Grade Six English

Hello Boys and Girls of Grade Six! Today we begin to study another part of speech- the verb. Can you remember what you learned about verbs in your last class? This lesson will help you to identify verbs. You will also get ideas to write the controlling statement and the middle stage of a composition. Enjoy your session!

GRAMMAR

WITH MY FRIEND

- Take turns to read the sentences.

Come!

I walk to school every day.

- The words above in bold print are called verbs. A verb can be used to make a one-word sentence. This is not so with the other parts of speech.

- Can you tell what work verbs do in sentences? Use your reference books to find out more about this part of speech.

WITH MY CLASSMATES

- Read and discuss the notes.

THE VERB

- The verb is an important part of speech. The shortest sentence contains a verb. - A verb is a word that expresses action or state of being.

Sarah reads often. (action)

Lisa has long, black hair.(state of being)

- Some verbs express actions that we cannot see.

Many pupils in our class agreed with my suggestion. I believe your story.

- The most common being verb is the verb ‘be’ itself in all its form.

am, is, are ,was, were, has been, have been, will be, had been.

A verb always has a subject. It tells what the subject does or is.

ON MY OWN

Exercise

Pick out the verbs from these sentences.

1. We gathered shells from the beach and made beautiful crafts. 2. My sister jumps and skips in the yard.

3. Joan swept the house and scrubbed the bathroom.

4. Roy and Hector are brothers and they both play football. 5. Grandpa loves tomatoes, so he plants them in his garden.

COMPOSITION

WITH MY CLASSMATES

Read and discuss the notes.

The Controlling Statement and the Middle Writing Stage The Controlling Statement

The controlling sentence of a composition must be phrased carefully. • It must be specific as possible.

• It should state the specific areas your composition will cover, or the exact number of points you will make.

• It is usually the last sentence in the introductory paragraph. The controlling statement should do the following: present the argument to the reader. get the reader’s attention. prepare and alert the reader for what will follow.

The Middle Writing Stage

The middle writing stage of the composition will require that you develop some new skills as well as use some that you already possess.

These three paragraphs form the body of the essay. They provide details, such as facts, quotes, explanations and reasons for the three points in your introductory paragraph that support your controlling sentence. Take the three points you listed in your controlling sentence and discuss each in one body paragraph. Here’s how:

• First, write a topic sentence that summarizes your point. This is the first sentence of your paragraph.

• Next, write your argument, or why you feel the topic sentence is true.

• Finally, present your evidence (facts, quotes, examples, explanations and reasons) to support your argument.

• Now you have a body paragraph. Repeat for points two and three. The best part about introducing your main points in the first paragraph is that it provides an outline for your body paragraphs.

ON MY OWN

Exercise

In about 120-200 words, write on one of these topics:

A) Our Family Has Three Important Values B) Three Qualities I Like about my Closest Friend

COMPREHENSION ON MY OWN

Read the passage carefully then answer the questions which follow.

One night David was walking home from his aunt. She had given him a bottle of pepper sauce which he had secured in his pocket. He was walking across a field late that night when he heard a noise behind him. He looked back and saw several pairs of ferocious eyes. Knowing that they were the eyes of some hungry dogs, David began to walk faster but the dogs began to close in on him. David saw a lone tree standing down ahead. He made a break for it, hurried up and climbed to the top while the dogs gathered round the trunk in a circle and looked at him. He sat and waited and so did the dogs. Eventually all but two of the dogs left. They sniffed around a bit and then went away. Thinking he was saved; David began to crawl down the tree. He was halfway down when he saw a terrible sight. Two of the dogs came back and to his horror David saw they had a pit bull with them. He thought he was going to be ravished so he reached for the pepper sauce in his pockets and emptied it on the vicious animals. They ran away howling.

David then waited until it was clear then he climbed down and ran all the way home.

Questions

Read the questions carefully then draw a heavy black line through the letter (A, B, C or D) which is near the answer you choose.

1. Who is telling the story? A) A third- person narrator C) David’s aunt

2. Which of the following gives the correct order of events of the story? A) walks across a field → leaves aunt’s home →climbs up tree→ attacked by

dogs

B) leaves aunt’s home→ walks across a field → attacked by dogs → climbs up tree

C) attacked by dogs → leaves aunt’s home → walks across a field → climbs up tree

D) leaves aunt’s home → attacked by dogs → walks across a field → climbs up tree

3. What is the climax or big moment of the story?

A) David walking across the field B) David running home

C) David up the tree D) David spraying pepper sauce on dogs

4. The best meaning for the word A) taken

C) overcome

B) A first- person narrator D) David

ravished in the passage is B) carried off D) forced

5. Which is the most suitable title for the passage?

A) A Dog Hunt B) The Pepper Sauce Trick C) A Narrow Escape D) David and the Dogs

Goodbye Boys and Girls!