GKT104: General Knowledge for Teachers – Language Skills

Review this list of recommended strategies to help you improve your grammar.

Descriptions add detail to what we read and help the reader "see" what the writer is thinking. In English we use modifiers to do this. When we know how different modifiers are used, we can better understand their meaning and build our vocabulary. This resource shows how adjectives and adverbs are used to modify a word or phrase. An adjective is a word that describes a noun (a person, a place, or a thing). Adjectives give us information about something so we can better understand it. Similar to an adjective, an adverb describes a verb and offers the reader more information about an action. Read this resource to learn how modifiers are used in English.

Structure doesn't just stop at a single sentence. We use organizational structures to determine the best ways to fit sentences together in a text. Authors choose a mode, rhetoric, or organization scheme that is most appropriate for their message and place their sentences in that order. By recognizing these modes of rhetoric, we can see how authors may revise a text to make it clear to the reader. Review these examples for ways to organize sentences.

In Unit 1, we learned how to identify and use correct grammatical structures. Now, you'll practice recognizing correct and incorrect structures and consider how to make unclear sentences easy for the reader to follow.

When reading you use clues to help you figure out what is happening. Sometimes, you'll find the meaning of a word hidden in the sentence you're reading. Words and phrases that you already understand can act like clues in a puzzle. Using the clues given to you in a sentence to figure out the meaning of a word or phrase is called using context clues. Watch this video about context clues.

Complete these activities to practice identifying the type of context clue by dragging the correct answer to the box below the example.

Here is a handout to help you use context clues to define words.

Even when we use context clues, modifiers, and correct tone, it can be difficult to determine the best way to use a specific word. In English, we frequently encounter specialized and figurative language. These words can mean different things depending on how they are used. For example, specialized words used frequently in app development may not be used in marketing. Or the same words may be used but in very different ways. The videos in this section will help you develop strategies for determining appropriate word use.

Watch the video "Specialized Terminology", then complete the terminology chart below to help you master the specialized terminology for this subject.

Specialized terminology, refers to when we use a word or phrase figuratively to imply something that does not match its precise definition.

Watch the video "Figurative Language", then complete the activity to practice identifying the difference between literal statements and figurative statements.

In addition to making sure we're selecting the correct or most appropriate word or phrase, we also need to make sure it's being used in a way the reader will understand. Tone, diction, and syntax (word order) influence how a reader interprets a text. Consider this example: You recently got a new job and are very excited. You want to send two emails letting people know. The first person you want to tell is your best friend. The second person is your current boss. How would those emails differ? If you write in a very formal tone to your friend, they may think you're not excited about the new job. Even worse, they could think you're upset with them for some reason. Alternately, if you use an informal tone with your boss, they may consider you unprofessional. The message may ultimately be the same, but the tone is very different. Review this advice on using tone, diction, and syntax to create an appropriate message.

Getting a clear understanding of your audience is important in communicating effectively. It also enables you to imagine your audience as you write and revise. Read about reader-centered writing and try the revision exercises.

In Unit 2, we used context clues to build vocabulary and considered the best word choices based on tone and diction. Now, you'll practice selecting the correct vocabulary to clarify the text for the reader.

When writing a sentence, we want to take care to use the same plural or singular tense and not confuse our readers. This is called "subject-verb agreement". Take this two sentences, for example, the first one uses correct subject-verb agreement, while the second sentence makes an error in number agreement. Can you see the difference?

1. The pants are too small for my brother.
2. The pants is to small for my brother. The noun "pants" is plural, so the verb needs to be plural, too. "Are" is plural, but "is" is singular, so "pants are" is the correct use of the noun and verb together. Read this resources for more information on subject-verb agreement.

Just as verbs need to agree with the sentence's subject, they must also agree with each other. If a sentence talks about the past, all the verbs need to remain in the past tense. Similarly, if the sentence is about the present, all the verbs need to stay in the present tense. When you have two sentences giving information about the same event, keep your verbs from both sentences in the same tense to avoid confusing the reader. Read this page on verb-tense agreement.

Read this brief explanation of unecessary tense shifts and how to spot them when reading or writing.

A common error in English grammar is shifting pronouns. Like verbs, pronouns need to agree in number, but they also need to agree with the noun they're replacing (the antecedent). This can be tricky if a sentence has multiple nouns that the pronoun could refer to. Keeping this straight is important for a sentence's clarity. Review this resource, and complete the exercise, to see how pronouns agree with their antecedents.

English language users love to add layers of descriptions. Think about the last time you ate something truly delicious. How many words could you use to describe it that don't use the name of the food at all? You can start simply, with sweet, salty, hot, or cold. But that's not enough, is it? How about delectable, tender, wholesome, flavorful, or pungent? What about describing how you ate it? We could use heartily, greedily, or carefully. We could also mention how it was prepared: freshly, skillfully, or healthily. We could go on and on. Using adjectives and adverbs adds information and interest to a text. Using these words correctly is important for a message to be easy for a reader to understand and visualize. Read these sections on using descriptive words correctly.

Unit 3 reviewed the best ways to use descriptive words and pronouns. We also had an opportunity to practice editing strategies to help find and correct errors in language use. Now, you'll read a short passage and then find and correct its grammar errors.