Communicative English Short Notes

 Norm: Something (such as a behavior or way of doing something) that is usual

or expected.
 We use an active voice when we want to focus on the doer/actor/subject of the
action.
 We use the passive when;
1. We don’t know who did the action
2. It is not important who did the action
3. We don’t want to say who did the action
4. When there is inanimate cause or agent (which is not conscious or lacks
power of motion)

Active simple present tense

1. Add –s to third person singular (he/she)

2. Used to express general truths
3. Used for describing habits, feelings, giving instructions, describing programmed
activities, and narrating.

Example

1. He doesn’t usually take sugar in his coffee. (habit)

2. She generally likes children. (feelings)
3. Hand in your assignments tomorrow. (instruction)
4. The train to Dire Dawa leaves at 8:30 AM. (timetable future)
5. The film star falls down, he picks his gun, aims and shoots (narrative)

Passive simple present tense

Form: am/is/are + past participle

We use passive when we don’t know, or it is not known or it is not important to know who
or what did the action; or when we don’t want to say who did the action, or when there is
an inanimate cause or agent. If we want to say who did or what caused the action, we use
‘by’.

Example: Children are given names by their parents. (Here the focus is on children’s’ name)
Indicating degree of frequency of events

The present simple, active and passive, are also used with a range of modifiers in order to
indicate the degree of frequency of certain events.

Examples of modifiers;

- Always, generally, mainly, normally, often, traditionally, usually, frequently,

sometimes, seldom, occasionally, rarely, never…
1. Children are normally given names by their parents. (frequency in passive
form)
2. Marriages are traditionally arranged by parents.

Meanings of words

Overwhelming: Something that is so confusing, difficult, etc. that you feel unable to
do it.

Impression: The effect or influence that something or someone has on a person’s

thoughts or feelings.

Mystery: Something not understood or beyond understanding.

Foe: An enemy or one who opposes on principle (eg. Wenger and Alex Ferguson)

Presume: To think that something is true without knowing that it is true.

Winding: A curved course, line, or progress

Intricate: Having many complexly interrelating parts

Confinement: The time when a woman is giving birth to a baby.

Time clauses for descriptive writing

Rule: Time clauses should not contain future verb forms. For example, one cannot
say: After the marriage feast will be (is) over, the couple will start their lives
together. Here, ‘after’ is a time indicator and the first clause is time clause.

Indicators: After, as soon as, before, when, etc.

Time clauses shall be used with: Present simple active or passive, and present
perfect active or passive, NOT with any future tense.

Critical Reading

Crouched: bent down/nailed down

Sense: feel

Absorbed: Involved

Exist: Prevail

Ritual: Religious or cultural ceremony

Performed: Carried out

Cleanse: Make free from madness

Purify: Clean

Parents to be: Newly married people who expect an offspring

Extended family: Line of descent

Attempt: Try

Wooden mortar: Wooden bath/vase/bowl

Intone: Sing

Will away: Remove/avoid

Rocking down: Touching the ground

Red earth: Soil

Swirl: Mix/stir

Somberly: Seriously

Pardon: Give mercy

Stream: Move together/flock/swarm

Endanger: Threaten

Spill: Move out

Witchcraft: Predictor/magician (male)

Sorcery: The use of magical powers that are obtained through evil spirits/magic

Wield: hold/seize

Appease: Pacify/Calm/to make peaceful

Acculturated: Changed, influenced, affected

Climax: High point

Constitute: Form

Aloof: Far, not influenced by something

Fragile: Not secured

Cherished: Loved, interesting