11th August 2020

JSS 1 : GRAMMAR : WEEK 4

TERM/WEEK: THIRD TERM/WEEK 4

DATE: 12th July, 2020

CLASS: JSS 1

SUBJECT: Grammar

TOPIC: Question Tag

Reference: New Concept English for Junior Secondary Schools. Book 1

Brief explanation

Notes for the pupils

Question tags turn a statement into a question. They are often used for checking information that we know is true.

A question tag is a phrase you add to the end of a statement to make it a question or to check that someone agrees with you. It usually has a question mark.

Examples of Question Tags:

  1. You are from Oron, aren’t you?
  2. She looks very well, doesn’t she?

Rules that guide the use of question tags

  1. Question tags are mostly used orally and not in writing. Therefore, we can use the short form of verbs in question tags. g you will now, won’t you?
  2. When the answer to a question is “yes” a negative tag is used after a positive sentence. E.g.

(a) You’re hungry, aren’t you? Yes, I am.

(b) We’ll finish late, won’t we? Yes, around 9pm.

  1. When the answer to a positive question is ‘No’, a positive tag is used within a sentence.

example

(a) She can’t sing, can she? No she can’t.

(b) They won’t deliver the goods, will they? No, not at this time.

  1. If the statement is in the present tense, the tag must also be in the present or vice versa.

(a) He was late, wasn’t he?

(b) She lives here, doesn’t she?

  1. When the sentence has any form of the verb (to be, am, is, are, was, were), the same ‘be’ verb must be used in the tag.

Example

(a) She is kind, isn’t she?

(b) They were not informed, were they?

  1. When the main sentence has an auxiliary a modal verb must be used in the tag.

example

(a) They mustn’t come late, must they?

(b) He can do it, can’t he?

  1. If the verb in the question does not have an auxiliary verb or a modal verb, then use the appropriate form of the verb do (don’t/doesn’t/didn’t) in the tag

(a) She loves rice and beans, doesn’t she?

(b) They play well, don’t they?

  1. If the subject in the main sentence is a noun, change it to a pronoun in the tag.

Example

(a) Michael Tyson was a great boxer, wasn’t he?

(b)  Usher dances well, doesn’t he?

A question tag is made up of two parts – a statement and a question after it, requesting the listener to confirm or reject the statement.

Exercises/Assignment

  1. What is a question tag?
  2. How many parts does a question tag have?

Complete the following statements with the correct question tags.

  1. They have come, _________________________________
  2. We shall overcome, _______________________________
  3. He prays five times, ________________________________
  4. She doesn’t like football, ____________________________
  5. He is smart, ______________________________________
  6. They weren’t leaving, ______________________________
  7. The teacher is very kind, ___________________________
  8. Our roads aren’t good, _____________________________
  9. We have a good class captain, _______________________
  10. He does not evade tax, ____________________________

 

Day 2

 

LISTENING FOR MAIN AND SUPPORTIVE IDEAS IN PASSAGES  

Main ideas of a paragraph or sentence can be called a topic sentence. This topic sentence may be in a statement, generalization or a problem.

The main idea of a paragraph is the author’s message about the topic. It is often expressed directly or implied. The main idea tells you what a paragraph or passage is all about.

Supporting ideas are sentences that tell more about, describe, or explain the main idea.

Example

I have a dog named Boots. I taught him lots of tricks. When I tell him, Boots will sit or lie down. He can also wave his paw to greet people. When I say “Dance, Boots”, he will stand up on two legs and walk. I don’t know of many dogs that can do such amazing tricks.

The main idea of this paragraph is:

  1. Boots is my dog
  2. Boots can sit
  3. Boots is very smart
  4. Most dogs can’t dance

The correct option is talking about c because the passage is talking about Boots and the tricks he can do. I taught him lots of tricks is the main idea whereas all the other sentences are supporting the ideas. He went further to describe and explain the tricks Boots could do.

The main idea is most frequently found at the beginning of the paragraph, but it sometimes comes at the end or even in the middle of the paragraph.

Example:

Peter’s parents bought a new carpet for the living room. Now, he has to take his shoes off when he enters the house. He’s also not allowed to eat or drink in the living room any more. Peter’s fury dog isn’t allowed to play ball in there either. When his parent got the new carpet, there were lots of new rules.

The main idea of the paragraph above is at the end of the paragraph so the supporting idea came before the main idea.

Exercises/Assignment

Yesterday was my birthday. When I woke up, I noticed that my brother Todd hung up a big sign that said “Happy Birthday, Joey!” mom made spaghetti for dinner. It’s my favourite food in the whole world. My friend Dave came over and handed me a wrapped gift. I wondered what it was. It was a new basketball! I had a great day.

The main idea of this paragraph is:

  1. Todd had a great birthday
  2. Joey had a great birthday
  3. Todd got lots of gift
  4. Joey got lots of gift