue moon. He talked to her as smooth as silk. Well, that's why they pay you the big bucks. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. No pain, no gain. You can't tell a book by its cover. Beauty is only skin deep. That's life! Try to avoid idioms and clichs; use the more formal words and phrases as often as possible. At the same time be on the lookout for other examples of informal usage. One of your goals is to express yourself in a mature way. You read about using a polished writing style. To develop a polished writing style, you must learn to write smooth sentences. Train yourself not to use wordy or redundant phrases. You can express ideas more clearly by using fewer words. In each of the following pairs of sentences, the first sentence contains a lengthy expression that you should avoid when using formal English. The second sentence shows how to express the same idea more clearly and in fewer words. Poor We will go to the party at the conclusion of the game. At this time we are on vacation. We will bring to an end our lesson for today. Continue on with your Good News study. By means of studying and turning in assignments, Jill earned straight A's. Better We will go to the party after the game. We are now on vacation. We will end our lesson for today. Continue your Good News study. By studying and turning in assignments, Jill earned straight A's.

Consider also these wordy expressions and their replacements. Poor Better

Due to the fact that the weather is bad we will Because the weather is bad, we will not not have physical education today. have physical education today Poor Better

Carl is equally as smart as Debbie. Poor You will receive your allowance if and when you clean your room.

Carl is as smart as Debbie. Better You will receive your allowance if you clean your room.

Poor Better He did not clean his room, with the result that Since he did not clean his room, he will he will not receive his allowance. not receive his allowance. Poor You should eat properly in order to maintain good health. Better You should eat properly to maintain good health.

Study these wordy expressions and their replacements. Poor The days left in our vacation are few in number. Our student body is small in size. After the pieces of wood are joined together, paint them blue. Our family will visit the Grand Canyon in the near future. We live in the vicinity of Elm Avenue and Tenth Street. Better The days left in our vacation are few. Our student body is small. After the pieces of wood are joined, paint them blue. Our family will soon visit the Grand Canyon. We live near Elm Avenue and Tenth Street.

Consider these wordy expressions and their replacements. Poor Steve set a new record for the high jump. Up until last August, I didn't know how to ride a surfboard. Our teacher gave us an advance warning that the assignment must be turned in on time. With the exception of Bill, the class will attend the concert. The class, together with their teachers, will attend the concert. Better Steve set a record for the high jump. Until last August, I didn't know how to ride a surfboard. Our teacher gave us a warning that the assignment must be turned in on time. Except Bill, the class will attend the concert. The class, with their teachers, will attend the concert.

SPELLING LESSON TWO: HOMONYMS

This spelling lesson will help you sharpen your spelling skills. Here is your goal for this lesson:

Spell common homonyms correctly in context

Study the list of spelling words below for Lesson Two. Click on each word to hear it said aloud.

aisle isle I'll fore four for pair pare pear petal pedal peddle right rite write rain reign rein road rode rowed sew sow so scent sent cent there their they're

a passage through which one may walk a small land mass that is surrounded on all sides by water; island contraction of I will before; the front part; warning used in golf a numerical unit indicating something is one more than three a preposition or conjunction two; a set to peel the skin of a fruit or vegetable a fruit the part of a flower responsible for the color a lever operated by a foot that promotes locomotion to go from place to place selling things that which is correct or just a ceremony to construct letters or symbols using a pen or pencil water that comes from the sky in drops a sovereign's rule; period of a sovereign's rule a long leather strap attached to a horse's mouth and used to guide it a large, paved passageway for vehicles past tense of ride past tense of row,which is the past tense of moving a boat using oars to make a garment using a needle and thread to toss seeds in the ground so that crops will grow also; too smell; aroma the past tense of send a monetary unit; the smallest American monetary unit toward a particular place the possessive of they contraction of they are

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT IN NUMBER

If you are to use English as an educated person, you must be familiar with correct usage. In this lesson, you will review subject-verb agreement with subjects, with special attention given to compound subjects. Here are your goals for this lesson:

Identify simple and compound subjects and verbs Select verbs that agree in number with their subjects

The English language has a great deal of harmony. An important part of this harmony is subject-verb agreement. What is subject-verb agreement? To answer this question put the palms of your hands together as if you were going to reflect. Notice the harmony, or agreement, of your right hand with your left hand. They go together well, don't they? These parts work together in a logical way. There is agreement.

As you have learned in previous units, every sentence must have at least one subject and one verb. The subject and the verb must work together in a logical way. There must be agreement. Subject. The subject of a sentence is a noun (the name of a person, place, thing, or idea) or a pronoun that is the doer in the sentence.

Example: John hit the ball. Who hit the ball? John. He is the doer. John is the subject.

The subject can be plural (more than one). Example: Mary and Diane are listening to music. Mary and Diane are the doers. They are the subjects of the sentence.

Example: The children are eating lunch. The children are the doers. They are the subject.

Verb. The verb in a sentence can be one or more words. The verb tells what the doer is doing. Example: John hit the ball.

What did John do to the ball? He hit it. Hit is the verb. Another example: John can run faster than Bill. What can John do faster than Bill? John can run. There can be two or more verbs in a sentence. Example: John can run faster and jump higher than Bill. A verb will either show action or being. Verbs such as is, are, was, were, and will be show being. If the subject of a sentence is singular (one), we use is or was. Examples: He is nice. He was nice. If the subject of sentence is plural, we use are or were. Examples: They are nice. They were nice.

FORM OF ACTION VERBS

The inflectional ending -s or -es is used with many action verbs, depending upon the subject of the sentence. Here is your goal for this lesson:

Use the correct form of action verbs

Most action verbs (run, go, skip, and so forth) will end with a letter -s or -es if the subject is singular. They will not end with a letter -s or -es if the subject is plural. Examples: My teacher helps me with my studies. My teachers help me with my studies.

When I or you is used as a singular subject, do not add -s to the main verb. Examples: I help my mother. You help your mother.

VERB TENSE: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

This lesson will provide a review of the three basic verb tenses used in English.

Here are your goals for this lesson:

Recognize and recall past tense forms of common regular and irregular verbs Use consistent verb tense within a sentence

You have studied that verbs show action. An action verb shows what the subject of a sentence is doing. Verbs also tell when something happens through the use of tense. If an action in a sentence is occurring now, a present tense verb is used. Example: John catches the ball.

If an action will occur later, the verb will use a future tense. Example: John will catch the ball.

When an action has already occurred, the verb used is the past tense. Example: John caught the ball.

You can form the past tense of a verb in several ways. One way is to add -d or -ed to the present tense form of a verb (wish/wished; hope/hoped). Verbs that form their past tense in this way are called regular verbs. Verbs that form their past tense in other ways are called irregular verbs. An irregular verb changes from present to past tense in different ways: blow/blew, bring/brought, eat/ate. Some verbs that do not change at all are hit/hit; burst/burst. Below is a list of commonly used irregular verbs.

IRREGULAR VERBS

Present begin blow break bring build catch choose do drink eat fight freeze go hit know let put ring run set speak take tell throw write

Past began blew broke brought built caught chose did drank ate fought froze went hit knew let put rang ran set spoke took told threw wrote

Past Participle (have) begun (have) blown (have) broken (have) brought (have) built (have) caught (have) chosen (have) done (have) drunk (have) eaten (have) fought (have) frozen (have) gone (have) hit (have) known (have) let (have) put (have) rung (have) run (have) set (have) spoken (have) taken (have) told (have) thrown (have) written

What is wrong with the following sentence? I saw Mrs. Johnston, and I ask her about the homework assignment. The tense of the verbs in this sentence is not consistent. The verb saw is past tense and ask is present tense. Both verbs should use the same tense.

Unit 2: THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

DIRECT OBJECTS

Some words in English can be easily confused. Do you know when to use the verb lie and when to use lay? Do you understand when to use the pronoun I and when to use me? Learning how to use these words correctly will be easier to learn if you have a good understanding of subjects and objects in sentences. Here are your goals for this lesson:

Identify the direct object in a sentence Distinguish between direct object and object of the preposition

You have already learned that direct objects in sentences are nouns or pronouns. They are persons, places, things or ideas. A direct object receives the action stated by the verb, or it tells the result of the verb's action. Example: John hit the ball. The subject in this sentence is John. He is the doer. Hit is the verb. It tells what John is doing. The word ball is the direct object because it tells what John hit. The word ball receives the action stated by the verb. Example: John's home run won the game. The subject in this sentence is run. The verb is won. Game is the direct object because it tells what was won. Watch the video below for some helpful hints on how to find a direct object in the sentence.

Did you understand what the Doctor ordered? You need to ask Whom? or What? after you've said the subject and verb together. Asking these questions helps you find the direct object. Example: John's pitching helped his team. Complete subject?John's pitching Simple subject?pitching Verb? helped Say the simple subject and verb together:pitching helped Ask Whom? or What?pitching helped whom or what? Replace Whom? or What? with the answer to the question:pitching helped his team. Direct object? team

Sometimes it is easy to confuse an object of a preposition with a direct object. Direct objects cannot be in prepositional phrases. The noun or pronoun in a prepositional phrase is the object of the preposition, not the object of the verb. When locating direct objects, it is helpful to first find all of the prepositional phrases in the sentence so that the direct object can be located more easily. For example, consider this sentence: I bought a car from my uncle. By looking for prepositional phrases first, we can eliminate the words from my uncle. Now we are considering the remainder of the sentence: I bought a car . . . Now it is easier to see that car is the object that I bought.

VERBS OFTEN CONFUSED: LIE/LAY

Your knowledge of objects within a sentence--direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of a preposition--will help you avoid some very common mistakes in English usage.

Here is your goal for this lesson:

Use lie and lay correctly

You are now going to study verbs that are often confused. It will be necessary to know the difference between a subject and an object in a sentence. The same will be true when you study pronouns that people often confuse. Lie means to rest or to recline. Examples: I like to lie on the floor and read books. My father is lying in bed taking a nap. Last night I lay in bed over an hour before I fell asleep.

The three examples use lie in three forms: present, present participle, and past. Memorize these three forms. Present Present Participle Past lie (is) lying lay

The verb lie never has a direct object. If you will study the examples again, you will see that no direct objects are in any of the three sentences. Lay means to place or to put. Examples: Lay the pencil on the table. The boy is laying his book on the shelf. The hen laid an egg.

The three examples use lay in three forms. Memorize them. Present Present Participle Past lay (is) laying laid

The verb lay always has a direct object. Lay means to place or put something. The first example tells you to lay something on the table. What are you to lay on the table? Did you answer, "The pencil"? The word pencil is a direct object. The second example tells you that a boy is laying something on the shelf. What is he laying on the shelf? Did you answer, "His book"? In this sentence boy is the subject, is laying is the verb, and book is the direct object. The third example tells you that a hen laid something. In this case the hen laid the egg. Hen is the subject, laid is the verb, and egg is the direct object. Since lay is also the past tense of lie., you must be careful not to confuse it with this lay which means to put or place something.

Remember, use lie if the meaning is to rest or to recline. The verb lie does not have a direct object. Use lay if the meaning is to place or to put something. The verb lay has a direct object.

VERBS OFTEN CONFUSED: SIT/SET

Your knowledge of objects within a sentence--direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of a preposition--will help you avoid some very common mistakes in English usage. Here is your goal for this lesson:

Use sit and set correctly

Sit means to occupy a space or to rest in a sitting position. Examples: I like to sit in a comfortable chair. My brother is sitting in the living room. She sat without moving for one hour.

Memorize these three forms of the verb sit: Present Present Participle Past sit is sitting sat You studied that the verb lie never has a direct object. The same is true of the verb sit. If you will study the examples again, you will see that no direct objects are found in any of the three sentences. Set means to place or to put something. Examples: Set the pencil on the table. The boy is setting his book on the shelf. Three weeks ago I set some money in a dish, and now I cannot find it.

Memorize the three forms of the verb set: Present Present Participle Past set is setting set

The verb set is very much like the verb lay in two ways. The meaning of lay and set is the same. Both must have a direct object. Analyze the three sentences used for examples of the verb set. What is the direct object of set in the first sentence? What was set on the table? Pencil is the direct object in this sentence. In the second sentence, boy is the subject, is setting is the verb, and book is the direct object. What is the subject, verb, and direct object in the third sentence? I is the subject, set is the verb, and money is the direct object. Remember, use sit if the meaning is to occupy a space or to rest in a sitting position. The sentence has no direct object. Use set if the meaning is to place or to put something. Set does take a direct object. The past tense of set is the same as the present tense. Set is an irregular verb.

VERBS OFTEN CONFUSED: RISE/RAISE

Your knowledge of objects within a sentence--direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of a preposition--will help you avoid some very common mistakes in English usage. Here is your goal for this lesson:

Use rise and raise correctly

Rise means to move in an upward direction. Examples: The sun rises in the morning. Prices are rising. The airplane rose from the ground slowly. Memorize these three forms of verb rise: Present Present Participle Past rise is rising rose

You studied that the verbs lie and sit never have a direct object. The same is true of the word rise. If you will study the examples, you will see that no direct objects are in any of the three sentences. Raise means to cause to move in an upward direction. Examples: You should raise your hand if you wish to speak. The boys are raising the flag. I raised the window because it was hot. Present Present Participle Past raise is raising raised

You studied that the verb lay and set must have a direct object. The same is usually true about raise. Analyze the three sentences used for examples of the verb raise. What is the

direct object of raise in the first sentence? What must you raise if you wish to speak? Hand is the direct object in this sentence. In the second sentence, the word boys is the subject, are raising is the verb, and flag is the direct object. What is the subject, verb, and direct object in the third sentence? I is the subject, raised is the verb, and window is the direct object. Remember, use rise if the meaning is to move in an upward direction. No direct object is in the sentence. Use raise if the meaning is to cause to move in an upward direction. A direct object is in the sentence.

VERBS OFTEN CONFUSED: REVIEW

Your knowledge of objects within a sentence--direct objects, indirect objects, and objects of a preposition--will help you avoid some very common mistakes in English usage. Here are your goals for this lesson:

Use lie and lay correctly Use sit and set correctly Use rise and raise correctly

Reviewing this chart will help you to understand the verbs you have studied in the previous section.

PRONOUNS OFTEN CONFUSED

If you pay careful attention to whether the pronouns in a sentence are used as subjects or as objects, you will find it easier to consistently use pronouns correctly. Here is your goal for this lesson:

Select correct pronouns for simple and compound subjects and objects

Did you catch all of those pronouns? How did the speakers know whether to use "she" or "her," "I" or "me" and "he" or "him"? Many people find these and other pronouns confusing. Read the following lesson carefully to learn how you can avoid confusion when using pronouns. Pronouns often confused. You studied pronouns in Language Arts 701. As you know, a noun is a person, place, idea, or thing. A word that takes the place of a noun is called a pronoun. Pronouns that refer to people are called personal pronouns. Examples of personal pronouns are: he, she, they, them, I, we, you, who, me, him, her, us, them, whom, and it. Personal pronouns are often confused. Which of these sentences uses the correct personal pronoun?

Examples: John and we are going to the museum. John and us are going to the museum.

The first sentence sounds odd to many people, but it is correct. You can analyze sentences such as these in several ways. You can reverse the order of the pronoun and John: Examples:: We and John are going to the museum. Us and John are going to the museum.

You could also remove the words between the pronoun and the verb. Examples:: We are going to the museum. Us are going to the museum.

Clearly the pronoun we, not us, should be used in this sentence. Another way to know how to use pronouns correctly is to learn the cases of pronouns. You will recall that the three cases of pronouns are nominative, objective, and possessive. Pronouns in the nominative case are called nominative pronouns. Pronouns in the objective case are called objective pronouns. The case or form of a pronoun depends on the way it is used in a sentence. If a pronoun is used as a subject in a sentence, it must be the nominative case. If a pronoun is used as an object in a sentence, it must be in the objective case. Knowing the difference between the subject and the object in a sentence can help you use words, including pronouns, correctly. Now you need to review which personal pronouns are nominative and which are objective. Carefully study this chart. Memorize these nominative and objective pronouns.

By looking at the chart, you can see that the pronoun I is always used as a subject in a sentence. The pronoun me is always used as an object. Examples: I will go backpacking this summer.

Jimmy and I will go backpacking this summer. My mom kissed me. My mom kissed my sister and me.

The pronoun he is used as a subject in the sentence. The pronoun him is used as an object. Examples: He is my best friend. Matt and he are my best friends. I like him. I like Matt and him.

The pronoun she is used as a subject. The pronoun her is the object in a sentence. Examples: She knows how to paint with oils. Betsy and she know how to paint with oils. We see her. We see Betsy and her.

The pronouns you and it do not change from the nominative to the objective case. They stay the same when used as either a subject or an object in a sentence. The pronoun we is used as a subject in a sentence. The pronoun us is used as an object in a sentence. Examples: We will study in the library. Annette and we will study in the library. Examples: The librarian showed us where the art history books are located. The librarian showed Annette and us where the art history books are located.

The pronoun they is used as a subject in a sentence, and the pronoun them is used as an object. Examples: They are s. Joanne and they are s. Examples: We taught them to read. We taught Gregory and them to read.

The pronoun who is used as a subject, and the pronoun whom is used as an object in a sentence. Examples: Who is there? Who, besides Jim, wants ice cream? Examples: You gave whom five dollars? To whom was the best player award given?

SPELLING LESSON THREE: PAST TENSE VERBS

This spelling lesson will help you sharpen your spelling skills. Here is your goal for this lesson:

Spell regular and irregular past tense verbs

Study the list of spelling words below for Lesson Three. Click on each word to hear it said aloud.

annoyed blew bought brought caught climbed drew engaged flew fought froze guessed knew learned married quit

bothered or frustrated past tense of blow purchased past tense of bring past tense of catch went up, over, or through using one's hands and/or feet past tense of draw promised or agreed to marry past tense of fly past tense of fight the past tense of freeze made an assumption past tense of know understood information united as husband and wife to leave or to abdicate

received rode scraped sought taught threw typed wrote yielded

acquired past tense of ride past tense of scrape past tense of seek made information understandable past tense of throw past tense of type copied down or recorded with a pen or pencil gave forth