Summary English Language structures and terms explained
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Course
English Home Language
Institution
12th Grade
explains all structures of language from parts of speech ,apostrophe ,types of sentences redundancy , tautology ,punctuation, tenses and many more with examples
GRADE 11 SUMMER INTERVENTION 2020 Getting ready for Matric 2021
ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE
GRADE 12
PAPER 1: LANGUAGE STUCTURES
RESOURCES: English Handbook and Study Guide and X-KIT Achieve
Revise all your language structures for Question 5 in PAPER 1.
Look out for the following LANGUAGE ERRORS.
1. Split infinitive – when one or more words are inserted between the ‘to’ and the base form of an
infinitive verb.
Example: I expect him to completely fail in this task. (to fail completely)
to boldy go (to go boldly)
2. Redundancy or tautology – states the same thing twice in slightly different wording
Example: In my personal opinion, we should postpone this until later.
(Opinions are always personal, and when something is postponed it is always postponed until
later – In my opinion, ….)
Example: She has a big huge dog. You need to reverse backwards.
(She has a huge dog.)
3. Verbosity or circumlocution – when too many words are used / ‘talking around’ or ‘talking in
circles’
Example: Up until the current time, the municipality made no objections to the festival.
(The municipality had not previously objected to the festival.)
at this point in time (now)
a structure in your room which you sleep on (bed)
The driveway was not unlike that military training device known as an obstacle course. (The
driveway resembled an obstacle course.)
4. Ambiguity – when it is unclear how something is meant to be interpreted.
Example: Let’s eat Grandma.
(Let’s eat, Grandma)
5. Comma splice – when a comma is used to join sentence, and it is an error.
Example: I walked after her, I started running.
6. Use of ‘it’s’ to show possession – it’s = it is
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,7. Error of case – when a subject pronoun is used in the object of the sentence and vice versa.
Example: She invited you and I.
(She invited you and me)
Example: The mugged tourist who I helped was grateful.
(The mugged tourist whom I helped…)
8. Number or amount?
Amount: Used for uncountable nouns e.g. water, bravery
Number: Used for countable nouns e.g. Dog, year, people
9. Few or less?
Fewer: Used for countable nouns e.g. cookies
Less: Used for uncountable nouns e.g. milk
10. Malapropism: Incorrect word used accidentally in place of another word with a similar sound
which creates humour.
Example: “He was a man of great statue.”—Thomas Menino, Boston mayor
(stature)
“It is beyond my apprehension.”—Danny Ozark (comprehension)
11. Spoonerisms: corresponding similar sounds in words are switched
Example: You have hissed the mystery lectures. (missed the history)
bunny phone (funny bone)
12. Misrelated participle: the subject is usually omitted and the verb is reduced to a gerund-
participle form (-ing)
Example: Climbing down the tree, one of the eggs broke. (As he was climbing
down the tree one of the eggs broke)
***makes it appear that the egg was climbing, which is nonsense
13. Gerund: A present participle that functions as a NOUN
Example: Eating ice cream on a windy day can be a messy experience if you
have long, untamed hair.
Skiing is something I like to do.
Participles: a word formed from a verb (e.g. going, gone, being, been) and used as an
adjective (e.g. working woman, burnt toast) or a noun (e.g. good breeding). In English
participles are also used to make compound verb forms (e.g. is going, has been).
Geoffrey is washing the dishes. is = auxiliary verb washing = present participle
Geoffrey has washed the dishes. has = auxiliary verb washed = past participle
2|Page EHL: LANGUAGE STRUCTURES
, 14. Ambiguity: statement which contains more than one meaning and it leads to confusion,
vagueness and unintentional humour
Examples:
14.1 Ribbon Cutting for 14.2 Kids Make Nutritious
Breastfeeding Room Snacks
The room does breastfeeding. Kids, when cooked well, can
The room is designed for make nutritious snacks.
breastfeeding moms. Kids know how to prepare
nutritious snacks.
14.3 Farmer Who Shot 23-lb Grasshopper Found Dead
The grasshopper was found dead.
The farmer was found dead.
15. Pun: play on words that produces a humorous effect by using a word that suggests two or
more meanings
Examples:
The best way to communicate with a fish is to drop them a line. (to phone)
Why are fish so smart? Because they live in schools. (buildings / group = collective noun)
What do you call a knight who is afraid to fight? Sir Render (surrender)
16. Concord: Refer to pages 5 – 7
SENTENCES CLASSIFIED AS SIMPLE / COMPOUND / COMPLEX
SIMPLE SENTENCE COMPOUND SENTENCE COMPLEX SENTENCE
e.g. Jane reads a e.g. Jane reads a book and e.g. Thabo received his results while he
book. works on her computer at was recuperating in hospital after he had
home. broken his leg.
**one finite verb
(reads) **simple sentence + simple ** main clause + subordinate clause(s) =
sentence = COMPOUND COMPLEX SENTENCE
**one idea
SENTENCE # Thabo received his results - one main
Two finite verbs, (reads, clause (one idea; one finite verb
works), (received))
two simple sentences joined ❖ it can stand on its own
by a co-ordinating # while he was recuperating in hospital
conjunction (and) ➢ /after he had broken his leg. - one
or two subordinate clauses (depends on
the main clause; has a finite verb; it
provides additional information; they are
joined by subordinating conjunctions
(connecting words – while, after)
❖ this clause cannot stand alone
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