Directorate: Curriculum FET
SUBJECT and GRADE
TERM 2
TOPIC
AIMS OF LESSON
RESOURCES
INTRODUCTION
CONCEPTS AND SKILLS
English Home Language (EHL) Grade 11
Week 7
Sentence structures.
Revise and consolidate sentence structures.
Paper based resources
Digital resources
Any suitable prescribed Grade 11 English HL
https://wcedeportal.co.za/
language textbook and language reference
book.
By Grade 11 you should already be familiar with the basics of English grammar: parts of speech, rules of
concord, use of tense, and sentence structures. You will demonstrate your knowledge of language
(vocabulary, language usage and sentence structures) in your writing tasks and language will also be
assessed in Paper 1 (Language in Context).
Language Structures and Conventions
The Sentence
A sentence is a group of words which expresses a complete thought.
A sentence must contain a subject and a finite verb.
4 types of sentences:
•
•
•
•
Statements – supply information. Lindsay is going to the office.
Questions – ask for information. Where is Lindsay going?
Exclamations – express emotions, e.g. surprise, joy etc. What a beautiful day!
Commands (imperatives) – give orders or instructions. Stop talking and concentrate!
Sentences are also classified as follows:
.
•
•
•
Simple sentence – has one finite verb and deals with one idea. Billy reads a book.
Compound sentence – has two or more finite verbs. Made up of two or more simple sentences joined
by a coordinating conjunction. Mala ran down the stairs and slammed the front door.
Complex sentence – has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses which provide
additional information. They are joined by subordinating conjunctions. The soccer match was
cancelled because it was raining.
A sentence can be divided into a subject and a predicate.
The subject shows who or what we are talking about.
It is the person/thing that is performing the action.
The word that follows the linking verb (to be) is not the object: it is known as the complement.
e.g. The race was exciting. The author became famous.
The predicate is the rest of the sentence. It expands on the subject and always starts with the verb.
Subject
Predicate
The grade 12 learners were happy to go back to school.
Fazeela
contacted all the English teachers.
ACTIVITIES/ASSESSMENT
A. State whether each of the sentences is a statement, a command, a question or an exclamation.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What has happened?
I can’t believe it.
Tell me what has happened!
I am thrilled!
Can we come and celebrate?
B. State whether each sentence is a simple, complex or compound sentence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
After the heavy rain, we left for the West Coast to go and see the flowers.
Once we got there we found that we were too early.
The flowers were not out yet and we were told to return later.
That seemed an awful waste, so we decided to spend the weekend there and enjoy the break.
After being stung by a swarm of horseflies, and kept awake by the mosquitoes, we returned
rather more hastily.
Two weeks later we went to a different area and managed to avoid the insect population.
The flowers were magnificent and the warm sun saw them all opening.
Unfortunately we got stuck in the sand, so we had to be towed out.
Our car was clearly not intended for off-road adventuring, even of a sedate kind!
Next year we will borrow a four-wheel drive so that we can go to places which are a lot more
remote.
C. Change the sentences into complex sentences by adding a subordinate clause.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Please come away from the window.
Why can I not stand here?
The lightning is flashing very strongly.
Do you think that is dangerous?
I do not want you to be struck by the lightning.
D. Change the sentences into compound sentences by adding another main clause.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
I hope to get a part in the school play.
It may be only a small part.
That has advantages.
On the other hand, getting a main part would be great.
The auditions are being held tomorrow.
Suggested answers
A
1.
Question
2.
Statement
3.
Command
4.
Exclamation
5.
Question
B
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
simple
complex
compound
complex
simple
compound
compound
complex
simple
complex
C
Note: These sentences are suggestions. Other possibilities exist.
1.
Please come away from the window as soon as you can.
2.
Why can I not stand here if I like?
3.
The lightning is flashing very strongly, so that it seems very near.
4.
Do you think the lightning which is so bright, is dangerous?
5.
I do not want you to be struck by lightning, which could happen.
D.
Note: These sentences are suggestions. Other possibilities exist.
1.
I hope to get a part in the school play; however, I think my chances are slight.
2.
It may be only a small part, and I will still have to attend all the rehearsals.
3.
That has advantages, but it also has disadvantages.
4.
On the other hand, getting a main part would be great and I would love it.
5.
The auditions are being held tomorrow and I must prepare well.
`
VALUES
Source: X-Kit Achieve! Grade 11 English Home Language
Your teacher will not always explicitly teach or revise language structures and conventions (vocabulary
development, language usage and sentence structures.).
You must allocate study time to revise all the language structures and conventions you need to know for
Grade 11 English Home Language. Good luck!
Effective communication depends on writing grammatically correct English.
You can improve your language skills, spelling and punctuation by doing grammar exercises and reading,
reading, reading!