JP Tutorials

Tutorials | Saturday, March 28, 2020

Grammar

Clauses

What is a clause?

A Clause is a group of words which consists of a subject and a predicate, which has a finite verb. A finite verb is a verb that expresses tenses. A clause is next below the sentence in rank.

Types of Clauses

There are two types of clauses which are Independent Clause and Dependent Clause.

Independent Clause as the name suggests is a clause that makes a complete sense and can stand on its own. It does not need another for the completion of its meaning. In fact, an Independent Clause, known as Main Clause, is a Simple Sentence in accordance to the structural types of sentences.

Examples:
1. The house has been destroyed.
2. Mr. James is my friend.

Dependent Clause also known as subordinate clause is a clause that needs another clause (Main Clause) to complete its meaning.

Examples:
1. The house, where he lives, has been destroyed.
Dependence Clause: where he lives
2. Mr. James, the owner of the house, is my friend.
Dependence Clause: the owner of the house

To Be Continued...

Reading enhances Growth!
When you stop reading, you're like a stagnant water.
Whoever you are depends on what you've read!

✓Never make a prior judgment about any Learner(s)
✓Undue attention and opportunities must not be given to any Learner(s)
✓Leave no child behind
✓Your style of teaching must not be biased or compromised as a result of any Learner(s)
✓Equal quality time must be given to every Learner
✓Fair assessment and grading of Learners must be ensured
✓Always find something to praise in every Learner as that goes a long way to motivate effective learning
✓Finally, never let your emotions interfere with your duties in the classroom no matter the sentiments. Some of the sentiments include:
*Most intelligent learner in the class
*Learner whose parents give more gifts or expensive gifts (birthday cakes, etc)
*The child of the school owner or influential parents.

The comparative degree of comparison of adjectives compares two things. For instance:
My dog is bigger than hers.

However, when comparing a comparative, it is wrong to use a comparative to compare another comparative as many are in the habit. For instance:

My dog is bigger than hers. ×

Instead, we compare a comparative with a positive:

My dog is bigger than hers. ✓

:
More happier ×
Much happier ✓

More dirtier ×
Much dirtier ✓

More better ×
Much better ✓

More worse ×
Much worse ✓

More less ×
Much less ✓

You're - You are ("Your" is a possessive adjective and is completely different from "You're")

We're - We are

They're - They are

I'm - I am (Remember, Am cannot stand alone because it is a helping verb)

He's - He is ("His" is a possessive adjective and also a possessive pronoun. "He's" could also stand for "He has)

She's - She is ("She's" could also stand for "She has")

It's - It is ("Its" without the apostrophe is a possessive adjective and possessive pronoun. "It's" could also stand for it has)

I'll - I will

We'll - We will

You'll - You will

He'll - He will

She'll - She will

You'd - You did, had, would, could, as the case may be. Same applies when He, She, We are used (He'd, She'd, We'd).

You can add more that have not been listed.

My heart goes out to children who are in Upper Grade (Primary 4, 5 and 6) or Junior High School that have the challenge of reading and writing or spelling words in English. And any challenge with the learning language affects every other subject.

I could neither read nor write in the early 90's, not because I chose to but because the Government school teachers were not paid their salaries. However, my mates and I were always promoted to the next class amidst the incessant strike.

God bless my sweet mum and every other wonderful mother out there that are relentless about the academic success of their children. My Sweet Mum discovered that something was wrong and decided to enroll me in a private school quite far from our home.

I was given a test on dictation and I couldn't spell the given words except 'Name' and 'School', and this is because both words are always printed on the cover of most exercise books. As a result, I stepped down from primary 5 to primary 2. But I never gave up!

Today, the English language I couldn't speak became my course of study. I didn't just study the language, I also teach the language. This is to the glory of God and thanks to my mother for looking out for me.

Are you a concerned mother and your child has similar challenge with reading and writing or you know someone that does? You don't have a problem because my testimony can be yours.
God has given the strategy and all we do is to apply the knowledge and the result exudes.

✓We use at :
1) to refer to a position or location which we see as a point:
E.g. The receptionist is sitting at her desk.

2) to talk about locations like companies, workplaces when we see them as a place of activity:
E.g. He works at Sheraton Hotel.

3) to refer to activities which involve a group of people:
E.g. We were at the cinema last night.

4) with school/college/university or any other specific physical location:
E.g. She studied at Harvard University.

5) to refer to an address:
E.g. We live at number 18, Jameson Street.

✓We use in:
1) to talk about locations within a larger area:
E.g. a) I am in Surulere.
b) The Best school in Africa is in Nigeria.

✓When used together:
*I'm in the building, at the front desk.

*I'm in New York, at the conference.

*I'm in New York, at the Empire State Building.

There is more to this but let's end it here.

!

My , Master A, just passed his Common Entrance Examinations with his name on the Merit List for Command, Police and Navy Schools.

The joy of a Great Teacher is to see his Learners succeed and make significant progress.

Congratulations once again, Master A!

At , your Success is our Business!
We await your call!

1. "Am" cannot be used alone. This is because it is an auxiliary verb belonging to the .
E.g.
Am fine. ×
I am fine. ✓
I'm fine. ✓
I am can be abbreviated as I'm.

2. "It's" is different from "Its".
"It's" is a contraction of "It is", while "Its" is a possessive pronoun.
E.g.
Whose book is this?
It's mine. (It is mine)

The dog hurt its tail.

If there is no change in behaviour, Teaching and Learning has not taken place.

One of my greatest joy in the Teaching and Learning Field is the accolades I receive from my Learners.

When I cross path with them, the manner at which they chant my name makes me feel like a . Of course, I am their and they are my .

I met one the other day and she told me she's now a graduate and I couldn't contain my joy. It brings great joy unspeakable to the heart of a teacher to see his/her Learner succeed both academically and in life.

Therefore, I need no one to recognize me as a STAR, HERO, or to receive some ACCOLADES from anyone because I have all that from my Learners and that's a BIG DEAL.

This Long Vacation will be a fantastic time to engage your children and also to help you as an adult catch up with time in your educational pursuit. Remember, it is never too late to learn.

John Chijioke Ijioma