Table of Contents
Noun: A noun serves as a naming word, representing a person, animal, place, thing, or idea. It encompasses names of institutions, months, days, and abstract concepts. Examples of nouns include:
Number: English has two numbers – singular and plural. Singular refers to one, while plural refers to more than one. Countable nouns have both singular and plural forms, while uncountable nouns have only a singular form.
Singular: School, Mat, House, Box, Bonus
Plural:
Irregular Plurals
Singular: man, ox, goose, crisis, forum, formula, symposium, foot, parenthesis, medium, index, larva, louse, mouse, curriculum, axis, oasis
Plural:
Singular: Head of state, head of department, commander in chief, woman doctor, secretary general, woman occupant, passer-by, mother-in-law, grown-up, major general, church-goer, step-son
Plural:
Singular: Gross, Deer, Sheep, Fish, Series, Trout, Salmon, Person
Plural:
Others
Note: These Are In Plural Forms
These Naturally ‘GO’ with ‘S’ or ‘ES’
More On Review Of Parts Of Speech Pronouns And Adjectives
Pronouns: Pronouns are words used to replace nouns in a sentence to avoid unnecessary repetition. Nouns and pronouns are used interchangeably in a sentence, performing the same function. Examples include he, they, we, etc.
Personal Pronouns:
Examples include I, we, they, us, etc.
Possessive Pronouns:
Examples include yours, his, hers, theirs, its, yours, etc.
Demonstrative Pronouns:
Examples include this, that, these, those.
Interrogative Pronouns:
Examples include who, which, whom, whose, etc.
Reflexive Pronouns:
Examples include myself, themselves, yourselves/yourself, ourselves, oneself, etc.
Reciprocal Pronouns:
Examples include each other and one another.
Relative Pronoun:
Examples include which, whom, whose, who, that, etc.
Indefinite Pronouns:
Examples include someone, somebody, anything, anyone, everything, everyone, nobody, nothing, etc.
Adjectives are words that describe or qualify nouns. They perform attributive functions when placed before a noun, and predicative functions when placed after a linking verb.
A verb expresses action and a state of being.
Rules of Spelling:
(a) Words of one syllable with one vowel and a consonant at the end double the consonant before adding suffixes beginning with a vowel.
Examples: big – bigger, bat – batting, drop – dropped, drum – drummer.
(b) When the vowel is doubled (o, a), do not double the consonant.
Examples: boat – boating, boil – boiled, cheap – cheapest, sweet – sweeter (Exception: wool – woollen).
(c) Words of more than one syllable (ad/mit) –i-vowel, t-consonant, double the final consonant when the accent is on the last syllable.
Examples: admit – admittance, begin – beginning, forget – forgetting, occur – occurrence.
(d) Words of more than one syllable not accented on the last syllable: do not double the consonant if you add an ending that begins with a vowel.
Examples: enter – entering, happen – happened, inhabit – inhabitant, refer – reference.
(e) A final “p” is doubled.
Examples: Handicap – Handicapped, Kidnap – kidnapped, Worship – Worshipped (Exception: Develop – Developed).
(f) In words ending with “c,” add “k” before the suffix.
Examples: frolic – frolicked, mimic – mimicked, panic – panicky.
Verbs often combine with adverbial particles to create multi-word or phrasal verbs. The meanings of these expressions cannot be deduced from the individual verb and particles in isolation; instead, they must be understood within the context of the entire phrase.
Examples:
Phrasal verbs with double particles have a single meaning; for example, “put up with” means to tolerate (I cannot put up with his insulting behavior).
An adverb is a word that modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
Formation of Adverbs
Many adverbs are formed from adjectives, such as certain – certainly, fortunate – fortunately, careful – carefully, quick – quickly, indoor – indoors, outdoor – outdoors.
Some adverbs indicating direction end in –wards– (e.g., downwards, forwards, backwards).
Some adverbs expressing manner or viewpoint end in –wise– (e.g., clockwise, foodwise, moneywise).
Many other adverbs have no special ending, such as always, early, fast, if, how, quite, often, very, when, hard, late, so, very.
Adjuncts: These typically inform us about how, when, where, or to what extent the action of the verb is performed.
Examples:
Disjuncts: These usually convey an attitude or viewpoint, often that of the speaker. For instance, “Luckily, she arrived,” “Frankly, we were in the wrong,” “Ola is certainly the best,” “Foolishly, he fell.” Other examples include honestly, seriously, strangely, undoubtedly, happily, fortunately.
Performing a connective function, conjuncts join two sentences or clauses. For instance, “It was a hard task; nevertheless, we performed well.” Another example is “She is hardworking; besides, she is intelligent.” Additional conjuncts include “consequently,” “meanwhile,” “otherwise,” “similarly,” “then,” “alternately,” etc.
Conjunctions are words that join words or groups of words together.
Types Of Conjunctions
Show relationships between two words in a sentence. Examples: “within,” “before,” “at,” “in,” “on,” “over,” etc. Some prepositions go with certain words. E.g., “allergic to,” “arrive in,” “live on,” “stare at,” “charge with,” “comply with,” etc.
Others include: “in agreement with,” “in compliance with,” “in apposition with,” “because of,” “in accordance with,” “with regard to,” “with respect to,” “in spite of,” “by means of,” “along with,” etc.
Relevant Words:
The craft of essay writing is a form of communication that demands the mastery of essential skills to achieve excellence.
A formal report can encompass various subjects such as a robbery, an accident, meeting proceedings, a work camp, or a petition. Proficiency in using both direct and indirect speech forms is a crucial requirement for report writing. If reporting to a principal, one must adhere to formal letter writing procedures, including providing one’s address.
Example:
Class 1W
14th December 2010
The Principal,
Queen of Apostles Secondary School,
Zaria.
Sir,
Report of the Robbery in Amina Hostel.
(Text of the Report)
Signature
Peter Andrew
Prefect (Amina Hostel)
Another form of reporting is through minutes of meetings, serving as a record of events and discussions. Every meeting should have a prepared agenda listing items to be considered or discussed. The report should include the club’s name, date, venue, and a list of members.
Definition:
Monothongs are pure vowels realized as single element sounds, such as /e/ and /i/, while diphthongs are double element vowels, like /ei/ and /iƏ/. There are twelve monothongs:
An idiom is an expression with a meaning not deducible from the individual words. For example, “He shed crocodile tears” does not mean crying like a crocodile; it is an expression formed on specific principles.
Examples of idioms and meanings:
Entertainment comprises various aspects, including football, athletics, theater, and more. Here are some relevant words associated with entertainment:
Athletics:
Football:
Theatre:
Definition: A noun phrase consists of a head that is a noun or pronoun.
Functions: The noun phrase serves the same functions as a noun.
(1) As the subject of a sentence:
A gerundial phrase, also a noun phrase, can function as the subject of the verb:
The infinitive can also serve as a noun phrase, functioning as the subject of the verb:
An adjective can be the head of a noun phrase:
(2) As the object of a verb:
The officer praised the students (direct object).
(3) As a subject complement:
(4) As the complement of a preposition:
The verb phrase typically comprises a main verb and one or more auxiliary verbs. In the following sentences, the verb phrases are in italics:
Words Commonly Misspelt
Correct Spellings
Analysis of the words commonly misspelt in English language
Correct Misspelt
Accommodation accomodation
acquaint aquaint
bibliography bibiography
business bussiness
clarity clearify
colossal colosal
covenant convenant
diligent deligent
environment enviroment
enmity enimity
excitement excitement
expatiate expantiate
foreigner foreigner
incurred incured
grievous grievious
maintenance maintainance
misspell misspell
mischievous mischievious
necessary necessary
pastime pasttime
pronunciation pronouncaition
preceded preceeded
sandwich sandwitch
receive receive
referred refered
separate separate
Others include: harassment, embarrassment, herculean, workaholic, limousine, buoyant, buoy, boulevard, hippopotamus, stethoscope, obstetrician, pneumonia, choreography, commission, accommodation, surveillance, maintenance, agrarian, lovable, duly, gubernatorial, indict, accede, onomatopoeia, Ghanaian, promiscuous , continuous, philandrer, psychiatric. Psyche, burlesque, diarrhoea, obstetrician, stethoscope, flirtatious, sarcasm.
A sentence is a collection of words comprising a subject and a verb, expressing a complete sense or thought.
Simple Sentence: This consists of one subject and one predicate or verb, forming a single main clause. Simple sentences may be lengthy, but each contains only one subject and verb unit.
Example simple sentences:
(a) The woman ran.
(b) He is in the room.
(c) The thief has been caught.
Compound Sentence: This involves two main clauses connected by coordinating conjunctions such as “and,” “but,” or “or.”
Example compound sentences:
(a) The work stops, but the tools are kept handy.
(b) Ngozi found the goat, and she took it to her mother.
Multiple Sentence: This includes more than two main clauses linked by coordinating conjunctions.
Example multiple sentences:
(a) The child climbed onto my laps, urinated on my trousers, and smiled at me happily.
(b) The choir master returned from the church and asked for his flute, but it could not be found.
Complex Sentence: This comprises one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
Example complex sentences:
(a) When it rains, he does not go to work.
(b) Grace did not do the assignment which the English teacher gave her.
Compound Complex Sentence: This is composed of two or more main clauses and at least one subordinate clause.
Example compound complex sentence:
(a) The work stops when it rains, but the tools are kept very handy.
An expository essay necessitates a comprehensive exploration of a subject or process, demanding a thorough explanation. This entails delving deeply into what sets the essay’s subject apart from others, often incorporating descriptive elements.
Compose an article for publication in a local newspaper addressing the imperative to enhance sanitation in your vicinity.
Introduction: The State of Sanitation / Definition
The Need for Sanitation
First Approach to Improvement (Detailed)
Second Approach to Improvement (Detailed)
Third Approach to Improvement (Detailed)
Conclusion: Optimism for Implementation of New Measures
Write an article for publication in one of your local newspapers on the need to improve sanitation in your area.
Let me write an article about the need to improve sanitation in my area for publication in one of our local newspapers.
Title: The Need to Improve Sanitation in Our Area.: A Call to Action for Our Community”
Introduction:
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it’s easy to overlook the fundamental aspect of our well-being—sanitation. The state of sanitation in our community demands our attention and concerted efforts to bring about positive change. This article aims to shed light on the pressing need for improved sanitation in our area and provides actionable steps to make our surroundings cleaner and healthier.
The Current State of Sanitation:
Take a moment to observe our neighbourhoods, streets, and public spaces. Unfortunately, you’ll likely notice areas where sanitation standards are subpar. Littered streets, overflowing bins, and neglected public facilities all contribute to an environment that falls short of the healthy living conditions we all deserve.
The Significance of Sanitation:
Sanitation is not just about cleanliness; it is directly linked to public health and the overall well-being of our community. Poor sanitation can lead to the spread of diseases, compromised water quality, and a negative impact on the environment. By addressing these issues, we not only enhance the quality of life for ourselves but also create a safer and healthier environment for future generations.
Concrete Steps for Improvement:
Launching regular community cleanup events can be a powerful way to address immediate sanitation issues. Encouraging residents to participate in these initiatives fosters a sense of shared responsibility for our environment.
Knowledge is a catalyst for change. Initiating educational programs on the importance of proper waste disposal, recycling, and water conservation can empower individuals to make informed choices, positively influencing our collective behavior.
Building partnerships with local authorities and municipal services is essential. Together, we can work towards improving waste management systems, ensuring timely garbage collection, and maintaining public spaces more effectively.
Conclusion:
The need for improved sanitation is not a mere suggestion but a vital call to action for each member of our community. By recognizing the significance of sanitation and implementing practical steps, we can transform our area into a cleaner, healthier, and more pleasant place to live. Let’s take pride in our community and unite to elevate our standards of sanitation for the well-being of us all. Together, we can make a lasting impact and create a legacy of cleanliness for future generations.
Stock Exchange is a market where those who wish to buy or sell shares, stocks and government bonds, debentures and other securities can do so through only members of the stock exchange. The stock exchange provides the essential facilities for company and government to raise money for business expansion and development projects through investors who own shares in companies.
Some relevant words:
Stock broker: One who operates in the stock exchange market by linking buyer and sellers of securities.
Security: A paper asset including government debt, company shares and company debt
Stock: This is synonymous to shares
Stock exchange: An institution through which shares are traded/ it is a security market
Bond: A security with a redemption date over a year later than its date of issue.
Shares: Any of the equal, usually small, part into which a company’s capital stock is divided.
Share certificate: A certificate specifying the number of shares owned by a person or a company,
Bond: A certificate issued by a government or a company promising to pay back borrowed money on a specific date.
Debenture: A certificate that acknowledges the existence of a debt of a particular amount owed to somebody.
Meanings
Figures of speech serve as tools for crafting vivid imagery through the use of figurative language. They allow us to translate the essence of two or more elements into written form, effectively conveying the quantity or concept we intend to express.
Examples:
A simile is a figure of speech where a direct comparison is explicitly made, typically introduced by words such as “like” or “as.”
Examples:
(a) He sprints like a hare.
(b) Her cheeks resemble the dawn of day.
A metaphor, based on resemblance, is a figure of speech similar to a simile but doesn’t employ words like “as” or “like.” It creates mental images of events or qualities.
Examples:
(a) The general, a lion in the field, has witnessed numerous wars.
(b) He struggles with cricket; his fingers are like okro.
Personification involves attributing human qualities to animals or inanimate objects.
Examples:
(a) Let the floods clap their hands.
(b) Confusion heard his voice.
Irony is a literary device where a writer expresses a meaning contrary to what is explicitly stated or expected.
Examples:
(a) Charles is so brilliant that he passed only one subject out of his nine papers.
(b) Despite being an excellent keeper, he conceded ten goals in the first half of the match.
A descriptive essay is when you write about something in detail, like an object, person, animal, incident, or scene.
Let’s talk about how to approach a descriptive essay prompt. For example, if you get a question like, “Describe a rainy day you will always remember,” here’s how you can do it:
Format
Let me describe a rainy day I will live to remember.
A rainy day I’ll always remember happened last summer. It was not an ordinary rain; it was like nature decided to have a giant water party. The raindrops were big and fell from the sky for what felt like forever.
The rain started early in the morning, tapping on my window to wake me up. I could hear the gentle sound, and it made me want to stay in bed all day. As I looked outside, I saw everything getting a good wash – the trees, the roads, and even the flowers seemed to dance with joy.
The rain wasn’t just a short visit; it stayed with us throughout the day. It was the kind of rain that makes you want to grab a cozy blanket and a hot cup of cocoa. I remember sitting by the window, watching the raindrops race down the glass.
As the day went on, the rain brought both comfort and a bit of trouble. The cool breeze and the soothing sound made it a perfect day for staying indoors. However, the streets got a bit flooded, causing some inconvenience for people trying to go about their day.
Despite the minor troubles, the rain added a magical touch to everything. The colors seemed brighter, and the air felt fresher. It was like the world had taken a refreshing shower, and I was lucky enough to witness it.
In the evening, the rain started to slow down, leaving behind a glistening world. Puddles formed, and I couldn’t resist splashing around a bit. The smell of wet earth filled the air, bringing a sense of calm and happiness.
That rainy day became a memory I’ll always carry with me. It wasn’t just about the rain; it was about the simple joy of being cozy inside while nature played its beautiful symphony outside. It’s funny how something as ordinary as rain can turn a regular day into a special one that I’ll cherish forever.
Examples
We have eight diphthongs. They are two quality sounds. To realise their sounds, you must glide from the first to the second sound:
The eight diphthongs are these:
/ei/, /au/, /ai/, /эi/, /iƏ/, /eƏ/, /υƏ/
/ei/
Spelling variants and words examples are:
“a” – cake, brake, make, lake, plate,
“ai” – braid, sail,
“ay” – May, day
“au” – gauge,
“ey” – they, hey, prey
“ei” – rein, reign, heinous
“e” – ballet, brought, chalet
“ee” – fiancée, nee
“ea” – great, break, steak
/ Əυ/- The long sound for letter “o”
As in:
“au” – chauffeur, faults
“o” – go, rote, note
“eo” – hoe, foe
“oa” – goat, both, road
“ou” – grow, thrown
“ew” – sew, sewn
“oo” – brooch
/ai/
“ai” – aisle , naira
“ei” – height, either
“ey” – eye
“uy” – buy, guy
“ye” – bye, dye
“y” – Scythe, by, sky
“ie” – pie, tie, lie, die
/aυ/,
“ou” – doubt, count, stout, about,
“au” –Nassau
“ow” – how, cow, allow
/Ɔi/ as in
“oi”- boil, oil, noise
“oy” – boy, employ
“uoy” – buoy, buoyant
/iƏ/ as in
“e” – era, period
“ea” – idea, pear, beard
“ere” – here, mere
“eer” – peer, sheer
“ier”- pier, weir
“ir” – fakir
/eƏ/ – as in
“ir” – air , fair, hair
“are” – care, fare, dare
“ear”- bear, tear, wear
“ere”- there, where
/uƏ/ as in
“u” – plural , during
“ure” – pure, cure, sure
“our” – tour
“oor” moor, boor, poor
Taxiing: The process of a plane moving slowly along the ground before commencing its forward run for takeoff.
Runway: A wide path from which aircraft take off and land.
Tarmac: The surface of a road or runway at an airport. For example, the plane was waiting on the tarmac.
Flight Attendant: A professional who looks after passengers in an aircraft.
Flight: A journey in an aircraft.
Airborne: In the air. If a plane is airborne, it is flying.
Radar: A method of showing the direction and distance of a plane using radio waves.
Touchdown: The moment when a plane lands.
Hangar: A structure where aircraft are housed.
Control Tower: A facility where air traffic controllers sit and direct plane traffic.
Cockpit: The compartment in which the pilot of an airplane sits.
Maritime
Mast: A long pole set upright on a ship to support the sail or flag.
International Waters: Waters beyond a country’s water territory. It is called waters, not water.
Berth: A place in a port where a ship can be moored.
Boatyard: A facility where boats are built, repaired, or secured by rope.
Harbor: A place of shelter for ships.
Quayside: The side or edge of a quay.
Ocean Liner: A ship used to carry passengers and some cargo across the ocean.
Cruise Ship: A type of ship used for adventurous travel.
Cabin: A private room on a ship.
Yacht: A boat or small ship, usually with sails, often with an engine, built and used for racing or cruising.
Ro-Ro Ship: Used to convey cars into the country, with the ship having open areas for various cars to be driven out.
Dredging: Clearing or deepening a river or body of water.
Dock: A platform built on the shore (wharf).
Coast: Land along the sea.
Crew: A group of people who work or operate on a ship.
Captain: The commander of a ship.
Offshore: In or on the sea, not far from the coast. The opposite is “onshore.”
Flag: The flag of a country mounted on a ship with which it sails.
Anchor: Something, usually a heavy piece of metal with points that dig into the seabed, used to hold a boat or ship in place.
Coach: A passenger railway train.
Freight: Goods or cargo.
Locomotive: An engine that moves from place to place using its own power, especially used to pull railway trains.
Railway Yard: A place where trains are parked or maintained.
Commuter Trains: Trains that carry passengers between large cities and the surrounding suburbs.
Freight Service: A service that involves the transportation of goods from one place to another.
Rail Tracks: Tracks on which a train moves.
Functions
A noun clause is a subordinate clause that performs the functions of a noun
Functions
(1) As a subject of a sentence.
Example
(a) What he said is bitter
(b) That he was insulted pained him a great deal.
(2) As object of a verb:
(a) The cook gave us what we should eat.
(b) He told us that he would come.
(3) As complement of subject
(a) Honesty is what we need.
(b) The important thing is that he has arrived
(2) As complement of a preposition
We call him what he likes.
(3) As object complement
The prize will go to whoever wins.
Consonant sounds
The 24 consonant sounds
The consonants are sounds realized when the air that comes from the lungs is obstructed.
The 24 consonant sounds
Voiced bilabial Nasal stop /m/
As in many, summer, bomb, damn
Voiceless bilabial plosive/p/
The upper and the lower lips are pressed together.
As in picture, apple, tripper
Voiced bilabial plosive /b/
/b/ – baby, robber, baboon
Voiceless labio-dental fricative /f/
As in firm, rough, physics
Voiced labio-dental fricative/v/
As in vigour, Stephen, of, Volkswagen
Voiceless dental fricative/ θ /
As in “th” – thank, author, path,
Voiced dental fricative /ð/
The sound is made the same way the sound / θ / is produced.
“th” – than, that, gather
Voiced alveolar nasal stop/n/
As in: new, banner, pneumonia , known , gnash
Voiceless alveolar plosive /k/
As in “t”- two, attack, Thomas smashed, missed
Voiced alveolar plosive /d/
As in: Standard, breed, sudden
Voiceless alveolar fricative /s/
As in: Saturday, miss, grass, rice, axe science
Voiced alveolar fricative /z/
As in: zero, dizzy, please, scissors examples
Voiced alveolar lateral /l/
As in lip, hello
Voiced alveolar /r/
As in rain, carrot, write, wrinkle, rhetoric
Voiceless post alveolar fricative /ʃ/
As in sure, schedule, shabby, mission, machine, precious, nation
Voiced post alveolar fricative /Ӡ/
As in: measure, treasure, pleasure, confusion, beige, Jean
Voiceless post alveolar affricative/tʃ/
As in cello, change, question, pasture
Voiced post alveolar affricative /dӠ/
/d З/ is a voiced sound
As in jug, George, ginger, gym, educate
Voiceless palatal Approximant /j/
As in yam, halleluyah, unity, Europe
Voiced velar nasal stop/ᵑ/
As in sing, bank, anchor, include, anxious
Voiceless velar plosive /k/
As in cat, crack, chemical king, queue, account
Voiced velar plosive /g/
As in goat, haggle, ghost
Voiced labio velar /w/
As in wear, where, whistle
Voiceless, Glottal Fricative /h/
As in hope, whole, Llanfair
A narrative essay is one that requires you to relate an event or incident as an eye-witness would. It requires imagination
Study the following short passage:
It was pitch-dark outside the bedroom. It must have been that the security light was not switched on before we went to bed. There was some movement outside one of the windows. I listened. As I got up from bed to check at the windows, a flash of light through the window dazzled my eyes. I shouted “thief” and the next thing I heard was a gun shot.
Note:
The writer is here trying to paint a picture in words. It is only by your own imagination that this picture can be made more beautiful.
It is a phrase that does the work of an adjective in a sentence i.e. It qualifies or describes a noun or pronoun.
Examples
The man with the red hair is my brother. (Prepositional Phrase / an adjective phrase qualifying man)
The beautiful girl has been kidnapped (Adjective qualifying the noun “girl”)
A person bringing goods news is always welcome (Participial phrase as adjective phrase qualifying “man”)
He is a man of great wealth. (prepositional phrase as an adjective phrase qualifying man)
The woman standing over there is our new principal . (participial phrase as adjective phrase qualifying woman)
The boy selling garri is my brother (Participial phrase as adjective phrase as qualifying “boy”
We all admire a person of courage (adjectival phrase)
I know a girl who has strange appetites. (adjectival phrase qualifying the “girl”)
The student forgot to bring back the bag that I gave her. (Adjectival phrase qualifying bag)
The coat made of cotton is very lovely (Adjectival phrase qualifying coat)
Writing Argumentative Essays: Overview and Approach
An argumentative essay is a type of writing where you try to convince your reader to agree with your viewpoint on a particular subject, as opposed to another perspective.
Understanding the Scope and Approach
To write a successful argumentative essay, it’s important to clearly define the topic you’re discussing so that your reader knows exactly what you’re talking about. Then, present supporting points to strengthen your viewpoint.
Think about the following questions:
For (1) and (2), you’re expected to take a stance on one side of the topic. In (1), you have the option to choose whether to write for or against the topic. However, in (3), you must argue against co-education. Meanwhile, (2) requires you to present arguments on both sides of the topic.
I will write an essay expressing the argument either in favour of or against the topic: Should co-education be promoted in secondary schools?
Title: The Debate on Co-Education in Secondary Schools: An Argumentative Perspective
Introduction:
Co-education, the practice of educating male and female students together in the same institution, has been a topic of discussion and debate for many years. The question of whether co-education should be promoted in secondary schools is a matter that elicits diverse opinions. In this essay, I will present arguments both in favour of and against co-education, ultimately advocating for its promotion in secondary schools.
Body:
One of the primary advantages of co-education is its contribution to fostering gender equality. By bringing male and female students together in the same learning environment, schools can play a vital role in breaking down gender stereotypes and promoting mutual understanding between genders. Encouraging co-education in secondary schools can help create a more inclusive society that values the contributions of both men and women.
Co-education provides students with opportunities to interact with peers of the opposite gender on a regular basis. This interaction can enhance their social skills and communication abilities, preparing them for the diverse social environments they will encounter in their future careers and personal lives. Learning to collaborate with individuals of different genders can contribute to the development of well-rounded and socially adept individuals.
In the real world, individuals work and socialize with people of all genders. Co-education prepares students for these real-world dynamics by exposing them to a diverse set of perspectives and experiences. Learning in a mixed-gender environment encourages students to appreciate the richness of diversity and navigate relationships in a more holistic manner.
Promoting co-education in secondary schools allows for optimal utilization of educational resources. It can lead to cost savings by combining resources and facilities for both genders, ensuring that schools can provide quality education without unnecessary duplication. This efficiency in resource allocation can contribute to the overall improvement of the educational system.
Counterargument:
Despite the aforementioned benefits, opponents argue that co-education may lead to distractions, fostering romantic relationships at an early age and affecting academic performance. They also express concerns about potential gender-based biases within the educational system.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, while acknowledging the concerns raised by opponents, the overall advantages of promoting co-education in secondary schools outweigh the drawbacks. Fostering gender equality, enhancing social skills, preparing students for real-world dynamics, and optimizing resource utilization are compelling reasons to support co-education. By embracing this educational model, we can contribute to the development of a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable society.
Definition
Religion is the acknowledgement and devotion to the existence of a deity or deities, encompassing activities associated with their veneration.
Relevant Terminology
Atheist: An individual who asserts the absence of a divine entity.
Crucifix: A cross bearing the depiction of Jesus Christ in crucified form.
Doctrine: The set of teachings upheld by a religious, political, or scientific group.
Ethics: Moral principles guiding an individual or collective.
Worship: Engaging in a religious ceremony expressing reverence to God or a god; also refers to the ceremony itself.
Supernatural: Phenomena beyond scientific explanation, often linked to gods or magic.
Clergy: A collective of individuals ordained for Christian religious service.
Additional Terms:
Trinity, Denomination, Inter-denomination, Creed, Pew, Benediction, Monotheism, Processional Hymn, Recessional Hymn, Warden, Protestants, Orthodox Churches, Pentecostal Churches.
Prefixes:
3 Non: Sense, existence
Suffixes:
Adverbial Phrases: The main function of adverbs and adverbial phrases is to modify verbs, answering the following questions
How? When? Why? Where? To what extent?
They also modify adjectives, other adverbs and prepositional phrases. Any group of words containing no verb and performing those functions is an adverbial phrase.
(1) Adverbial phrase of manner e.g.
(a) He does the work with zeal/ very well.
(2) Adverbial phrase of time e.g.
(a) I saw him in the morning.
(3) Adverbial phrase of place e.g.
(a) I met him at the supermarket
(4) Adverbial phrase of contrast e.g.
(a) Despite her promise, she behaved differently.
(b) In spite of the good advice, she did not change her behaviour.
(c) His strength notwithstanding, he lost the fight.
A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with a noun phrase or pronoun e.g.
Functions of a prepositional phrase:
The prepositional phrase is used
(1) As an adverbial phrase e.g.
(a) The police caught the thief in the garden.
(b) At a later date, we confronted him.
(2) As an adjective: e.g.
(a) The man with a hat is our teacher.
(b) The news of his death shocked everyone
(3) As complement of a verb
(a) We believe in what he says.
(4) As complement of an adjective
(a) We are sure of his arrival.
Informal letters, by definition, are private and personal communications intended for individuals with whom we share a close relationship, such as parents, relatives, friends, classmates, and other familiar acquaintances.
Examples:
Yours sincerely,
Samuel
Yours ever,
Joyce.
Yours affectionately,
Peter Johnson.
Articles can be definite or indefinite
Indefinite Articles
“A” and “AN” are indefinite articles and are used to indicate indefinite references to a noun. While ”a” is used before a word starting with a consonant sound such as boy, goat, house, hoe, elephant, aeroplane etc. NOTE that the following words begin in consonant sound despite having vowel letters starting them. They must therefore attract article ‘A’, e.g Europe as in A European man, University as in A university. Others include: Eucharist, Eunuch, unit, union, uniform etc,
“an” is used before words that start with vowel sounds.
Examples: an egg, an apple, an orange.
NOTE that the following words have silent ‘h’ and they must attract article ‘an’. E.g an hour, an honest, an honour. But words like house, home, hoe, etc attract article ‘a’ because they do not have silent sound ‘h’, e.g, a house, a hoe, etc.
Definite Article “the”
This refers to particular person or thing (i.e. a definite reference)
How the definite and indefinite articles are used:
Noun types can be categorized based on how they refer to objects or concepts. The distinctions lie in whether they involve indefinite reference or definite reference. Let’s explore this across different categories of nouns:
Indefinite reference: A desk
Example: “I need to buy a desk for my home office.”
Definite reference: The – the desk
Example: “The desk you recommended is excellent.”
Indefinite reference: Desks
Example: “The furniture store has a variety of desks to choose from.”
Definite reference: The – the desks
Example: “I have already assembled the desks for the new employees.”
Indefinite reference: Furniture
Example: “I need to purchase some furniture for the living room.”
Definite reference: The – the furniture
Example: “The furniture in this room is both elegant and comfortable.”
In the case of singular count nouns, “indefinite reference” implies a general mention of any desk, while “definite reference” specifies a particular desk that is already known or has been mentioned before.
For plural count nouns, “indefinite reference” refers to desks in a general sense, while “definite reference” pinpoints specific desks that have been previously identified or discussed.
Non-count nouns, like “furniture,” exhibit “indefinite reference” when discussing furniture in a general context and “definite reference” when referring to a particular set of furniture that is already established or known.
Understanding these distinctions helps in effective communication and ensures clarity when referring to singular count nouns, plural count nouns, and non-count nouns in both written and spoken language.
Some – some books
Some water
Water
The – the books
The – the water
All nouns use “the as the word that makes definite reference. So, “the” is definite article making reference.
Uses of the definite article “the”
When there is only one of the things being referred to– the sun, the moon, the wind, the rainfall.
When the hearer or the reader can know which particular thing or things are being referred to:
Give me the bag under the bed.
(Both the bag and the bed are already known to the speaker and the listener)
The letter in the envelope.
‘The’ is also used before the title of a newspaper. E.g The Punch, The Nation etc.
(Both the letter and the envelope are also known)
Descriptive Use
Here the definite article describes a noun.
The accused was acquitted for want of evidence.
She has the courage of Esther.
Generic Use
Here, the definite article is used to refer to what is normal or typical for a member of a class.
The banana is found mainly in the Southern Nigeria.
The tiger is a very ferocious animal.
It is used before the noun that indicates that there can be only one such thing or group of things.
The Soviet Union
The Principal
The Minister of Education
CONSONANTS /b/, /d/, /f/, /g/, /dz/, /h/, /k/
/b/voiced bilabial plosive
Spelling variants and word examples are
“b” –baby, bank, break, barber, lab, embark,
“bb” – rubber, robber, babble, e.t.c.
/p/- voiceless bilabial plosive
Spelling variants and words examples:
“p” – pain, people, leap, leper, emperor
“gh” – hiccough
/f/ -voiceless labio dental fricative:
Spelling variants and words examples are:
“f” – form, frog, faith, fruit, proof, soft
“ff” – cliff, stuff, sniff, cuff, huff,
“gh” – rough, tough, cough, enough,
“ph” – physics, physical, Philip, phantom
“v” – Gorbachev, Volkswagen
/g/- voiced velar plosive
Spelling variants and words examples are:
“g” – goat, gun, bag, vogue, vigour, garnish, goose, gamble, group,
“gg” – haggle, baggage, baggy, struggle, bigger, shaggy
“gh” – ghost, aghast, getto, ghoul
/dz/
Spelling variants and words examples are:
“j” – jug, junior, Jew
“ge”- germinate, damage, badge, germ
“gi”- ginger, giant, giraffe, gigantic
“gy” – technology, archaeology, gym
“du” – educate, graduate, gradual, due
/h/ _ voiceless glottal fricative
Spelling variants and word examples are
“h” – hope, horse, holy, perhaps, hunger
“wh” – whole, wholly, who, whose,
Affix: An element added to a base or root word to create another word, either in the form of a prefix or a suffix.
A prefix is an affix added to the beginning of a word, as seen in “audio” in “audio-visual,” serving as both a prefix and an affix.
A suffix is an affix added to the end of a word, exemplified by “aholic” in “workaholic,” functioning as both a suffix and an affix. Common prefixes and their meanings include:
Examples of suffixes include:
A root is the smallest or basic part of a word, combined with a prefix or suffix. Examples include happy – unhappy, solve – dissolve, and come – welcome. Suffixes can also be added to these words, creating variations like happiness, solvent, and comes/comedy.
A formal letter, also known as an official or business letter, is a written communication directed towards individuals in positions of authority. Its purpose is to convey a complaint, request, recommendation, or to express concern regarding any negative developments that might impede the progress of a particular place or community.
Question: Write a letter to the chairman of your local government area requesting for some amenities needed in your community.
This is a sample letter for the requests for some amenities in your area community.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
[Chairman’s Full Name]
[Chairman’s Title]
[Local Government Area Name]
[Local Government Area Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
Subject: Request For Amenities In Abc Community
Dear Chairman [Chairman’s Last Name],
I trust this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. My name is Samuel Vincent, and I am a concerned resident of ABC Community within the jurisdiction of our esteemed local government area. I am writing to bring to your attention some pressing issues and to request your support in addressing them to enhance the overall well-being of our community.
Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude for the various projects and initiatives that have been undertaken by the local government in the past. These efforts have undoubtedly contributed to the development of our area. However, there are still some crucial amenities that are lacking in our community, and I believe your intervention can make a significant difference.
I understand the challenges the local government faces in allocating resources, and I appreciate the efforts made this far. However, I believe that by addressing these concerns, our community will become more vibrant, healthier, and conducive to growth.
I kindly request an opportunity to discuss these matters further with you and explore possible solutions. Your support in prioritizing these amenities will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the lives of the residents of ABC Community.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to the continued progress of our community under your leadership.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Signature]
[Enclosures: Any additional documents or supporting materials]
(simple present tense, simple past tense, present perfect tense, past perfect tense, present continuous tense, present perfect continuous tense).
While the terms time and tense are often used interchangeably, they carry distinct meanings. Time refers to a universal concept familiar to all humans, divided into past, present, and future, and it transcends language. On the other hand, tense refers to the form or series of verb forms employed to express temporal relations. Tenses vary across languages and convey whether an action, activity, or state occurred in the past, is happening in the present, or will occur in the future.
This tense is utilized to depict actions that happen regularly or occupations.
(a) They exert significant effort.
(b) She sells rice.
This tense is employed for actions that occurred in the past.
(a) They worked hard.
(b) She sold beads a year ago.
This tense is used for actions that have just concluded. It is formed using “has” or “have,” and it should not be accompanied by a definite time such as yesterday or last year.
(a) They have really worked hard.
(b) She has just sold some bread.
This tense indicates that an action took place before another in the past. It is formed using “had” and a past participle.
(a) When she had sold bread, she went home.
(b) Before the supervisor arrived, they had worked very hard.
This tense is applied to actions occurring at the moment of speaking. The use of “-ing” indicates that the action is ongoing.
(a) She is selling bread to a customer.
(b) They are working hard.
This tense is employed to illustrate an action that commenced in the past and is still ongoing.
(a) She has been selling bread for three years.
(b) They have been working persistently.
Synonyms (Words with Exactly The Same meaning and Words That Are Nearly The Same)
Synonyms And Word Representations
Synonyms:
Synonyms refer to words that share similar meanings. It’s important to note that it’s exceptionally rare for two words to have identical meanings, and if they do, one tends to fall into disuse and is forgotten over time. Consider the following examples.
Common Word Synonyms:
Word Representations:
Sentence: The children were busy drawing pictures of their pet.
Sentence: This is a pencil drawing/charcoal drawing.
Sentence: The portrait of Nelson Mandela is truly captivating.
Note: A self-portrait is a painting created by the artist themselves.
Sentence: The printed copy of the painting is now available.
Sentence: I usually create a few rough sketches before starting a painting.
Adverbs are linguistic elements that alter verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, supplying additional details regarding the manner, time, place, frequency, degree, or reason associated with an action or state. Their usage spans various tenses to convey specific nuances. Consider the following examples:
Simple Present Tense:
Present Continuous Tense:
Simple Past Tense:
Past Continuous Tense:
Simple Future Tense:
Future Continuous Tense:
Present Perfect Tense:
Past Perfect Tense:
Future Perfect Tense:
It’s crucial to recognize that although adverbs modify verbs across various tenses, they don’t alter the tense of the sentence itself. The tense is dictated by the main verb, with adverbs serving to enhance the description of the action in a specific manner.
Antonyms refer to words with opposite meanings, commonly used to convey contrasting or contradictory ideas. When encountering an antonym, it presents a contrasting meaning to another word. For example, “hot” and “cold” are antonyms, representing opposite temperature conditions.
Antonyms can be categorized into different types:
Antonyms play a crucial role in language, enabling the expression of nuances and contrasts in communication. They help convey different shades of meaning, emphasize differences, and provide a more comprehensive understanding of concepts.
The concept of antonyms revolves around oppositeness of meaning. Unlike synonyms, true antonyms exist. In natural languages, various types of oppositeness manifest in different ways:
Gradable antonyms: Used in comparative construction, typically involving comparative adjectives ending in “-er” or occurring with “more,” such as “older,” “younger,” or “more brilliant.”
Complementarity: This type of oppositeness demonstrates incompatibility, where items are usually complementary to each other. For example, the statement “Mr. Lanre is married” implies that Mr. Lanre is not single.