Grade Six English
Hello Boys and Girls of Grade Six! Today you will learn to identify adverbs and will try to improve your writing by learning about the elements of a paragraph. Read the notes carefully and complete all the exercises. Please continue to do your revision daily.
GRAMMAR
WITH MY FRIEND
-Take turns to read these pairs of sentences.
Sally ran. He reads.
Sally ran speedily. He reads daily.
- Pick out the verb from each sentence.
- Underline the word which adds meaning to the verb in the second sentence
of each pair.
- These words are called adverbs.
- Use your reference books to find out more about adverbs.
WITH MY CLASSMATES
Read and discuss the notes.
The Adverb
- The adverb is a word which modifies or adds meaning to a verb, an adjective or another adverb.
Types of Adverbs
- Adverbs tell how, when, where and to what extent actions are done. - Adverbs may be divided into different classes according to their functions
in sentences.
1) Manner – These adverbs tell how actions are done.
The rain fell heavily.
2) Time – These adverbs tell when actions are done.
I arrived early at the airport.
3) Frequency – Adverbs of frequency tell how often actions are done.
My cousins and I visited Grandma regularly.
4) Place – These tell where actions are done.
The students stood there.
5) Degree – These tell ‘to what extent’ actions are done.
Mom was very anxious about my test results.
ON MY OWN
Exercise
Pick out the adverbs from these sentences.
1. My sister tip-toed quietly into the room.
2. Sometimes Dad comes home from work very late.
3. Mary left hurriedly to take the bus but retuned disappointedly when she
missed it.
4. The water in the lake is extremely cold.
5. Sadly, William reported that his rabbit was missing.
COMPOSITION
WITH MY CLASSMATES
Read and discuss the notes.
Elements of a Paragraph
The Topic Sentence
- The topic sentence is the most important sentence of a paragraph.
- It tells the topic and the writer’s main idea about the topic.
- The main idea is the one special thought or feeling a writer has about the
topic. It is the idea the writer wants to make sure the readers won’t miss. - Key words are used in a topic sentence to label both the topic and the main
idea.
- The topic sentence can be placed in the beginning, the middle or the ending of a paragraph. (The topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph gives the main idea right away. It signals to the reader what’s coming next)
Unity in the Paragraph
- A paragraph has unity when all the other sentences support the topic
sentence.
- Each sentence must tell something about the topic sentence. - It should illustrate, clarify, explain, support and/ or address the idea that the topic sentence puts forward.
Order in a Paragraph
- Order is achieved in a paragraph when the supporting sentences move the details easily from one point to the next without backtracking or wandering.
- For a writer to achieve order, all the sentences in the paragraph must tell something about the topic sentence.
- A paragraph that is arranged in a sensible order has a beginning, middle and an ending.
Coherence in the Paragraph
- Coherence is closely related to unity but it is not the same. A coherent paragraph is one in which all the sentences relate smoothly to each other.
- Signal words and phrases are used in paragraphs to link ideas together. They serve as bridges from one idea or detail to another in a single paragraph. They signal links between thoughts.
COMPREHENSION
ON MY OWN
Read the passage carefully then answer the questions which follow.
About dawn, the fisherman reached the beach, pushed off his boat and went on his usual fishing expedition. While he was in the process of doing his work: baiting his hooks, hauling in the lines and catching the snappers, the heat became so intense that he felt almost “deadbeat.”
He knew the more fish he caught, the more money he would receive from their sale; so he fought on with open determination. In time, the shadows around him were at their smallest, although he appeared not to notice them. At last, fatigue overcame him and he gave up his toil and rested for a while.
It was nearing sunset when he weighed anchor, propelled his boat by two oars and returned to the shore. The hawkers with great expectancy, gathered around to help him haul the boat over the sand. Their eyes soon glowed for his bountiful catch made them extremely happy.
(Ashton Chapman& Lianda Chapman, 11+ Comprehension Workbook)
Questions
Read each question carefully then draw a heavy black line through the letter (A, B, C or D) which is near the answer you choose.
1. The fisherman reached the beach A) before sunrise
C) before sunset
B) at midday
D) about dawn
2. According to the passage, all the following talk about the work of the fisherman except
A) baiting his hooks
C) looking for fish in the water 3 “The shadows around him were at their smallest” tells that
A)many persons were with the fisherman.
B) there was a large crowd, so they looked small
C) the shadows were no longer seen.
D) it was getting late 4. Why did the hawkers’ eyes glow?
A) They were happy to see the fisherman.
B) They were happy with the catch.
C) It was nearing sunset.
D) They were glad to haul the boat over the sand. 5. The most suitable title for the passage is
A) Selling Fishes
C) Catching Snappers
B) catching snappers
D) hauling in the lines
B) A Fisherman
D) A Fishing Trip
Goodbye Boys and Girls!