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Punctuation
One of the biggest problems students have with English is punctuation when writing and intonation when speaking. When we speak, we use intonation — that musicality which gives meaning to sentences. Without intonation, you cannot be understood.
Do you remember the game we had in class?
Ready? No. Why? Problems. Problems? Yes. What? Money.
If you do not use intonation correctly, the conversation loses its meaning. Never forget that you are speaking or writing to convey a message to someone else. If the addressee does not understand you, it does not mean that he or she is stupid, but simply that you were not able to make your idea clear.
This intonation that gives meaning to spoken sentences is what punctuation does in writing. Many students write one very long sentence in a paragraph, which is illogical and inconceivable. My advice is to start by writing short sentences.
The easiest structure is: subject + verb + complement. With time, you will learn how to extend sentences by adding adjectives and adverbs. The best writers are those who write clearly and simply, so that they can be understood by a wide audience.
You Should First Know That
- A–B–C: Every sentence begins with a capital letter. Capital letters are also used for personal names, countries, languages, and nationalities.
- , (Comma): Commas are used in writing where, in speaking, we pause.
- " ": Quotation marks show the words someone said or a word that is not English, such as "Melwi" or "Harira".
- ?: Question marks are placed at the end of questions.
- !: Exclamation marks are placed at the end of exclamations.
- ' (Apostrophe): Used with possessives and contractions.
Example: Ali's book, Ali's a student.
The English Tenses
Another major difficulty is tenses. English is simpler than Arabic or French because there is only one infinitive.
Example:
- I play (infinitive)
- I played (infinitive + -ed)
- I am playing (infinitive + -ing)
| Simple Present | Simple Past |
|---|---|
| I play soccer every weekend. (repetition) | I played tennis yesterday. (finished action) |
| Adverbs: always, usually, sometimes, rarely, never | Time expressions: yesterday, last, ago, in + date |
| Question: Do you understand? | Question: Did you do it? |
| Negation: I do not understand. | Negation: I did not do it. |
Present Continuous
- I am playing now / at the moment.
- I am playing tomorrow / next (planned future).
Future Forms
- I shall play tomorrow.
- I will play tomorrow.
- I'll play tomorrow.
- I am playing tomorrow.
- I will be playing tomorrow.
- I am going to play tomorrow.
- I will have played by tomorrow.
Present Perfect
- I have played tennis since 1994.
- I have played tennis for ten years. (still true)
- I have just / already played tennis.
- I have not played tennis yet.
Linking Words
Linking words make writing clear, logical, and elegant. You should always use them.
Addition
- I speak French and English too / also / as well.
- I speak French as well as English.
- What's more, I write it well.
- Furthermore / Moreover / Besides / In addition to this…
Contrast
- I speak Berber, but I don't write it.
- However / Yet / Although / Even though / Though…
Cause
- I come to school because I am a student.
- Since / As I like English, I study it a lot.
Purpose
- I come to school to / in order to / so as to study.
- I come to school so that / in order that I can study.
Neither … Nor
- Neither Hajar nor Ikram cooks.
- Nada neither sings nor dances.
- Asma cooks neither tajine nor couscous.
Writing a Paragraph
- Write a topic sentence.
- Give supporting details (examples, facts, explanations).
- Use linking words.
- Reread and correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
| Sentence |
|---|
| There are three categories of offence known as war crimes. |
| First, there are crimes against peace. |
| For example, plotting war against non-aggressive countries. |
| Second, violations of the laws of war. |
| For instance, murdering prisoners or civilians. |
| Finally, crimes against humanity. |
Topic: How does the World Health Organization help people?
| Element | Sentence |
|---|---|
| Topic sentence | WHO intends to help all peoples achieve good health. |
| Supporting 1 | Disease eradication (e.g. smallpox). |
| Supporting 2 | Improving nutrition (breastfeeding). |
| Supporting 3 | Providing cheap or free medicine. |
| Conclusion | WHO works to improve global health. |
- Topic sentence: Studying a foreign language broadens our horizons.
- Supporting details: careers, education, communication.
- Examples: English for jobs, information access.
- Conclusion: Languages make us open-minded.
Television can be a cheap entertainment and a good teacher. Children can learn letters, numbers, and important values. Educational programmes help them succeed at school. In brief, television is useful when used wisely.
Writing a Composition
- Understand the topic.
- Collect ideas.
- Organize ideas.
- Write the first draft.
- Revise.
- Write the final draft.
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| argue | Present pros and cons |
| compare | Show similarities and differences |
| discuss | Examine all sides |
| define | Explain meaning |
| summarize | Short description |
| illustrate | Explain with examples |
Narrative Writing
Practice Topics
- An animal that can talk.
- Waking up with extra arms.
- Being invisible.
- Receiving three wishes.
Persuasive Writing
Steps
- Define the problem.
- Give reasons.
- Propose a solution.
- Show benefits.
- Conclude clearly.
Biography
A biography includes:
- Birth and death
- Education
- Career
- Achievements
- Beliefs and personality
- Reasons for fame
- Introduction
- Paragraph 1: Early life and education
- Paragraph 2: Career and achievements
- Paragraph 3: Beliefs and legacy
- Conclusion
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