WEEK 1: Tenses: Present Continuous Tense

Grammar: Topic:  Tenses: Present Continuous Tense

Specific Objectives: By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define Tense (Present Continuous Tense)
2. Identity the tenses in a passage
3. Make sentences with the tenses

TENSES:                                                 

Tenses in English Language means “time” the verb in English Language does not only tell us the action performed by the subject, but also it tells us the time of the action as well as the forms assured or taken by verbs to tell/show different times of action.

        Tenses or “Time” in English Language is divided into three:  The Present Time, the Past Time and the Future Time.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE (…ING)

It is also called “Progressive Tense”. Present Continuous tense is used:

1. To talk about an action or situation that is already going on at a particular moment that we are talking about.

Examples

1. You can’t see the manager now because he is attending a meeting.
2. At four o’clock tomorrow afternoon, I will be meeting him.

2. To suggest that situations or actions are temporary or incomplete

Examples

1. I am working on my project right now.

3. To talk about repeated actions which are temporary.

Example:

We were practising like crazy before the match.

    Present Continuous tense contains one of these auxiliary verbs (am/is) or (are) depending on the number of the subject in “-ing”

*  If the subject is the first person pronoun “I”, it will use “am” as in

1. I am singing.
2. I am cooking.
3. I am dancing.

*  If the subject is third person singular (John, Emeka, Ada, My father, he, she etc) use “is” as in

1. John is singing.
2. My father is cooking.
3. She is dancing.

*  If the subject is second person both singular and plural (you) or third person plural (they, students etc) use “are” as in

1. They are cooking.
2. The students are singing.
3. You are dancing.

NB: While the auxiliary verb indicates that the action is present, the main verb indicates that it is continuous hence “Present Continuous Tense”

Evaluation: Re-write the underlined words correctly in the Present Continuous Tense

1. Ngozi is Plays in the school.
2. Emeka’s pen is not write.
3. She is always disobey her parents.
4. The river is flows from the north.
5. The room is burns.

Period II (Reading)

Topic: Reading to understand the Author’s Mood

Specific Objectives: By the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Identify the author’s mood through  use of words and expressions
2. Identify the general impression created by the author’s manner of presentation
3. Read between lines with a view of detecting hidden attitude of the writer.

Reading to understand the Author’s Mood

Mood is all about the writer’s state of mind at the time he is writing. Mood in any art work could be one of either sad, happy, anger, disappointment, suspension, excitement etc. The mood of any writer is seen through his tone.

        If a writer is happy, you will understand that from his high tone. If he is sad, you will also understand that from his low or sharp tone.

Evaluation: Read the comprehension passage on pages 171-172 in your Current English and answer the questions there.

Period III (Writing)

Topic: Introduction to letter writing

Specific Objectives:  By the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Define a letter
2. Identify the types of letters
3. Differentiate the types of letters

A letter is a written message, request, account of events etc, sent by one person to another.

There are two main types of letters:

1. Formal letter
2. Informal letter

FORMAL LETTER

        A formal letter is also called a business letter or official letter. It is a kind of letter of seriousness written to somebody occupying an official  position in any given society, whether or not the office occupant is your own father or any other relatives, hence the letter concentrates on business.

        The occasions when you write business letters are:

1. When you apply for a job
2. When you write to a college or university
3. When you write to a newspaper editor or senator or president/governor or to your principal.

No personal greetings or jokes are required; you, therefore, go straight to discuss the issue (matter).

INFORMAL LETTER

An Informal letter is the type of letter you write to someone you know very well. It is the kind of letter you write to your friend, classmates, close relations (your father, mother, brother, sister, uncle, cousin etc)

An Informal letter is a friendly letter and you have to use everyday conversational language. It is also called a personal/private letter.

EVALUATION:

1. Define letter writing.
2. Mention the two main types of letter writing.
3. Explain formal and informal letters.