Speech Work: Vowel sound /ɒ/, Grammar: Conjunction, Figures of Speech

Contents:

Speech Work: Vowel sound /ɒ/
Grammar: Conjunction
Composition: Features of an Informal Letter
Figures of Speech

Speech Work: Vowel sound /ɒ/

This is a short sound, when you say the sound, your mouth is open and your lips are rounded. The tongue is low inside the mouth. This sound can be spelt in different ways. O a ua unusual

Lost want quality cough

Short watch quantity laurel

October what quality

Grammar: Conjunction

A conjunction is word that is used to joint two or more words, phrases and clauses together. There are three different types of conjunction, but we will concentrate on the major ones which are; the coordinating conjunction and the correlative conjunction.

1. The Coordinating Conjunction: A coordinating conjunction join words, phrases and clauses together, they also show the relationship between sentence particles. There are seven coordinating conjunctions which are:

For; this explains reason or purpose e.g. I go to park every Sunday, for I love to watch the dusk
And ; and adds one thing to another e.g. I love chicken and chips
Nor; used to present an alternative negative, after the negative idea has been stated. e.g. I don’t go for the fresh air nor the dusk
But; this is used to show contrast e.g. I don’t like Sundays, but I Love going to church
Or; presents an alternative or a choice e.g. should I sleep or watch late night movies
Yet; it introduces a contrasting idea that follows the presiding idea
So; indicate effect, result or consequences. E.g. I am getting married to the most handsome man, so I can show him off to the world.

2. Subordinating Conjunction: A Subordinating Conjunction is a conjunction that introduces a dependent clause, joining it to a main clause. Also called a subordinator. Most subordinating conjunctions are single words (e.g., because, before, when). However, some subordinating conjunctions consist of more than one word (e.g., as long as, except that).

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

a. Cause
as
because
in order that
since
so that

b. Concession and Comparison
although
as
as though
even though
just as
though
whereas
while

c. Condition
even if
if
in case
provided that
unless

d. Place
where
wherever

e. Time
after
as soon as
as long as
before
once
still
till
until
when
whenever
while

Examples

While the State exists, there can be no freedom. When there is freedom, there will be no State.

If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there would be peace.

2. Coordinating Conjunctions: Coordinating Conjunction is a conjunction (such as and) that joins two similarly constructed and/or syntactically equal words or phrases or clauses within a sentence. The coordinating conjunctions are and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet. Compare with subordinating conjunctions, in some cases, as shown in the examples below, a coordinating conjunction may also be used at the beginning of a new sentence.

Examples

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

She must have been tired, for she fell asleep the moment she inclined her head.

It’s a sad day when you find out that it’s not accident or time or fortune but just yourself that kept things from you.

3. Correlative Conjunction: A Correlative Conjunction is a paired conjunction (such as not only . . . but also) that links balanced words, phrases, and clauses. The elements connected by correlative conjunctions are usually parallel–that is, similar in length and grammatical form. Each element is called a conjoin.

These are the primary correlative conjunctions in English:
both . . . and
either . . . or
neither . . . nor
not . . . but
not only . . . but also

Other pairs that sometimes have a coordinating function include the following:
as . . . as
just as . . . so
the more . . . the less
the more . . . the more
no sooner . . . than
so . . . as
whether . . . or

Examples

By about midnight, the other travelers had found a place to sleep, either in the huts of the village or under the coach itself

AND

To suggest that one idea is chronologically sequential to another: “Tashonda sent in her applications and waited by the phone for a response.”
To suggest that one idea is the result of another: “Willie heard the weather report and promptly boarded up his house.”
To suggest that one idea is in contrast to another (frequently replaced by but in this usage): “Juanita is brilliant and Shalimar has a pleasant personality”.
To suggest an element of surprise (sometimes replaced by yet in this usage): “Hartford is a rich city and suffers from many symptoms of urban blight.”
To suggest that one clause is dependent upon another, conditionally (usually the first clause is an imperative): “Use your credit cards frequently and you’ll soon find yourself deep in debt.”
To suggest a kind of “comment” on the first clause: “Charlie became addicted to gambling — and that surprised no one who knew him.”

BUT

To suggest a contrast that is unexpected in light of the first clause: “Joey lost a fortune in the stock market, but he still seems able to live quite comfortably.”
To suggest in an affirmative sense what the first part of the sentence implied in a negative way (sometimes replaced by on the contrary): “The club never invested foolishly, but used the services of a sage investment counselor.”
To connect two ideas with the meaning of, “with the exception of” (and then the second word takes over as subject): “Everybody but Goldenbreath is trying out for the team.”

To suggest that only one possibility can be realized, excluding one or the other: “You can study hard for this exam or you can fail.”
To suggest the inclusive combination of alternatives: “We can broil chicken on the grill tonight, or we can just eat leftovers”.
To suggest a refinement of the first clause: “Smith College is the premier all-women’s college in the country, or so it seems to most Smith College alumnae.”
To suggest a restatement or “correction” of the first part of the sentence: “There are no rattlesnakes in this canyon, or so our guide tells us.”
To suggest a negative condition: “The New Hampshire state motto is the rather grim “Live free or die.”

Reading and Comprehension: Asking questions

When you are reading a comprehension passage, you should learn to ask question. When you ask questions on your own it gives an idea of what the examiners question may be , and it also makes you understand the passage well, because while you are asking yourself that question, you attempt to answer it too.

In asking questions, you can use this as guide to help you in asking your questions. They are the ; when, the how, the where, what and the why.

Composition: Features of an Informal Letter

Informal letters are letters we write to people we know that are close to us. They may be our friends, family members, class mates etc.

An Informal letter is a personal letter written to someone we are familiar with. An informal letter can be written for any reason or purpose. An informal letter is also called personal letter, the recipient could be your friend, sibling or other family member.

An Informal letter is just a written means of communication. When writing an Informal letter, there are no real strict rules to follow unless you’re writing it in an examination.

You are allowed to make use of slang, abbreviations and codes when writing an Informal letter.

You can afford to be casual and friendly. There is no limit to pleasantries.

This is an example of an informal letter.

Hey,

I had to leave after waiting for 2 hours, but you promised to be back in only 10 minutes! Hmm, it’s so typical of you to be disappointing. I kept the keys under the rugs. Keep your big head out of trouble till I’m back. Lol.

XOXO

However, if you’re asked to write an Informal letter in an examination, there is a format you need to use. Here are the steps to follow:

Your Address and date: In an informal letter, this should be written at the top right corner of the page and the date should follow.

Introduction: Greetings and pleasantries.Example: How are you doing? I got your letter last week, so you’ve made up your mind concerning which course to study, cool. I have some really juicy gist for you and I bet you’ll be shocked when you’re done reading this.

Body: The second paragraph should convey whatever it is you want to get across, in details.

Conclusion: The last paragraph of an Informal letter should be conclusive, a summary of what you’ve been writing about.

Complementary Close In an Informal letter, you are not required to sign, just the complimentary close and your name. This goes at the bottom of the letter. Yours sincerely is always acceptable, followed by your name or nickname. Variations are possible for very close relationships e.g. Your friend, Your sister, Lots of love, etc.

When you are writing an informal letter there are some things you have to put in place. The informal letter has the following features:

Introduction: the introduction includes the address of the writer, (which is usually written at the top right corner, followed by the salutation which could be ‘Dear sister’ as the case maybe.
The body: In the body, you go ahead and talk about your reason for writing this letter. This is usually done in 2-3 paragraphs.
The conclusion: In the concluding paragraph, you summarize your point, and then give a closing remark which may end like this ‘cheers’, yours ‘sincerely’ etc.

Literature-in English

A figure of speech is a rhetorical device that achieves a special effect by using words in a distinctive way.

Figures of Speech

Alliteration: The repetition of an initial consonant sound. Example: She sells seashells by the seashore.
Antithesis: The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases. Example: As Abraham Lincoln said, “Folks who have no vices have very few virtues.”
Apostrophe: Directly addressing a nonexistent person or an inanimate object as though it were a living being. Example:“Oh, you stupid car, you never work when I need you to,” Bert sighed.
Assonance: Identity or similarity in sound between internal vowels in neighboring words. Example:How now, brown cow?
Euphemism: The substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit.Example: “We’re teaching our toddler how to go potty,” Bob said.
Hyperbole: An extravagant statement; the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect. Example:I have a ton of things to do when I get home.
Irony: The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. Also, a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea. Example:“Oh, I love spending big bucks,” said my dad, a notorious penny pincher.
Metaphor: An implied comparison between two dissimilar things that have something in common. Example:“The entire world’s a stage.”
Metonymy: A figure of speech in a word or phrase is substituted for another with which it’s closely associated; also, the rhetorical strategy of describing something indirectly by referring to things around it.

Example: “That stuffed suit with the briefcase is a poor excuse for a salesman,” the manager said angrily.

Assessment

Identify the Conjunction

I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible
Use your credit cards frequently and you’ll soon find yourself deep in debt
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety
You can study hard for this exam or you can fail
I will give you whenever you come