1|Page

A phrase is an incomplete statement because it does express a complete idea

A summary response can be in a simple or a complex sentence.

Do you realise that capitalisation is part of punctuation? Full stop, Apostrophe. All can still occur in a
simple sentence

This class is meant to guide you as well as giving you the requirements of the examining body

Preamble is not compulsory but necessary.

I will advise that you write a sentence after a preamble because you will be penalized if your preamble
does not match your answer.

You are allowed to write incomplete statements when a preamble is uses

The effects of excessive use of television and internet on the children are

Ignore illustrations and repetitions

Try to use words that can replace a phrase

If the words are technical, you should retain them

The topic: COMPREHENSION

Comprehension is the ability to understand.

A passage can be technical or non-technical.

For any passage given, use SKIMMING and SCANNING approach

Skimming is an attempt to read a passage just to have a general idea

Scanning is used when the questions have been studied and the answers are being identified

It is very important to note that some questions require that you quote answers directly from the passage.
Also, some questions require that you infer from the passage. In this case, you are to use the facts stated
in the passage to make some conclusions

Example:

What, in your opinion, does the writer imply by....

Scanning is reading the questions and looking for the answers in it

What are the likely Questions?

TITLE
2|Page

You can be asked to suggest a suitable title. The best way to identify the title is to concentrate on the first
and the last paragraphs of the passage

Why is it so?

Most writers usually mention the title in the first paragraph and emphasise it in the last paragraph

WRITER'S OPINION

The writer's opinion can be located mostly in the concluding paragraph. It is rarely stated first

TONE

This represents the writer's feeling towards the arguments in the passage. The writer can support, oppose,
or be indifferent.

CONTEXTUAL SYNONYM

This is to give another word or phrase that can replace another word as used in the passage. This is
simple. Yes it is.

Follow these steps

 Identify the meaning that the sentence conveys

 Identify the part of speech of the given word
 Think of the possibility of coming across the word in the past

Note:

If you give two answers and the answers suggest different meanings, no mark is awarded

Example: Big/Bogus

If the answer is big and you wrote bogus again, the answer becomes wrong because Bogus does not have
the same meaning with BIG.

Bogus means FAKE or FALSE

Also, your answer must have the same structure with the given word. For example,

I will amplify the answers soon. Amplify means explain.

These answers are wrong

To explain✖

Explained✖

Explains✖

Explaining✖
3|Page

Explanation✖

The reason is that they cannot replace that word as used in the passage

FIGURES OF SPEECH

Not all figures of speech are tested for the English Language unlike Literature in English

Here is the list

Simile

Metaphor

Personification

Oxymoron

Alliteration

Paradox

Hyperbole

Synecdoche

Irony

Euphemism

Litotes

Simile: This is the comparison of two items that are of different class and nature through the use of AS or
LIKE

He walks like his father ✖ because they are both human

She talks like a parrot✔ Human and nonhuman

He is as dark as coal

Metaphor

This is used to make comparisons without the use of AS or LIKE

He is coal.

She is a parrot

Can you observe that?

By removing AS or LIKE,a simile becomes a METAPHOR

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Personification

This is the use of the attributes of human for nonhuman. It is an attempt to make nonhuman function like
human

My pen is dancing

The sky is weeping

Oxymoron

It contains two opposite words placed beside each other.

It is falsely true

Alliteration

When each word in a statement begins with the same consonant sound

Examine B in

Bouncing Baby Boy

Paradox

A statement that is factual but contradictory

The egg is the father of the cock.

Yes,the egg is the source

Hyperbole

It is the same as exaggeration or an overstatement

The whole world attended his funeral

Synecdoche

This is the use of a part for a whole.

Head is part of human. Right?

Census is a periodic head count. Head represents human

Irony

This is the opposite of what is intended

He was promoted because he is lazy

5|Page

Euphemism

This is used to say a bad thing in a polite way

He has a light finger (thief)

Litotes

It is an understatement. It usually contains the adverb of negation NOT

He is not poor. He has thirty cars

GRAMMATICAL NAME AND FUNCTION

Do not miss it

It is time for your questions

Can I get more example of this

Please I don't understand paradox

More examples of this pls

I don't really understand this

Sir does it also means making a terrible situation appear mild example he crossed the bar

Pls explain when to decide whether its an adverbial clause or phrase e.t.c.

I don't understand this

I also

Please sir can you re-explain this?

Don't understand this paradox. Can u emphasize more on this please

Sir I don't understand litotes

Please sir how often are such questions asked?

Yes pls explain better

Can you please explain hyperbole and rhetorical question?

Pls expanciate on this

Which one appears to be frequent among all the figures of speech in exams?
6|Page

Metaphor is usually frequent among the figures of speech

Litotes means to understate what is great.

Example,someone has an excellent result. You just

This is not a bad result

I need to make this correction

The word is spelt

EXPATIATE

Euphemism means saying something unpleasant in a pleasant way

Toilet may be used as a comfort station

Hyperbole is overstating a situation

The sky cannot contain his wealth

Rhetorical questions are used to emphasise without expecting an answer

Who can take care of a child like the mother?

There is a contradiction but the statement is still true.

The son is the father of the man

How?

He later takes over from him

Rarely
7|Page

Grammatical name and function

This is nothing but identifying phrases and clauses

What is a phrase?

A phrase is a group of words without a finite verb

What is a finite verb?

A finite verb is a verb that can change from present to past and from singular to plural

Go can change went and gone

A clause,however,must contain a subject and a finite verb

Let's examine these

Tell me what he wants

Tell me what to do

I am the leader of the group

The first one is a clause

Why?

There is a finite verb wants which can change to wanted

The second one is a phrase because there is a no finite verb.

All the verbs in the form

To go

To talk

To do

Represent nonfinite verbs and cannot change in form

The third one is a phrase as there is no verb at all

8|Page

Practise these questions

Indicate that the expressions in bold form is a phrase or a clause

1. I don't know what to do

2. Give me what I want

3. See me after the class

4. The leader of the group is here.

5. This is the who broke my heart.

6 I will follow you if no one does

7. Give me the names of the students

8. Whoever wins must be lucky

9. Tell him where we are.

10. I am the owner of the house

How do we determine noun clauses and phrases and so on

Please I often get confused on how to differentiate their functions

How do we differentiate between noun phrase and noun clause

How are we going to deter mine a prepositional phrase

How do we identify finite and infinite verbs?

A group of words is a phrase if

1. It has no verb that can be changed from present to past or past to present

2. The only verb in the expression is TO+VERB

To go

To talk

To write

A group of words is a clause if

1. It has a subject

2. It has a verb that can change from the present to past

9|Page

FINITE VERB is the major difference

1. Phrase

Reason

No finite verb

2. Clause

Finite verb: want

3. Phrase

Reason: No verb at all

4. Phrase

Reason

No verb at all

5. Clause

Finite verb

Broke

6. Clause

Reason

Finite verb: does

7. Phrase

Reason

No finite verb

8. Clause

Finite verb

Wins

9. Clause

Finite verb

Are
10 | P a g e

10. Phrase

Reason

No finite verb

The almighty formula

Despite that there was and there is nothing almighty in that formula in Mathematics,the name almighty
can scare students from attempting any question relating to it. I almost ran away from it too when I was
still dining with that subject. There are also some troublesome and illogical rules of the English grammar
that the teachers also say ,but violate before they leave the classroom. I was taught the rules in my
undergraduate days but it sounded like the usual phrase in the popular surrogate advert smokers are liable
to die Young. If that phrase is impactful,how come the number of smokers increases unimaginably? .Let
me examine one of the two rules this moment. It is the traditional rule "DO NOT END A SENTENCE
WITH A PREPOSITION

The…

Do not forget to join our group on Facebook to learn the appropriate use of English

Follow this link

https://www.facebook.com/groups/301377409953605/

Now,types of phrases and clauses

Let me start with a PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

A PREPOSITIONAL phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun

It means that the first word must be a preposition and the last word a noun

It performs two functions:

1. It qualifies a noun or a pronoun

2. It modifies a verb

: Let's have these examples

I kept my book beside the box

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The man in that house is my uncle

In the first example

Beside is a preposition

The phrase in bold gives more information where the book is kept

GM: GRAMMATICAL NAME

GN: GRAMMATICAL FUNCTION

GM: prepositional phrase

GF: it modifies the verb kept

In the second example

In that house

In is a preposition

House is a noun

It gives more information about the noun MAN

GM: prepositional phrase

GF: it qualifies the noun MAN

NOUN PHRASE/CLAUSE

At this juncture,we all know that the only difference between a phrase and a clause is the finite verb

That's why I am taking the two together

A noun phrase or clause performs three functions

Do you want to know?

1. Subject of a verb/the sentence

This occurs when the underlined expression begins the sentence and is followed immediately by a verb
12 | P a g e

Examine these:

What he said is the truth.

The leader of the group killed the animal.

Observe:

The expression begins the sentence

The first word after each is a verb

When those two conditions are met,there is a noun phrase or clause as subject

What he said

Noun clause

Subject of the verb is

Or

Subject of the sentence

The leader of the group

Noun phrase

Subject of the verb killed or subject of the sentence

OBJECT OF A VERB

Whenever the underlined expression functions as an object,two things can happen

1. It can answer the question WHAT

2. It can follow a preposition. This is called object of a preposition

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Example of the object of a verb

Give me the names of the students

I have understood what he said

The two expressions answer the question what

The names of.....

GN: Noun phrase

GF: object of the verb GIVE

What he said

Noun cause

Object of the verb understood

The last function as specified in your scheme is COMPLEMENT

Noun as a complement usually follows the be-form

Is,was,are,were,am,be

If the underlined expression follows any of those verbs,it is a complement of the verb

Example

This is the owner of the house

These are what he said

The owner....

Noun phrase

Complement of the verb IS

14 | P a g e

What he said

Noun clause

Complement of the verb ARE

Now,adjectival clause or phrase

Adjectival clauses are easy to identify because they are mostly introduced by RELATIVE PRONOUNS

Relative pronouns are

Who,whom,which,that,whose

This is the man who stole my money

Please note your questions in a book

Who stole my money

Who: relative pronoun

Adjectival clause

It qualifies the noun MAN

Note:

The word that precedes an adjectival phrase or clause is usually a noun

The adjectival phrase or clause gives more information about the noun preceding it

ADVERBIAL PHRASE or CLAUSE

Adverbial phrase or clause modifies a verb

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It answers the following questions

When.....time

Why..... reason

Where....place

For what....purpose

Unless what.....condition

How......manner

I will see you when I am ready

It answers the question WHEN

Adverbial clause

It modifies the verb SEE

Ask your questions now

In the assignment sir,.you said number 9 is a clause. How?

What's the past tense of ARE?

Is it not WERE?

Identify the grammatical name and function of the expressions in bold

1. I don't know what to do

2. Give me what I want

3. See me after the class

4. The leader of the group is here.

16 | P a g e

5. This is the who broke my heart.

6 I will follow you if no one does

7. Give me the names of the students

8. Whoever wins must be lucky

9. Tell him where we are.

10. I am the owner of the house

There are four bases of assessment of your essay

These are:

1. CONTENT

This is concerned with the length of the essay or letter. It must be up to 450 words

It is also concerned with how relevant the content is to the requirements of the question

2. ORGANIZATION

The concern of organisation is the arrangement of paragraphs as well as the demonstration of some of the
features of the composition

3. MECHANICAL ACCURACY

Ensure that you are as accurate as possible in terms of

Usage of words

Punctuation marks

Spelling

4. EXPRESSION
17 | P a g e

This is concerned with the use of the appropriate language.

Being respectful where respect in necessary. Being free where freedom is necessary.

Identify the grammatical name and function of the expressions in bold

1. I don't know what to do

2. Give me what I want

3. See me after the class

4. The leader of the group is here.

5. This is the who broke my heart.

6 I will follow you if no one does

7. Give me the names of the students

8. Whoever wins must be lucky

9. Tell him where we are.

10. I am the owner of the house

Question 1

GN: NOUN PHRASE

GF: OBJECT OF THE VERB KNOW

Question 2

GN: NOUN CLAUSE

GF: OBJECT OF THE VERB GIVE

Question 3

GN: ADVERBIAL PHRASE

GF: IT MODIFIES THE VERB SEE

Question 4
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GN: NOUN PHRASE

GF: SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE

Question 5

GN: ADJECTIVAL CLAUSE

GF: IT QUALIFIES THE NOUN MAN(OMITTED)

Question 6

GN: ADVERBIAL CLAUSE

GF: IT MODIFIES THE VERB FOLLOW

Question 7

GN: NOUN PHRASE

GF: OBJECT OF THE VERB GIVE

Question 8

GN: NOUN CLAUSE

GF: SUBJECT OF THE SENTENCE

Question 9

GN: NOUN CLAUSE

GF: OBJECT OF THE VERB TELL

Question 10

GN: NOUN PHRASE

GF: COMPLEMENT OF THE VERB AM

Ask further questions on the answers before the lecture proceeds

Letter writing is a two-way communication

What determines the type of letter to write is the recipient of the letter

Always pay attention to the person receiving your letter before you determine the type of letter

Generally,receivers have been categorised into two:

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Organisation

Individual

Letters written to organisations are known as FORMAL LETTERS

A letter is formal when it is official

A letter is FORMAL when

No abbreviation is allowed

Sch✖

School✔

Feb✖

February✔

No contraction is allowed

I don't✖

I do not✔

I won't✖

I will not✔

No slang or informal statement is allowed

Kids✖

Children✔

Chill✖
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Calm down✔

Here are the components of a FORMAL.LETTER

1.Writer's address

Ensure that this is on the right hand top corner of the paper.

Never write

No 5

Write just 5

Ensure that you capitalise the first letter of each word in the address

Example

5, Smith Street,

Yaba,

Lagos.

Date

Write a formal date

Never write

5/5/20✖

Write

5 May 2020.

The recipient's address

Write the post

Name of organisation
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Address of organisation

Example

The Manager,

Hope Rising Limited,

4,Paul Street,

Ikeja,

Lagos.

Salutation

The only acceptable salutation is

Dear Sir,

Or

Dear Madam,

Subject Heading

A formal.letter must have a heading. This heading must be as short as possible. It should be a phrase.

Dear Sir,

UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA

NIGERIA should be written under unemployment. Not well arranged

The content

The first part of the letter contains the purpose of writing the letter.

You are expected to state specifically why you have written the letter. This can be inferred from the
question
22 | P a g e

Learn how to use transition words

Like

Firstly

In addition

Moreover

Also

Furthermore

Arrange your points in paragraphs

Conclusion

Conclude a formal letter by persuasion or suggestion.

I will be happy if....

I will suggest that....

Complimentary close

This should be

Yours faithfully

Signature

Full name

Note:
23 | P a g e

It should on the right(at this level)

F for faithfully must be in small letter

Never write

Your's

Now INFORMAL LETTER

Informal letters are written to individuals

These individuals are divided into two:

1. People who are above you and deserve your respect

2. People who are below you or are in the same level with you

You are expected to write freely when you write to your friends

Write freely

Crack jokes

Use slang

Show closeness

Use abbreviation

Use contractions

COMPONENTS OF AN INFORMAL LETTER

1. WRITER'S address written on the right hand top corner

2. Date(as explained before)

3. Salutation
24 | P a g e

For people above you

State their titles before their names

Dear Mr James

For your friends

State their names only

Dear James

4. Content

The major problem students encounter is how to start the letter

Some students are fond of these:

How are you and how is everything? I hope you are fine. If so,glory be to God

Another version is

Compliment of the season

Well,your introduction is expected to summarize the question and state your purpose

Letter writing questions can be in two forms

1. A reply

2. A direct letter

For a reply,follow these simple step

* State that you received a letter

25 | P a g e

* State the content

* Express your feelings

* State the purpose

Example

I received your letter last week. In the letter,you stated that I should come back home soon. I was very
happy after reading your letter. I write to tell you why I will not be able to come home now

For a direct letter

*State why you are writing. This time you have not received any letter

Express your feeling

State the purpose

In the body of the letter,explain the purpose of writing in detail

How is this letter concluded?

Is it

This is where I drop my golden pen?

No. That's too lean

Why can't you try these steps?

* Ask about friends/relatives and name names

26 | P a g e

How is aunty Kemi?

How is your friend,Mr Musa?

Ask about well being and be specific

How is your cough?

How is your health is not specific

Give home news

Guess what!.....

Emphasise the purpose and say goodbye

Remember what I said about....

Till I hear from you again,goodbye....

Complimentary close

Yours sincerely (or any other forms)

Only your name is required

It is time for few questions

Can a few pidgin be used in informal letter

When are we allowed to use it

How can one write an essay and will avoid writing outside the question

Can the informality allow a little bit of insult maybe in expression of anger of some kind

Of course
27 | P a g e

Please sir, can we write our date as

5th may,2020

In a formal.letter

Organization in an essay does it imply the relevance of the points in a decreasing or increasing order?

When we get to essay writing....

when it is written in capital letters should it be underlined or not

Essay writing,however,is the expression of one's view on a given topic

Writing has three basic stages

1. Plan

2. Write

3. Revise and edit

There are four basic types of essay

1. Narrative Essay

A narrative essay is used to give an account of one's experience or someone else's

It is written in the past tense

It is arranged in a sequential order

It must not be beyond imagination

Ensure that you arrange the essay in this order:

Introduction
28 | P a g e

What is the story?

Where it happened

When it happened

Body

This contains

How it happened

Conclusion

This contains the lessons learnt from the story

EXPOSITORY ESSAY

An expository essay is used to give one's opinion about a topic.

Here,you express your opinion about the topic

CORONA VIRUS is an example

Follow this order

Introduction

Define or describe the topic

Body

State the causes and the effects

Conclusion
29 | P a g e

State the solutions

DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY

A descriptive essay is used to bring the picture of a given topic to the mind of the readers

It is written in present tense because it is a fact

The writer is expected to write what he or she knows about the topic so that the readers are educated on it

Follow this order

Introduction

Give a brief description of the topic

Body

Give a detail description of the topic

Conclusion

Express your opinion about the topic

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

This essay is different from a debate

You are not expected to salute or introduce yourself

Never write

Good day Chairman

30 | P a g e

Panel of Judges✖

Never say

My name is....✖

It is an essay and not a debate

Follow this order

Introduction

Define the important word in the topic

Indicate that you want to support or oppose

Body

Analyse your arguments

Conclusion

Emphasise your stand

You stand before people when you debate. You need to salute and introduce yourself.

You are not standing before anyone when you write an essay.

No salutation
31 | P a g e

No introducton

Start the essay like other essays

Teachers are better guides.

Teachers can be defined as........I support the notion that teachers are better.

First,

It is inappropriate to use the word PACKER in the context BROOM and PACKER.PACKER is a person
who packs goods from the factory to the store.Say broom and dust pan.The word "teller" also is not the
name for "deposit/withdrawal slip" instead it is the name of the person paying and receiving cash in a
bank.

Pride destroys and demotes one before the creator. It is a quality reserved for HIM alone.Don't be
prideful.

Good morning.

Lexis and structure

Lexis is the study of words in their original form without being used with other words

Lexis,for SSCE,covers these areas

Synonyms and Antonyms

Interpretation

Language Register

Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms are words that are almost the same in meaning

32 | P a g e

Antonyms are words that are opposite in meaning

Follow these steps for synonyms and Antonyms

1. Identify the meaning that the sentence conveys.

2. Predict the meaning of the word before looking at the options.

3. Try to eliminate the odd answers that are not likely to be the answer.

Interpretation

Interpretation implies giving an equivalent meaning to the given expression

It is important to note that interpretations can be about a word

The man is phlegmatic.

Phlegmatic can interpret the sentence.

It can be about idioms

He is armed to the teeth.

It can also be about the whole sentence

If I travelled,my brother would go with me.

Note that you need to examine all the words in a sentence before interpreting it

Language Register

Language register is the study of words from different professions to complete a particular passage.
33 | P a g e

The profession can be medicine,law, education,religion, transportation....

Use these techniques

1. Read the passage so as to know the field it is about.

2. Eliminate non-technical words in the options.

3. Ensure that you read a sentence completely before choosing your answer.

4 Read the passage again after choosing your answer

I will discuss structure tomorrow at 10 am....

Do not forget to participate in our ORAL ENGLISH CLASS TOMORROW

Learn this simple pronunciation. The consonant T is silent in the following words

fasten

hasten

glisten

listen

moisten

thistle

whistle

wrestle

mortgage

Christmas

Good evening

What is the purpose of IELTS and TOEFL ?

What is IELTS Test?

34 | P a g e

(General Information about IELTS Meaning)

IELTS stands for “International English Language Testing System.” This test assesses the English ability
of non-native English speakers. The IELTS is used for the purposes of study, employment, and
immigration in the English-speaking world. These uses are a very important part of IELTS meaning. (For
a quick overview of this, see Sean’s article “ Why is the IELTS

The purpose of the TOEFL(Test of English as a Foreign Language) is to evaluate the potential success of
an individual whose native language is not English to use and understand standard American English at a
college level.

No matter where in the world you want to study, the TOEFL test can help…

I will divide my lecture on structure into two

Structure 1

Structure 2

Structure 1 covers

Question and Answer tags

Concord

Phrasal verb

Prepositional words

Question and Answer TAG

A question tag is usually fixed according to the statement.

A positive statement agrees with a negative Question and vice versa

35 | P a g e

I am a lady.(+)

Am I not?(-)

I am not a lady(-)

Am I?(+)

It is possible that the statement contains no auxiliary verb

Use the do-form to ask the question

I can jump(with auxiliary verb CAN)

Can't I?

I jump(no auxiliary verb)

Don't I?

Answer tags usually agree with the statement.

Example

I am ready(+)

Am I not?(-)

Yes,you are.(+)

You can see that the statement agrees with the answer tag
36 | P a g e

Concord

Simply put,it is an agreement between one part of a sentence and another part of the same sentence

It should be noted that the singular form of the verb ends with S

Sings

Talks

Says

Goes

Has

Does

The rule is

A singular subject agrees with a singular verb and vice versa

The boy sings(singular)

The boys sing(plural)

One of the girls was here.

The quality of the oranges has reduced

When two subjects are joined by

Either....or

Neither...nor

Or

Nor...
37 | P a g e

The verb agrees with the second subject

However,if two subjects are joined by

With

Together with

As well as

Including

And not

But

Except....

The verb agrees with the first subject

Either the boys or the girl is ready

The man with his friends is ready

The class continues tomorrow. at 10am

I am a bit sick today.

The verb agrees with QUALITY and not ORANGES

The quality has reduced

Not

The oranges have reduced

Structure continues
38 | P a g e

Let's examine quantifiers

The following quantifiers can only be used before countable nouns

What are countable nouns?

Countable nouns are nouns that can be preceded by one,two,three

These determiners agree with them

Many

Few

A few

Several

Every

Each

An

One

All

Uncountable nouns cannot be preceded by A/An

They are preceded by

Much

Little

A little

Some

Lots

A lot of

Note that

Some

Lots of
39 | P a g e

A lot of can agree with both countable and uncountable nouns

Never say

Several advice✖

Every information✖

Each behaviour✖

The following nouns are always plural

Police

Staff

Vermin

Cattle

Clergy

The police is here✖

The police are here✔

Use the subject and object forms of pronoun correctly

Subject: I,we,you,he,she,it,they

Object:

Me,us,you,him,her,it,them

Always use the subject form after

Is,was,are,were,am,be,been,being

Use the object form after prepositions

It is between you and me

Adjectives can be comparative or superlative

Never use double comparatives and superlatives

40 | P a g e

Never say

More happier✖

More closer✖

Know these facts about adjectives

1. The order of adjective can be

Quality-Size-Shape-Age-Colour-Origin-Substance-Noun as Adjective-Noun

An expensive long new red Japanese sports car

2. Adjectives that indicate an absolute quality cannot be compared

Never say,

Dead- More dead- Most dead

All these adjectives cannot be preceded by

Very,quite, absolutely, completely

Never say

He is completely dead

Know these about verbs

1. Verbs that indicate invisible actions must not be expressed in continuous form

Owe,for example,cannot be seen. Do not say

41 | P a g e

I am owing you✖

Say,

I owe you✔

2. Drop to after

Make,help,see,hear,let

I made him to pay the bill.

I helped to call his friends

3. Use the past tense after the phrase

High time

Or

It's time

It's high time we leave left this place

4. Use the present tense after HAD BETTER

You had better gone go there.

5. Use the present tense for relevant actions and the past tense for irrelevant actions

Know these about adverbs

1. The order of adverb is MPT

Manner,Place,Time
42 | P a g e

He talked loudly(manner) in the office(place) yesterday (time)

He talked loudly in the office yesterday

2. Use these adverbs as follows

So......with that

Too with for or to

He was so busy that he didn't see me

He is too young to die

Learn PREPOSITIONAL words too

Like angry with(human)

Angry at(nonhuman)

nouns

preposition

examples

age, attempt, point

43 | P a g e

at

18 is the age at which you are allowed to vote.

Fisk is making his third attempt at the world record.

need, reason, responsibility

for

What’s the reason for your unhappiness?

Nobody seems to have responsibility for the budget.

changes, differences, increase

in

Changes in society have meant that young people leave home earlier.

There’s been a steady increase in the value of the euro.

inquiry, investigation, research

into
44 | P a g e

The police inquiry into the theft continues.

She did some research into the causes of back pain.

cause, example, way

of

This is an example of international collaboration.

We need to find another wa…

abide by To respect or obey a decision, a law or a rule If you want to keep your job here, you
must abide by our rules.

account for To explain, give a reason I hope you can account for the time you were out!

add up To make sense, seem reasonableThe facts in the case just don’t add up.

advise against To recommend not doing something I advise against walking alone in this
neighborhood.

agree with To have the same opinion as someone else. I agree with you. I think you should go
as well.

allow for To take into consideration We need to allow for unexpected charges along the way.

appeal to

To plead or make a request

To be attractive or interesting

He appealed to the court to change its decision.

A vacation of sunbathing doesn’t appeal to me.

apply for To make a …

Those are phrasal verbs

The class continues tomorrow with the concluding part of the oral English
45 | P a g e

RHYME &STRESS

RHYME

A rhyme represents the identical vowel and consonant sounds in words.

Rhyme is easily identified through the last sounds in words.

Pay attention to the last sound first.

Example

Handsome

A. Awesome

B. Ransom

C. Some

All the options contain the last part some.

The next sound is AN

The answer is B

Ransom

WORD STRESS

The word stress is the syllable that is pronounced with the highest force.

Apply these rules

1. In words with two syllables,stress the first syllable if the word is a noun and Adjective

MASter

LAzy
46 | P a g e

2. Stress the second syllable in a word that contains two syllables if the word is a verb,a preposition or an
adverb

forGIVE

aBOUT

3. Stress the first syllable in words with three syllables

PERmanent

CAlendar

REgular

4. Stress the last syllable in a word that ends with

EE,ESE,EER,ETTE,ESQUE

etiQUETTE

5. Stress the second syllable from the end in a word that ends with

ION,OUS,IC,IAL,IAN,IUM

educAtion

pandeMOnium

6. Stress the third syllable from the end in a word that ends with

AL,MENT,ISE,IZE,FY,PHY,SY,CY

aPOlogise

phoTOgraphy

7. Stress the 4th syllable from the end in a word that ends with

ISM,ABLE,IBLE,TOR
47 | P a g e

GEnerator

Please apply the rules to other words

EMPHATIC STRESS

EMPHATIC stress is the content word in a sentence. It can be any word class.

The condition is that only the emphasized word must be altered.

John has a GOLDEN pen

A. Who has a golden pen?

B. Has John stolen a golden pen?

C. Does John have a golden pencil

D. Does John have silver pen?

Examine other options,the word golden has been repeated.

The answer is D where the word golden has been altered to silver

For vowel and consonant sounds☝

Insert the appropriate word

1. The price of these jeans---- reasonable.(is/are)

2. The books borrowed from the library------

on my desk.(is/are)

3. The boy who won the two medals----- a friend of mine.(is/are)

4. Bread and butter------- our daily food.(is/are)

5. The famous singer and composer-------

arrived.(has/have)
48 | P a g e

6. Collecting match-boxes -----one of his favourite pastimes.(is/are)

7. The quality of the candies---- poor.(is/are)

8. Neither his father nor his mother-----ready(is/are)

9. Neither parent---- fond of playing.(is/are)

10. None of my friends ---------there.(was/were)

The three words, CLOTH, CLOTHES and CLOTHE are not the same.

In pronunciation, letter O in clothe and clothes are pronounced like letter O in GO. letter O in CLOTH is
pronounced like letter O in hot.

Grammatically, CLOTH(Plural cloths) and CLOTHES are both nouns.CLOTHE is a verb.

In terms of meaning(semantics),

CLOTH represents the material made from weaving or knitting. It is also a piece of cloth used for a
particular purpose like cleaning or covering the table.

In other words, the materials you buy in yards to make your shirts and others are known as CLOTHS.

CLOTHES, however, are the things you wear such as shirts, jackets, and trousers.

CLOTHE means to provide clothes for somebody to wear.

Usages

Give me the table cloth.

Your clothes are dirty.

I will clothe you.

www.stylisticiansschools.com

Question 1

Is

Reason

Price is singular

Question 2
49 | P a g e

Are

Reason

The subject BOOKS is plural

Question 3

Is

Reason

Boy is singular

Question 4

Is

Reason

Bread and butter is a meal

Question 5

Has

Reason

It is still one person

Question 6

Is

Reason collecting is singular

Question 7

Is

Reason

Quality is singular

Question 8

Is

Reason

The verb agrees ONLY with the second subject when joined by
50 | P a g e

Either....or

Neither...nor

Question 9

Is

Reason

Neither or None takes a singular verb

Question 10

Was

Reason

As stated in 9

Based on this.

The marking guide specified a DEBATE

Good day Chairman,

Panel of Judges....

These are called VOCATIVES. It is only when the question states

Write a speech for or against that they are required.

It has been observed as pointed out also by some of your teachers on the platform that WAEC questions
centre on DEBATE WRITING and not ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY.

Note that the two writings are not the same.

At your level,WAEC prefers that you write a debate.

51 | P a g e

Do not be parochial. You may encounter situations later where you will be required to distinguish one
from another. Debate writing is different from an argumentative essay.

God bless you all.

Insert the appropriate word

1. Each(breakfast/meal) must be well served.

2. This money is for you and(I/me)

3.(This/These) news will make them happy.

4. (That/Those) staff must be punished.

5. Who(is/are) the police ?

Question 1

Meal

Reason

Each can ONLY be used before a countable noun. Breakfast is an uncountable noun.

Question 2

Me

Reason

For is a preposition and must agree with a pronoun in the object form. Me is an object

Question 3

This

Reason

News is an uncountable noun and it is considered singular

Question 4

Those

Reason

Staff is usually plural

Question 5
52 | P a g e

Are

Reason

Police is usually PLURAL

I read a poster yesterday and I noticed the error in it as one of the effects of text messaging and chatting.

"Believe me is the time for a better Nigeria."

We often omit the subject in most statements in our chats.

Expressions like these lack a subject

Will see you later

Is okay

Am not ready.

Won't come.

In the poster,

Believe me.It is time....

For those examples,

I will see you later.

It is okay.

I am not ready.

I won't come.

A normal sentence(declarative sentence ) begins with a subject.Imperative,Interrogative and Exclamatory

sentences usually begin with a verb or other word classes.

Good afternoon

Insert the appropriate word

1.The whole block of buildings including two furniture stores and drapery establishment
(was/were)destroyed in the fire.

2.The marquis with his son now at Oxford(was/were)present .

3.The team was now in the field and about to take(its/their)places.

4.He said that if he(was/were)I,he would undertake it.

53 | P a g e

5.The reviewers agree that that this is one of the most interesting novels that(has/have)recently been
issued.

Thank you for your participation

ANSWERS

Question 1

Was

Reason

The whole block is singular and was must agree with it

Question 2

Was

Reason

When two subjects are joined by with,the verb agrees with the first subject

Question

Its

Reason

Since the verb was has been used to represent the collective noun TEAM,a singular pronoun its is used

Question 4

Were

Reason

Anytime if implies a condition, WERE is used

Question 5

Have

Reason

That represents novels and the verb agrees with novels

54 | P a g e

These expressions are incorrect and nonexistent because of the inclusion of a redundant PREFIX.

The PREFIXES are redundant because the meanings they suggest are already present in the word.

IRREGARDLESS is incoorect because the function of the prefix IR which means NOT is already in the
suffix LESS.

Say,

REGARDLESS.

Also,

OVERSPEEDING.The word SPEEDING already implies too much speed.The use of the prefix OVER is
redundant.

Say,

SPEEDING.

It costs you nothing to tell somebody today that we can :

Prepare students for SAT/TOEFL/IELTS

Give lectures privately on any English exam

Edit a book/paper

Organise lectures ONLINE

Register students on PUBLIC SPEAKING

Guide undergraduates and post graduate students in writing their long essay/thesis.
55 | P a g e

Help you to p…

Based on your past questions

Identify the grammatical name and function of the expressions in bold

1. Not long after the governor's official proclamation, newspaper reporters had a field day....

2. . ..while I was watching a 9 O'clock news ,I saw David being interviewed.

3. We discovered that these objects have opposite equal sides

4. He stopped shouting only when he got into the bus that brought his group.

5 . As we watched from the distance, we observed there was a thrilling movement.

Identify the figure of speech used in the following expressions

1. He would give them the rough edge of his tongue.

2. My bond with the school has become very firm.

3. He actually tamed Mathematics for us , terrifying as it was.

4. A wave of fright swept through me.

5. They were able to keep body and soul together

Take this step now. You have a lot to learn. A great reader is a great leader. The class has commenced
fully.

Make this lockdown a memorable one. The initial excuse before now was no time.

Use this period to learn:

* The basic Grammar rules

* Pronunciation

* Rudiments of Public Speaking

56 | P a g e

Join our 30-Day WhatsApp English Class for just 2,000 naira.

To register,pay into:

GTB 0016989257

Then call/WhatsApp:08033336265

Answers

1. GN: ADVERBIAL PHRASE

GF: IT MODIFIES THE VERB HAD

2. GN: ADVERBIAL CLAUSE

GF: IT MODIFIES THE VERB SAW

3. GN: NOUN CLAUSE

GF: OBJECT OF THE VERB DISCOVERED

4. GN: ADJECTIVAL CLAUSE

GF: IT QUALIFIES THE NOUN BUS

5. GN: ADVERBIAL CLAUSE

GF: IT MODIFIES THE VERB OBSERVED

FIGURES OF SPEECH

1. METAPHOR

It is as if he will give them his tongue

2. Metaphor

3. Metaphor

4. Metaphor

5. Metaphor

LETS LEARN

In comparing adjectives,we say

57 | P a g e

Shy-Shyer-Shyest

Lanky-Lankier-Lankiest

Nice-Nicer-Nicest

Avoid a redundant comparative or superlative.

Don't say,"It is more better to do it this way."

Say,It is better....

Also,don't say,"This is my most happiest day."

Say,"This is my happiest day."

Avoid using more or most with words already compared through the "er" or "est"

Remember!

Harmony makes good things better. The absence of harmony makes good things bad.

May God restore a long lasting harmony in our lives.

Make us happy.Attend or invite someone to our Programmes.

Please help this programme and the school.

58 | P a g e

Call:08033336265

1. It is as(at/and) when due

2. I made him(to sleep/sleep)

3. She is a widow because her husband is(dead/late)

4. It's been smooth(Isn't it/Hasn't it)?

5. The test seemed (too/so/very) simple that we thought we would all pass it.

Question 1

And

Question 2

Sleep

Question 3

Dead

Question 4

Hasn't

Question 5

So

The word LATE only means dead when it is attributive. This means when used only before a noun

A late man

A late husband

Anytime LATE is predicative. This means being used after is,was,are,were,am; it suggests NOT EARLY

He is late....means he is not early

Insert the appropriate word

1. Do not(overspeed/speed)

2. Turn on your(head/full) light.

59 | P a g e

3. Use your(side/wing) mirror.

4. There is no(traffic jam/hold up) on the road today.

5. It was a (fatal/ghastly) accident but nobody died.

Answers

1. Speed

The word overspeed is a tautology

2. Head

It is a head light

3. Wing

American English had

Side-view mirror

4. Traffic jam

Hold up means a delay and not always connected to TRAFFIC

5. Ghastly

A fatal accident involves death

Cup of tea

Cup of tea is usually used with the adverb of negation NOT

It means not my INTEREST

Music is not my cup of tea

Choose the option with a different stress pattern

1. A create

B.donate

C. Cement

D. Courage
60 | P a g e

2. A.Defer

B. Harvest

C. Success

D. Extent

3. A. Conducive

B. Impressive

C. Committee

D. Interesting

4. A. Wardrobe

B. Prefer

C. Despite

D. Review

5. A. Important

B. Rehearsal

C. Implement

D. Condition

Answers

1. D

Other options are stressed on the second syllable

2. B

Others are stressed on the second syllable.

3. D

Others are stressed on the second syllable while interesting is stressed on the first syllable

4. A

Others are stressed on the second syllable

5. C
61 | P a g e

Others are stressed on the second syllable

Learn this simple rule.The coordinate conjunction AND brings two subjects together in such a way that a
plural verb agrees with the subjects

Bread and butter are scarce in the market.

However,a singular verb agrees with the subject when the two subjects suggest the same

Bread and butter is good for you.This represents foods served together as one.

Or

My husband and breadwinner is in bed at the moment.

Good afternoon

Insert the appropriate word

1.(Who/Whom)did you see at the party?

2.He was angry(at/with) me for leaving.

3.Of the two,I like James(best/better)

4.She sent it to you and(I/me)

5.It was(he/him)you saw.

Question 1

Whom

Reason

Whom represents the object

Question 2

With

Reason

You can be angry with human and at nonhuman

Question 3

Better

Reason

Better represents TWO

62 | P a g e

Question 4

Me

Reason

Me is an object that receives an action

Question 5

He

Reason

Was is followed by a subject

Stress the following words by writing the stressed syllable in capital letters

1. Cal-cu-la-tor

2. Cir-cum-stan-tial

3. In-sti-tu-tion

4. In-doc-trin-ate

5. Ac-ci-den-tal

6. Au-to-cra-cy

7. De-ve-lop-ment

8. Con-cen-tra-tion

9. A-mi-a-ble

10. Di-plo-ma-tic

Stress the following words by writing the stressed syllable in capital letters

1. CAL-cu-la-tor

Reason:

Stress the 4th syllable from the end in a word that ends with TOR.

2. Cir-cum-STAN-tial

Stress the second syllable from the end in a word that ends with IAL

3. In-sti-TU-tion
63 | P a g e

Stress the second syllable from the end in a word that ends with ION

4. In-DOC-trin-ate

Stress the third syllable from the end in a word that ends with ATE

5. Ac-CI-den-tal

Stress the third syllable from the end in a word that ends with AL

6. Au-TO-cra-cy

Stress the third syllable from the end in a word that ends with CY

7. De-VE-lop-ment

Stress the third syllable from the end in a word that ends with MENT

8. Con-cen-TRA-tion

Stress the second syllable from the end in a word that ends…

Stress the following words by writing the stressed syllable in capital letters

1. CAL-cu-la-tor

Reason:

Stress the 4th syllable from the end in a word that ends with TOR.

2. Cir-cum-STAN-tial

Stress the second syllable from the end in a word that ends with IAL

3. In-sti-TU-tion

Stress the second syllable from the end in a word that ends with ION

4. In-DOC-trin-ate

Stress the third syllable from the end in a word that ends with ATE

5. Ac-ci-DEN-tal

Stress the third syllable from the end in a word that ends with AL but the third syllable is weak

6. Au-TO-cra-cy

Stress the third syllable from the end in a word that ends with CY

7. De-VE-lop-ment
64 | P a g e

Stress the third syllable from the end in a word that ends with MENT

8. Con-cen-TRA-tion

Stress the second syllable f…

Our students are usually confused in the use of the indefinite article "a" or "an" before words that begin
with the consonant sound "h".

H is only silent,at the word initial position,in the following words and words derived from them

Hour

Honest

Honour

Heir

Honourable

Honorarium

Say ,

An hour

An honest man

An honorarium

Otherwise

Use the article A before other words beginning with H

A hospital

A hotel

A helmet

A helicopter

Insert the appropriate word

1. The jury gave(its/their) verdict on the case.

65 | P a g e

2. I said John saw Mary(Didn't I/Didn't she)?

3. I have (likeness/liking) for football.

4. I don't like (him/his) talking that way.

5. The old woman had no children and no real friends (either/neither)

6. One of you who(was/were) invited should see me.

7. Each student,parent and teacher(has/have) to know this.

8. My TV set has(spoilt/broken).

9. You are advised to refrain (from/against) smoking.

10. Do not dabble(in/into) politics.

ANSWERS

Question 1

Its

Reason

Jury is a collective noun and it agrees with a singular verb when the individuals are considered

Question 2

Didn't I?

Reason

It is a positive statement and I reported it.

Question 3

Liking

Reason

Likeness mean to look alike. Liking implies to like something.

Question 4

His

Reason
66 | P a g e

Any construction with a GERUND needs a possessive and not a personal pronoun

Question 5

Either

Reason

English does not accept DOUBLE NEGATIVE

Question 6

Were

Reason

The verb agrees with YOU

Question 7

Has

Reason

The verb agrees with EACH

Question 8

Broken

Reason

Only perishable things can spoil.

Question 9

From

Reason Refrain collocates with from

Question 10

In

Reason

Dabble in means not seriously imvolved

Will you be chanced?

67 | P a g e

I will not be chanced.

I hear this often. Let's examine the semantic implication.

Chance,as a verb,means to do something that involves a risk.

I didn't have enough petrol in my car but I decided to chance it.

Or

To take a risk by doing something which may fail

I decided to stay where I was. I couldn't chance being seen.

Figuratively,it means for something to happen in a way which is not expected or planned. It is used in this
manner chance to do something

She chanced to be passing when I came out of the house

Chance,as an adjective,is usually attributive (only before a noun)it means not planned or expected.It
means accidental.

A chance meeting is an accidental meeting.

Instead of saying I will be chanced,say I will be available…

Question and Answer will come tomorrow

We will interact

Attention

Please let's stop inviting people to this group. The lecture has ended. All we do now is a revision through
practice questions and other forms of interactions.
68 | P a g e

Many people contact me daily telling me that somebody gave them a link to the group.

God bless you all.

Can you on the generator?Please don't off the generator.

Common expressions among us?

On and off are prepositions that are not used as verbs.However,OFF can be used as a verb to mean KILL.

OFF that boy now!In some aspects of Portuguese English,OFF is used as switch off.Let's avoid such a
usage as it considered an error.

Note,also,that ON and OFF can be adverbs and nouns as well.

In that context,use "turn on" and "turn off".

Can you turn on the generator?

Please don't turn off the generator.

I really need your support for the growth of this school.The school was established in September,2010 .

Stylisticians School of Public Speaking and Communication Skills.

www.stylisticiansschools.com
69 | P a g e

mystylisticians@gmail.com

For any advice,

Call/WhatsApp: 08033336265

Good evening.

Insert the appropriate option that has the same sound as the letters in bold

1. Th ank

A. Tick

B. Tank

C. Stick

D. Think

2. G iant

A. Girl

B. Ghetto

C. Joke

D. Leg

3 . B in

A. Doubt

B. Debt

C. Lamb

D. Bomb

4. H aven

A. Honour

B. Hour

C. Heir
70 | P a g e

D. Hair

5. T ow

A. Bustle

B. Length

C. Epistle

D. Picked

6. Phra s e

A. Cease

B. Fleece

C. Sees

D. Price

7. Wea th er

A. Soothing

B. Think

C. Theatre

D. Thanks

8. Si ng

A. Bog

B. Nagged

C. Fringe

D. Think

9. Bank ed

A. Led

B. Filed

C. Taken

D. Ludo
71 | P a g e

10. D id

A. Handsome

B. Marked

C. Banked

D. Land

1D

2. C

3. C

B is silent in othere

4. D

H is silent in others

5. D

Ed is pronounced asT

6. C

S is pronounced as Z

7. A

8. D

N becomes NG when followed by K

9. C

Ed is pronounced as T

10. D

D is silent in handsome and ED is pronounced as T

ED becomes T after the voiceless consonants such as

K: knoeked

S missed
72 | P a g e

P stopped

F laughed

Sh washed

Round up?

That means to gather people or arrest criminals.

You can round up your friends to do a task.

The police can round up criminals

Whenever you want to conclude a discussion,use ROUND OFF.

Before I round off,let me emphasize this....

A good communication skill is an advantage and a plus to your profession.

Do not delay the acquisition.

Good evening

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the sound in bold

1. F ae ces

A. Police

B. Pain

C. Peasant

D. Pear
73 | P a g e

2. Advant a ge

A. Page

B. Human

C. Women

D. Back

3. L eo pard

A. Leaven

B. People

C. Led(verb)

D. Geology

4. S a me

A. Material

B. Height

C. Elite

D. Mart

5. S e rious

A. Deer

B. Sea

C. Bear

D. Serene

Answers

1. A
74 | P a g e

It is a long vowel.

2. C

It produces sound /I/ just like o in women

3. A

It produces sound /e/

4. C

The sound is/ei/

Present in/eili:t/

5. A

The sound is/ià/

It is present in deer.

Some verbs are irregular.

They have the same form in their present and past forms.

The past tense of CUT is CUT

Put-Put

Beat-Beat

Broadcast-Broadcast

Cast-Cast

Split- Split

Spread-Spread

Hit-Hit

Hurt-Hurt

Don't say,
75 | P a g e

He casted his vote wisely.

Say,

He cast his vote wisely.

Never say,

It was broadcasted yesterday

Say

It was broadcast yesterday.

Good evening.

Good morning all.

This morning,we will examine the principle of countable and uncountable nouns

Countable nouns are countable because

1. They can change from singular to plural

Lady- Ladies

2. They can be preceded by cardinal numbers

One tooth

Two teeth

3. They can be precede by

Many
76 | P a g e

An

Several

All

One

Every

Each

Never say

An advice✖

Say

A piece of advice✔

1. I will send a(letter/mail) to you.

2. The girl was given a(blame/rebuke) for her attitude.

3. She asked me to come for a (lunch/meal)

4. She played a(fun/joke) on me.

5. She requested me to give her a(help/loan)

6. The woman is carrying a(load/luggage)

7. I gave her an(instruction/Information)

8. He did me a great(honour/respect)

9. He spoke a(slang/dialect)I could not understand.

10. I issued him a(permit/permission)

All the answers required here must be countable nouns because only countable nouns can agree with
A/AN

1. Letter

2. Rebuke
77 | P a g e

3. Meal

4. Joke

5. Loan

6. Load

7. Instruction

8. Honour

9. Dialect

10. Permit.

Do not let this lockdown disturb your plan. The lifespan of IELTS is TWO YEARS

Your initial excuse was the usual song NO TIME.There is time now.

We have an interesting IELTS package for you.

TEN-DAY WHATSAPP IELTS CLASS

It involves texts,voice notes and video calls.

Join us TOMORROW as the class commences.

Are you interested?

Call/WhatsApp:08033336265

Do you have any challenge in standing before a group to speak?

Do you know that STAGE FRIGHT is not a problem?

78 | P a g e

Do you know there are easy steps to overcoming stage fright?

Join us today at 5pm as we discuss ORAL PRESENTATION SKILLS

Make this lockdown a memorable one. The initial excuse before now was no time.

Use this period to learn:

* The basic Grammar rules

* Pronunciation

* Rudiments of Public Speaking

Join our 30-Day WhatsApp English Class for just 2,000 naira.

To register,pay into:

GTB 0016989257

Then call/WhatsApp:08033336275

Do you have any challenge in standing before a group to speak?

Do you know that STAGE FRIGHT is not a problem?

Do you know there are easy steps to overcoming stage fright?

Join us today at 5pm as we discuss ORAL PRESENTATION SKILLS

79 | P a g e

Make this lockdown a memorable one. The initial excuse before now was no time.

Use this period to learn:

* The basic Grammar rules

* Pronunciation

* Rudiments of Public Speaking

Join our 30-Day WhatsApp English Class for just 2,000 naira.

To register,pay into:

GTB 0016989257

Then call/WhatsApp:08033336265

Do people live ON THE STREETS or IN THE STREETS?

The two expressions are correct.

However, ON THE STREETS is a British expression while IN THE STREET is used in American
English.

The man/woman in/on the street is an average person who represents the general opinion about things.

It is never late to register for our ONLINE CLASS as well as our Executive Public Speaking Class both
on Saturday and Sunday in Yaba and Ikorodu respectively.

Also, our ONLINE IELTS class commences tomorrow.

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Call:08033336265

Good afternoon