English language
Courses tagged with "English language"
English-Adverbs
In this course , learn about adverbs and how they are used. This course is ideal for intermediate learners.
Introduction
Adverbs describe, give more information about or limit a verb.Adverbs answer questions such as:
· How?
· When?
· Where?
· Why?
Adverb examples
Here are some examples of adverbs in sentences.
· Mary sings beautifully
o Beautifully - the adverb beautifully tells us how Mary sings.
· David is extremely clever
o Extremely - the adverb extremely tells us the degree to which David is clever.
· The car goes incredibly fast
o Incredibly - the adverb incredibly tells us how fast the car goes.
Adverb positions
Adverbs can occur before or after a verb in a sentence.
Here is an example of the adverb ‘silently’ being used before and after the verb ‘crept’.
The thief crept silently across the rooftop.
The thief silently crept across the rooftop.
You will learn
- Adverbs
- Turning adjectives into adverbs
- Adverb positions
Writing for an argument
Learn about some common reasons for writing an argument including for and against. This course is ideal for intermediate learners.
Introduction
Writing an argument is a formal way of making a case for and/or against a certain thing or topic, and there are many reasons why someone might do this.In college you might be asked to write an essay where you argue for and against a certain idea,
for example:
''Mobile phones should be banned from classrooms. Discuss.''
However, outside of college, there are lots of reasons for this style of writing as well. You might want to voice your opinions about things happening in your area, for example plans being made by the council, or new political schemes that are being introduced.
You will learn
- Some common reasons for writing an argument
- How to write in favour of something
- How to write against something
- How to piece together a fair argument
Verbs and adverbs
Learn about verbs and adverbs, what they are, how to use a verb in a sentence and how to use an adverb with a verb. This course is ideal for intermediate learners.
Introduction
In this course we are going to think about what verbs and adverbs are, and the different ways that we might use these words in everyday sentences.In English there are different types of words that we use to make up our sentences – verbs and adverbs are two of these word types.
There are another two word types that you will be able to find in most sentences and these are nouns and adjectives (we look at these in more detail in another session).
Each word type performs a specific job or role in any given sentence.
Every sentence in the English language has to have a verb in it – without a verb, it is not a proper or complete sentence, which just goes to show how important these words really are.
The reason they are so important is because they explain the action of a sentence. From the verb we know exactly what any given person is doing – whether it is a physical action or whether they are simply thinking about something.
You will learn
By the end of this session, you will:· Know what a verb is
· Understand how to use a verb in a sentence
· Know what an adverb is, and
· Understand how to use an adverb with a verb
Tense
Learn about tense, what is meant by the past tense, present tense, future tense and how simple, continuous and perfect tenses work. This course is ideal for intermediate learners.
Introduction
In this course we are going to look at what the word tense means by looking at three different types of tense, namely past, present and future.In the English language when we talk about the tense of a word what we are really talking about is when the word (usually an action or an event) is taking place.
There are three main tenses in English and these are known as past, present, and future tenses – with one or two variations of these main three available to us, too.
By using the most appropriate tense in our sentences, we can then give the reader a better idea of when something happened, when it is going to happen, or even whether it is happening right there and then as they are reading the text.
You will learn
· Know what is meant by the past tense· Know what is meant by the present tense
· Know what is meant by the future tense
· Understand how simple, continuous, and perfect tenses work
Strategies for Reading
Learn about strategies for reading, what is meant by skimming and scanning, how to read something in detail and how to find what you need from a text. This course is ideal for intermediate learners.
Introduction
In this course we will think about different reading styles that can be used, and which style might be best for finding what you need in a text.If we are flicking through a newspaper, we might only scan the occasional article to see if it looks interesting. If we are reading a book, we are likely to read it in a more detailed way, as we will be paying close attention to the characters and what they are doing.
Reading strategies are basically the different ways you can read a text.
A text could be anything from a newspaper article to a novel, or a long story. When we are reading different things we will probably read at different levels – meaning we will concentrate more or less – depending on the type of text we are reading.
You will learn
· Know what is meant by skimming· Know what is meant by scanning
· Understand how to read something in detail
· Know how to find what you need from a text
Spelling – silent letters
Learn about spelling, specifically silent letters, what a silent letter is, where they are often found and why they are used. This course is ideal for intermediate learners.
Introduction
In this course we are going to look at how silent letters are used in everyday spellings, and what some common examples of these silent letters are.You might have noticed that certain words sound a little different depending on the accent of the person who is speaking. Words are pronounced differently all over the world, even though the word being used is often written in the same way from place to place.
However, when we are using silent letters in our spellings, these are letters that are never pronounced – no matter who is saying the word aloud.
The only time when we will be able to spot a silent letter is when we are writing the word down – or when we are reading it – but you will never be able to hear a silent letter in someone’s speech.
You will learn
· Understand what a silent letter is· Know where silent letters are often found
· Understand why silent letters are used
Proverbs and idioms
Learn about proverbs and idioms, what they are, how they work in English and the main differences between proverb and idioms. This course is ideal for intermediate learners.
Introduction
In this session we are going to look at proverbs and idioms; we will consider what their main differences are and look at how they are used in English.
Proverbs and idioms are two language tools that come under the umbrella of figurative language – this is language that is not to be taken literally, or rather, it should not be taken at face value.Instead figurative language – like metaphors, for another example – works through imagery and association, and we often understand figurative phrases based on their symbolic meanings, so we have to look at what a figurative phrase stands for rather than what the words actually say.
Let’s look at “It’s raining cats and dogs” as an example. It is not actually raining cats and dogs when people say this, but instead this phrase is heard and understood with a different meaning to the words that are actually in the sentence, and that is how figurative language works.
You will learn
- Know what an idiom is
- Know what a proverb is
- Understand how proverbs and idioms work in English
- Know the main differences between proverb and idioms
Nouns
Learn about nouns and what they are, how they can be used, the difference between compound and proper rounds, how to make a compound noun, what collective nouns are and what pronouns are and how they are used. This course is ideal for intermediate learners.
Introduction
In this course we are going to think about what nouns are and look at the different ways we can use nouns to build our sentences.
In the English language there are different types of words that we use to build our sentences – these different word types are things like verbs, adjectives, and nouns (which will be the focus of this session).Even though there are different types of nouns – which we will look at in the following sections – the general definition of a noun is that it is the name of a person, place, or thing, for example, Claire, beach, or coffee table.
Because there are different type of nouns available to us, it is important we know the proper names for these different nouns.
You will learn
- Understand what a noun is
- Know how nouns can be used
- Understand the difference between compound and proper nouns
- Understand how to make a compound noun
- Understand what collective nous are
- Understand what pronouns are and how they are used
Apostrophes
In this course, learn and understand how to use apostrophes.
Introduction
We know that some of the more advanced forms of punctuation can be tricky, We will make you feel confident when using your ‘your’ from your ‘you’re’, your ‘lets’ from your ‘let’s’. Or the one that poses us the most problems ’its’ from ‘it’s’.
You will learn
Language Devices
This course will take you through the mnemonic ‘A RED FOREST’ which will help you understand and remember some of the most common language devices used.
Introduction
Language devices, otherwise known as literacy devices, refer to diverse structures used in effective writing to engage the audience. We often use language devices but do not always realise it. However, we need to know and understand these writing techniques to appreciate and interpret written text.When pronouncing the word ‘mnemonic’, the ‘m’ is not pronounced. It is silent.
It is a pattern of letters that assist us in remembering something, often associated with spelling.
We all remember being at school with the teacher getting us to spell ‘because’ don’t we?
If you are struggling, try using the mnemonic in this course !
You will learn
- Employing language devices
- What is a mnemonic?
- What is A RED FOREST?
- Examples of each language device
Homophones
This course will guide you through some of the more common HOMOPHONES and even aim to give you some new ones that you may never knew existed!
Introduction
Do you know your too from your to your there from your their or even your talk from your torque?Throughout this course, you will be given examples of how and when to use homophones. Will you be placed on the throne and reign champion of homophones or will you be thrown out in the cold rain.
You will learn
- What are homophones?
- How homophones are used within the English language
- How to use some of the most commonly used homophones correctly
- Online tools to improve your writing