A SPOKEN ENGLISH GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS from BISWADEEP B.,

MY DEAR ENGLISH TEACHER ,AVAILABLE AT +37190702922BISWADEEP BEE IS A LONG STANDINGTEACHER FROM PRESTIGIOUS INSTITU-TIONS IN INDIA.HERE, HE WANTS TO BE

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more.... call, the above number (+37190702922)at a nominal charge of around $0.10 a minute to get answers to questions on,grammar,or the problems of essay or report writing when only a chat

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A ONE MONTH GUIDE TO SPOKEN ENGLISH (You can divide the days, I have here divided your work.Have a great time!)

1. PHONETICS(a) the role of phonetics in everyday conversation(b) the basic phonetics symbols(c) the basic pronunciation of ‘a’ , ‘b’, ‘e’ , ‘I’ , ‘o’, ‘u’ and their variants.(d) Direct and indirect speech and tenses in everyday conversation (e) Past ,present and future tenses.

2. READINGSTUDENTS will be given passages to read aloud in the class in order to test(i) their grounding in the phonetics training

(ii) to test their handling of situations in everyday life like workplace situations, Domestic negotiations etc. (iii) to WRITE JOB APPLICATIONS. (iv)describe family life/ talk about their personal profile to others

3. VOCABULARY(i) stock of words(ii) changing of words according to different situations and timings.(iii) different words for different places i.e vocabulary for workplace, for everyday usage ,for casual conversation etc.

GROUP DISCUSSIONStudents may ask each other questions or engage in mock roll-playing.

The above is just an outline of the main topics for the course . A detailed description of the main chapters to be taught and the EXERCISES TO BEASSIGNED TO THE STUDENTS IN CLASS IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES:

PERSONAL QUESTIONS (These are to be tested on the students on the first few classes as well as they can form the basis for any background English conversation between the teacher and the students)ExerciseRead the following questions and write answers to them:1, What type of films do you like to see?________________________________________________________________.2. Which film is your favourite?________________________________________________________________.3. What is your opinion about the standard of films nowadays?________________________________________________________________.4. Which type of music do you dislike? Why?________________________________________________________________.

5. What are your other hobbies? ________________________________________________________________. 6. Would you like to be a actor, singer ,or dancer? ________________________________________________________________. (AFTER ASKING THE ABOVE QUESTIONS , THE TEACHER CAN ,AT THIS POINT, BECOME A LITTLE MOE PERSONAL:) 7. How many family members are there in your house?

_________________________________________________________________.

8. Is your family a joint family or a nuclear family?(Here the student may be instructed that a joint family means one in which all th family members of different generations live side by side or together whereas a nuclear family is one in which a few family members live together, mostly two adults and a few children. This kind of discussion between the teacher and the students helps in increasing the vocabulary of the students besides th main topic at hand.)

CLOSET TEST:The following test may be conducted on beginnerstudents in order to test their power with articles and verbs:__________contrasting tree standing side____side seem ______ be joining hands. _________ flowering tree gives ___ best when it gives blooms ______ a time when there is no foliage. Next _________ attract is the tecoma argentia, called Tecoma Tree. The profusion of flowers on ______ leafless tree is amazing. This tree should _____ planted_____ distant viewing. ______ may not ______ of much significance _______ the locals but the mango tree _________ bloom at this time _______ the biggest attractions _____ foreigners. While conducting ______ tour of some foreign delegates last year I was

amused _______ see them spending _______ maximum time looking _______ a mango tree ,touching the blooms, taking fragrance and also clicking pictures .

VOCABULARY EXERCISES ( NOUN FORMS)S.No. Word Noun S.No. Word Noun

1. Able ___________ 13. Apologise ______2. Absurd ___________ 14. Attach ______3. Active ___________ 15. Appear ______4. Admire ___________ 16. Affect ______5. Abundant ___________ 17. Acquire ______6. Agree ___________ 18. Add _______7. Accurate ___________ 19. Arrive _______8. Astonish ___________ 20. Amuse ______9. Admit ___________10. Attract ___________11. Absorb ___________12. Amaze ___________

PRONUNCIATION AND PHONETICS

Give the pronunciation of the boxed letters in the following words: S.No. Word Pronunciation1. D E B R I S ___________________

2. DE B O N A I R _______________

3. D I F F I C U L T __________________

4. D I C T I O N A R Y __________________

5. L U G G A G E ___________________

continued from the previous page…..

S.No. Word Pronunciation 6. M I R R O R ______________

7. W E E N I E ______________

8. T H R E A T ______________

9. I N I T I A T I V E ______________

10. J U D I C I O U S ______________

11. V I R T U A L _______________

13. W A I F _______________

14. W I P E _______________

15. B A S K E T _______________

16. W E D N E S D A Y _______________

17. V I R G O _______________

18. S U R P R I S E _______________

19. S H O P P I N G _______________

Continued next page……

Pronunciation and Phonetics continued….

Serial No. Word Pronunciation

20. S W E L L ____________

21. A N Y T I M E ____________

22. C A M E ____________

23. Y O U Y O U R O U R _________ __________ _______

24. T H E R E ___________

CORRECT THE FOLLOWING SPELLINGS:

1. Tution 2. Survivle 3. Sofisticated 4. Hocky 5. Artical 6. Legand 7. Beautifull 8. Faithfull 9. Cruelity 10. Leopord 11. Defination 10.Calori 12. Continous 13. Loyality 14. Sincerely 15. Suspention 16. Credulous 17. Truly 18. Amonia 19. Divisibal 20. Serpentin

NUMBER AND GENDER:

1. albino ______________________ 2. Albatross ______________________ 3. Class ______________________ 4. Loss ______________________ 5. Mattress _______________________ 6. Fox _______________________ 7. Hero ______________________ 8. Airman ______________________ 10. Guess

_______________________

FINDING ERRORS: Directions: Rewrite the following sentences correcting them.

1. Dead man tells no tales.2. She is proud at her beauty.3. Let us discuss about the matter.4. The rich should help the poors.5. Though he is poor, but he is honest.6. Go home directly.7. There is no more place in this compartment.8. I have never seen him yesterday.9. I shall come back just now.10. Hardly had we stepped out of the house then it began to rain.11. There is no more place in this compartment.12. Higher you go cooler it is.13. They made him a king.14. I shall come back just now.

MONTH TWO ( MARCH)

CONTRACTED FORMS OF SPOKEN LANGUAGE I’ve - I have I’ll - I will you’re - you are

I’d - I would we’d – we would she’ll - she will

You’ve - you have we’ve – we have he’ll - he will

You’d - you would she’d - she would he’d - he would

NEGATIVE CONTRACTED FORMS

I do – I don’t we do – we don’t you do – you don’t

She does - she doesn’t he did – he didn’t they do – they don’t

He has- he hasn’t they had – they didn’t have I would – I wouldn’t

You should – you shouldn’t I will – I won’t

PARTS OF SPEECH (Definition and examples for revision by students)

THE NOUN Definition - A noun is a name of a person ,place, thing, idea, animal, feeling etc.Example - book, India, peace, silver, sympathySentences containing nouns- John left early. (noun: John) We saw twenty elephants in the jungle. (noun: elephants.)

THE PRONOUNDefinition – A pronoun is a word which is used in place of a noun or a noun phrase in a sentence. A pronoun is used to avoid repetition of anoun in a sentence.

Example- First Person Singular Plural I , me we My us Mine our, ours Second Person you you Yours yours Third Person he, she ,it they His, him, hers them Its their, theirsSentences containing pronouns - Your teacher and I agree that all of you are intelligent students. (pronouns: Your, I, you)

Anyone can do this job. (pronoun : anyone)

Each invention we see today is the result of someone’s positive thinking. (pronoun: each, we, someone’s)

THE VERB

Definition - A verb is a saying or doing word . It indicates the state of being of the subject. The verb is the most important word in a sentence.Examples- She sings well. (sings) They are good . (are) Food tastes good. (tastes) The President was invited on the stage. (invited)

Swelling on the face is caused by water retention of the body. (caused) She appeared suddenly .(appeared)They enjoyed the meal. (enjoyed)

THE ADJECTIVE Definition - An adjective is a word that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun. An adjective may be found in two places in a sentence.Examples - There is an unusual colour in the sky during spring. (adj. unusual) The winner seems excited and upbeat . (adj. excited, upbeat) ( An adjective can be in the form of a pronoun as well.See example below: The tests reveal that counseling can control her depression. (adj. her.) That boy is really intelligent. ( adj. – that)

THE ADVERBS Definition - An adverb is a word , which describes or modifies a verb. It tells you how a thing is done, when a thing is done, and where a thing is done.

Examples- She sings well ( adv. – well) They came yesterday. ( advb. – yesterday) He went out. ( adv.- out)

THE PREPOSITION

Definition - A preposition is a word or a group of words used to show a connection between a noun or a pronoun and another word in the sentence.Prepositions are usually used before a noun or pronoun. There are about sixty prepositions in the English language.

Examples- on, of, in ,out, before, beside, below, outside, inside, by, up, down, through, for, except etc.

THE CONJUNCTION Definition- A Conjunction is a word that joins words, phrases or sentences together.

Examples- If you call her, she will come. ( conj.- If ) He is taller than her. ( conj.- than) He didn’t see her until she called him.( conj.- until)

INTERJECTION

Definition- Interjections are words used to express spontaneous feelings.

Examples- Ah! Alas! Hurray! Hello! Ouch!

THE USE OF FILLERS IN CONVERSATION How do some people speak nicely in English while others cannot? It is because those who are smooth and fluent in speaking English are using something called fillers. These words are familiar to the spoken language although not so much in the written language of English. Such words are used to cover the gaps ,while speaking, between one sentence or phrase and the next sentence. Examples of commonly used fillers are below. Please use these fillers in sentences of your own:-

Ah!Oh!Oh1Really!Well!You see!You know….I know.I see..Oh! I see.You mean…? SayIncidentally/ actually/by the wayBelieve me…Come on/ Common

As if…Not at all/never/no way/not a chanceBy all means/of courseOh! Sure ….. However/anywayMeanwhile…So…?So what?Tell me…Tell me something…

Don’t tell me…Wow!If you say soYou mean to sayDo you mean to sayYou know what I meanObviouslyIn fact/ actuallyExactlyExcuse me

WORD STUDYDistinction: (noun) an unusual achievementDeputation: (noun) a group of people sent somewhere to represent a larger group of people at a meeting or discussion.Barge in/on: (phrasal verb) to enter a room/place/house suddenly or noisily ,usually without prior information interrupting someone.Vacant: (adjective) 1)a place that is vacant is available because no one else is using it. 2) If a job is vacant, someone is needed to do it. 3) looking vacant, as if one doesn’t understand or one is not paying attention. Example: A vacant expression, smile, look etc.

Mature: (adjective) behaving in a mature way, that is the way you would expect an adult to behave. (verb form:) to start behaving like an adult and start behaving in a more sensible way as one gets older.VIP : (noun) Very Important PersonWalk-in-Interview: (noun) an interview that can be attended without any prior appointment ,call letter etc.Interviewee: (noun) someone who is being interviewed.Interviewer: (noun) someone who interviews people, especially for a job.Facial: (noun) A beauty treatment in which the face is cleansed and rubbed with creams to improve the tone of the skin.Facial: (adjective) on your face.Example: Facial expressions.Facially (adverb) Example: Facially, the women were different.

SUBJECTS AND OBJECTS IN A SENTENCE

SUBJECT: Definition : The subject of a sentence is a noun ,a pronoun or or a phrase that names a person ,place , thing or idea that indicates who or what the Sentence is about.

1. The subject can tell us who or what does the action stated by the verb .Example: The man drank a large amount of beer.

2. The subject can indicate who or what is affected by the action stated by the verb. Example: A jewellery box was placed under her pillow.

3. The subject can indicate who or what, about which something is indicated.Example: He is a big-made man in very good health.The subjects indicated above are the simple subjects (man, box,he). The simple subject is the main noun or pronoun.

The OBJECT:Definition: The object is a word or a group of words receiving the action. Of or affected by an action verb or preposition.

Examples:The production was done under his

supervision.( ‘his supervision’ is the object of the verb

‘production’)

She had no objection to the course of action .

( ‘objection’ is the object of the verb)

The nurse gave him an injection.( ‘injection’ is the direct object, ‘him’ is the indirect object)

The boy opened the door.( Door is the object of the verb ‘opened’)

LANGUAGE PROBLEMS

S.No. Words containing jumbled letters Correct Words____ ___________________________ ____________1. P N G S I R2. (Hint: Name of a season) ______________2. N O P U D 3. (Hint: Name of a currency) ______________4. A R N H T A J S A5. ( Hint: Name of an Indian state) _____________3. P C O E M O I R S C4. (Hint: Name of an instrument) ______________

5. R E T S E V E (Hint: Name of the world’s highest mountain peak) __________6. I L K A A (Hint: Name of a famous dog space traveller) ___________7. W R S O R P A

(Hint: Name of a bird) ___________8.

F

G R F I A E (Hint: Name of an animal ) ___________

9. N E O G R A ( Hint: Name of a fruit) ___________10. R M O N O

( Hint: An immature or very idiot person) ___________11. T A S U I T

(Hint: A child unable to learn) ___________12. M O Y R X O N O

(Hint: A figure of speech

LANGUAGE GAMES

Directions: Given below are words with jumbled letters. You are to write the words in the correct order of letters. Hints, have been given in brackets:

S. No. Words Containing Correct Words Jumbled Letters 1. PNGSIR (Hint: Name of a season) 2. NO P U 0 (Hint: Name of a currency) 3. A R N H T A J S A (Hint: Name of an Indian state) 4. P C 0 E MOl R S C (Hint: Name of an instrument) 5. RET S EVE

(Hint: Name of a Mountain Peak) 6. ILK A A

(Hint: Name of a famous dog space traveller)

7. W R S 0 R PA (Hint: Name of a bird) 8. F G R F I A E (Hint: Name of an animal) 9. N EO G R A (Hint: Name of a fruit) 10. R M 0 N 0 (Hint: An immature person) 11. TASUIT (Hint: A child unable to learn) 12. M 0 Y R X 0 N 0 (Hint: A figure of speech) 13. H A 0 Y 0 (Hint: A famous website)

PREPOSITIONS

Fill in the blanks in the following passages with appropriate prepositions:

(I)

A friend (1) mine was recently bitten (2) a snake as we were

I harvesting (3) the field.s. We immediately took him (4) a private

doctor, who gave him an anti snake venom serum thereby saving his life. The snakes come out (5) the food, which mainly consists (6) rodents and insects. The region is known (7) cobra bites as the venomous species is found (8) abundance (9) Punjab and other northern states

(10) India. Referring (11) snakebite cases the medical superintendent, said: "Almost three-fourths (12) snakebite victims who come here lose consciousness (13) shock. However, in those cases where the patient has been bitten (14) a venomous snake he or she is immediately administered an injection (15) anti snake venom serum. It is helpful when people bring the snake they have killed along as it saves precious time to ascertain the nature of the snake."

(II)

The clearance (1) the proejct was opposed (2) the ground that the

revised estimate (3) the work exceeded the technical sanction granted

(4) the state government. Member were of the view that the government

should again approve the estimate. There was an uproar (5) several

development projects proposed to be carried out (6) the Me (7) outer wards, specifically in "undeclared" areas. (8) sources, road and street works well (9) Rs2.5crorewereproposed (10) the agenda. A majority

PRONUNCI ATION Give the pronunciation of specified letters in the following words: 1. (i) Word: Blustery (ii) Specified Letter: 'u' (iii) as in _ 2. (i) Word: Caldera (ii) Specified Letter: 'e' (iii) as- in _

3. (i) Word: Calamitous (ii) Specified Letter: first 'a' (iii) as _

4. (i) Word: Decahedron (ii) Specified Letter: second 'e' (iii) as-- in _

5. (i) Word: Figured (ii) Specified Letters: 'ure' (iii) as _

6. (i) Word: Hypocrite

(ii) Specified Letters: 'crite'

(iii) as _

7. (i) Word: Saying

(ii) Specified Letters: 'ing'

(iii) as in _

8. (i) Word: Scabrous

(ii) Specified Letter: 'a'

(iii) as in _

9. (i) Word: Water

(ii) Specified Letter: 'a'

(iii) as in _

AUGUST 2011 ENGLISH TODAY 45 10. (i) Word: Founder

(ii) Specified Letters: 'ou'

(iii) as __ --------in----------

11. (i) Word: Four

(ii) Specified Letters: 'ou'

(iii) as __ --------in----------

12. (i) Word: Former

(ii) Specified Letter: '0'

(iii) as_---------in----------

13. (i) Word: Weight

(ii) Specified Letters: 'gh'

(iii) as ---------------------

14. (i) Word: Hushed

(ii) Specified Letters: 'ed'

(iii) as ---------------------

15. (i) Word: Hurdle

(ii) Specified Letter: 'u'

(iii) as_---------in---------***

...

WORDS CONFUSED & MISUSED - -- - .• • .•.•. u v tJLJU

Directions: Given below are some confusables. You are to use each of the words in sentences of your own so as to draw the distinction of meaning between the words pertaining to each set.

1. wave _

waive _

2. Godly _

GOdlike _

3. cord _

Chord _

card _

4. Pain _

Pane _

5. Memorable _

Memorial _

6. Horse _

Hoarse _

7. Imaginary _

Imaginative _

8. Later _

Latter _

9. Metal _

Mettle _

10. Jealous _

Zealous _

1. prescribe _

Proscribe _

12. Empty _

Vacant _

13. Vocation _

Vacation _

14. Vocation _

Avocation _

15. Profit _

Prophet _

16. Pale _

Pail _

17. Lose _

Loose _

18. Plain _

Plan _

19. Decent --,- _

Dissent _

20. Raise _

Raze _

***

I SPELLINGS '.1

Give the correct spellings of the following words:

Incorrect Spellings Correct Spellings

1. Hebriac

2. Maximle

3. Muadlin

4. Matso

5. Maturty

6. Nigle

7. Nitrefy

8. Optometery

9. Puse

10. Rehtoric

11. Rheumetic

12. Revivefy

13. Sprinkal 14. Squable

15. Prejudised 16. Unpresidented 17. Zaugma

18. Sauve

19. Sofisticated

20. Summery

21. Raticule

AUGUST 2011 ENGLISH TODAY 51

CAN You REMEMBER? DIRECTIONS: Look at the following four sub-parts in the picture for ten seconds.

After ten seconds:

Now, stop looking and cover the picture. Answer the following questions

based on the above picture to test your power of remembering things. 1. Overall, how many children are there in the picture?

2. What do the sub-parts best depict in the picture?

3. In which sub-part is the child making a snowman?

4, Who is in the boat? Boy/Girl

5. Which sub-part depict the rainy season? 6. How many children are carrying bags in sub-part four?

7. How many flower plants are there in sub-part one? 8. What is written on the sail in sub-part two?

9. There is only one bird in sub-part two? True/False 10. Is the Christmas Tree taller than the snowman? Yes/No

***

11. You are requested to sit down.

12. You are advised to be regular and punctual.

13. The criminal was hanged by them.

14. She should not take part in dirty politics.

15. The police could not find out his motorbike.

16. My brother placed the fruit in the fridge.

17. My friend can operate a computer very well.

18. Do not make a noise.

19. Ravi hit the ball hard.

20. Please let him go.

21. Mohinder dropped a catch in the match.

22. The soldier cut the enemy's throat.

23. The boy was peeling the orange.

24. The farmers are ploughing the fields.

25. Are the children brushing their teeth?

26. Were the boys carrying rods and sticks?

27. Avtar broke down the door of the house.

28. She gave a warm welcome to the guests.

29. You should separate the stones from cereals.

30. Give me a cup of coffee.

I IDIOMS & THEIR USAGE I~ _

1. Idiom: Ad valorem

Explanation: The term pertains to taxation. It means : "according to the estimated value and not weight of the goods being taxed."

Usage: Some goods are taxed by the government ad valorem.

2. Idiom: All out

Explanation: This term is used when every effort is lnvoived and a task is done

in a determined way.

Usage: We are going all out to win the match.

3. Idiom: A swan song

Explanation: It was believed in the past times that a swan sang before dying. Hence, the term refers to the last work done by a person before dying. Usage: 'The Tempest' is commonly believed to be the swan song of Shakespeare.

4. Idiom: Achille's heel

Explanation: Achille was the hero of the Trojan war. The weakest part of his body was one of his heels. He was hit on the heel by his enemy and this became the cause of his defeat. Hence, the term means "weakness" or the "weakest part". Usage: Boasting is his Achille's heel.

5. Idiom: At stake

Explanation: The term means "at risk". Usage: Compromising with fundamentalism puts India's democratic setup at stake.

(THE WRITER WISHES TO PLACE ON RECORD HIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO THE MAGAZINE ‘ENGLISH TODAY'FROM WHICH HE HAS DERIVED INPUTS FOR PARTS OF THIS WORK.)