ENGLISH LANGUAGE A LEVEL DIGITAL FILE

This is what, page for page, your ‘real world’ file should contain. If you miss a class,

simply print off the notes you’ve missed, complete the exercises, and add to your own file

Welcome to English Language A level During the next two years you’ll study four

units: Language in Context and Language

and Identity followed by Child Acquisition

of Language in your first year. In your

second year you’ll study Diachronic

variation (the history of English) and do an

exciting investigation into a topic are of

your choice from Language and Power,

English as a Global Language and

Language and Identity.

We hope you’ll enjoy this exciting and

thought provoking course, and perhaps

even go onto study a related degree such

as Linguistics or Advertising and

Marketing. But whatever you do, in taking

this course you’ll become a better receiver

(hear, read and analyse) and a better

producer (writer, speaker) of English.

September 1, 2015

Contents

1. Scheme of Work/ Contents What you’ll be doing throughout the year Pages 2 and 3

2. Language Frameworks a) Open word classes.

Nouns 4 Verbs 4 Adjectives 6 Adverbs 7 Adjectives 9

b) Closed word classes. Pronouns 11 Determiners 12 Conjunctions 13 Prepositions 14

c) Phrasing and Modification: Premodification 15 Postmodification 17

d) Clause Elements Subject 19 Object 19 Predicator 20 Adverbial 21 Complement 23

e) Clause Types Subordination 24 Non finite Clauses 25 Relative Clauses 26 ‘That’ Clauses 27 Conditional Clauses 28 Main Clauses 29

f) Sentence types Minor 30 Simple 30 Compound 31 Complex 32 Compound complex 33

3. Language and Context Language and Persuasion

1. Advertising Page 35 2. Politics 38 3. Law 42

Language and Information 1. Broadcast news 43 2. Print Journalism 45 3. Travel Writing 46 4. Blog writing 48 5. Websites 50

4. Language and Identity Branding 52 Copy writing 54 Autobiography 56 Biography 58

5. Child Acquisition of Language Constructivist theories 60 Nativist theories 64

6. Glossary of Terms 67

7. Past Questions 70

8. Example Answers 77

Term 1

Introduction to English Language A

level

Introduction to Grammar

Language and Context

1)Advertising

2) Law

HALF TERM

3) Politics

Language and Identity

1) Branding

Term 2

2) Copywriting

3)Autobiography

MOCK EXAM

HALF TERM

4) Biography

Child Language Acquisition

Chomsky

Piaget

Other Theories

Term 3

Piaget

Terms Revision

Exam Revision

HALF TERM

OA Level

Original Writing

Genre Study: Crime Fiction

Genre Study: Travel Writing

Hint: Imagine owning a large hooped ring. Most of the time, if you can place the noun inside the ring it is concrete, if

not, it is abstract. For example, sadness (abstract) cannot go into the ring but tears (concrete) can.

Concrete nouns

refer to physical things like people, objects and places. They are things that can be observed

and measured: This is my guitar

I bumped my head on the table.

Abstract nouns

refer to ideas, processes, occasions, times and qualities;

they cannot be touched or seen:

sadness / month / birth / entrapment

NOUNS (naming words)

Proper nouns

refer to names of specific people/places:

Danny Smith / Wales / Britain / Batman

Common nouns

classify things into general types or categories. These make up the majority of nouns:

car / table / chair / folder

Collective nouns

Are singular in form but refer to

groups of people/animals/things:

crowd / committee

(Note that some nouns can be

both: eg: joy / the joys of Spring)

Plural nouns

Plural nouns refer to nouns which are more than one in number:

cars/ stories/ hooves / teeth

Count nouns refer to nouns that can be

counted. They can take the plural form:

car (two cars) pot (three pots)

Non-count nouns

refer to nouns that cannot be

counted. They have no plural

form and do not follow the

indefinite article (a): silver /

information

LANGUAGE FRAMEWORKS

a) OPEN CLASS

Identify the nouns used in the following sentences. Write the type of noun underneath each one (note

there may be more than one answer for some):

1. Emily loves Michael Jackson; she listens to his albums.

2. His car runs like a dream. His family can now enjoy a quiet journey.

3. My frustration and anger surprised the band.

TASKS

Dynamic Verbs

express a wide range of actions which may be physical. They can be used as

commands and occur after the verb to be with an –ing ending:

Eg: to buy – buy – buying

to jump – jump – jumping to kick – kick - kicking

Stative Verbs

express states of being or processes in which there is no obvious action. They are not often used as commands and do not

usually occur after the verb to be with an –ing ending

Eg: to know / to believe / to remember / to

realise / to suppose / to appear

VERBS express actions and states

Auxiliary and Lexical Verbs

These are the two main types of verbs: lexical and auxiliary

Auxiliary Verbs

can be used to construct different timescales, questions and negatives, to add emphasis or give information about the mood or attitude of a speaker/writer. They ‘support’ the main

verb. Eg: I can not travel.

I have been watching you. You will not help that man.

(Note that more than one auxiliary verb can be used in a verb phrase)

Lexical Verbs express the meaning in a verb phrase. They are also known as ‘main’ or ‘full’ verbs:

Eg: The man ran up the hill She kicked the ball.

You will not help that man.

Primary Verbs

The primary verbs to be, to have and to do can act as auxiliary or lexical verbs.

Grading

Adjectives can be graded so that nouns can be compared:

Comparative adjectives offer comparisons adding –er or more + adjective: eg: happier / longer / more fortunate

Superlative adjectives add –est or most+adjective: eg: happiest / longest / most fortunate (Note that some adjectives are irregular: good/ better/ best)

Position of adjectives

Attributive adjectives

refer to adjectives that premodify (come before)

nouns: Eg: the blue sea / the happy children

Predicative adjectives

refer to adjectives that come after the noun (and before copula verbs such as to be or linking verbs

like to seem and to become): Eg: the sea is blue / the children are happy

The sea became blue; the children seem happy

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs convey a range of attitudes and moods about the likelihood of an event taking place.

There are 9: can / could / may / might / must / shall / should / will / would

Transitive Verbs

Transitive verbs have to be followed by an object (the person/thing to which the action of theverb is being done) to complete their

meaning:

Eg: I carried the baby

They found the ring We can make a Christmas cake

Intransitive Verbs

Intransitive verbs do not need to be followed by an object to make sense. Many verbs

describing position (like to sit and to lie) and motion (like to run and to go) are

intransitive. The verb will often be followed by a

description of place/destination. Eg: It happened.

The children laughed.

They give details of physical qualities like colour and shape, and of psychological qualities like emotions. They also

provide evaluative judgements.

ADJECTIVES (provide extra information about nouns)

For the Nouns and Verbs voiced over Powerpoint click here

Identify the comparative or superlative adjectives (you can write the type of adjective underneath):

Welcome to SupermarketsSpecial.co.uk. We offer the finest products at the best prices. We offer a

unique online service that allows you to order your choices. Shopping this way is quick and reliable. It is

the fastest way to shop you’ll find. SupermarketsSpecial.com: we put the ‘ping’ in shopping.

Identify whether the following adjectives are attributive or predicative:

Welcome to SupermarketsSpecial.co.uk. We offer the finest products at the best prices. We offer a

unique online service that allows you to order your choices. Shopping this way is quick and reliable. It is

the fastest way to shop you’ll find. SupermarketsSpecial.com: we put the ‘ping’ in shopping.

TASKS

Adverbs give information about time place and manner and can express a speaker’s

attitude to or evaluation of what is being said.

ADVERBS are modifying words

Adverbs can modify: Verbs: The car drove slowly Adjectives: The house was very pretty Other adverbs: They painted particularly carefully this time. Sentences: Certainly, the work will be completed on time.

I went home; my friend, meanwhile, stayed to chat.

Circumstance adverbs modify verbs giving details of circumstances like time, manner and place:

Time: You must go to school now

Manner: He was sleeping well / the cat was fighting furiously Place: I lost my wallet downstairs

(and frequency: I always visit the pub on Monday; I never stay at home.)

b) CLOSED CLASS

A pronoun is a word that stands in place of a noun. Pronouns help to eliminate the repetition of nouns within a text.

Personal Pronouns Subject Pronouns are used when it is clear who the actor of the sentence is: eg. ‘Gemma visited today. She was in a good mood.’

First person singular: I First person plural: we

Second person singular: you Second person plural: you

Third person singular: he/she/it Third person plural: they Object Pronouns replace the noun that receives the action of the verb (the object): eg. ‘The delivery men

promised to carry the parcels indoors but they left them outside’:

Identify the adverbs:

1. Robert was extremely quiet.

2. I often have toast for breakfast.

3. The ballerina performed beautifully.

4. The temperature dropped considerably during the night.

5. I can see the point of that now.

6. Try harder in future.

7. I misplaced my card recently.

8. Drive slowly on the roads.

9. He runs incredibly quickly.

10. You need to leave quietly.

Degree adverbs modify

adjectives or adverbs. Degree: It is very good to see you / I really missed you. / I’m

so glad to be back. (note these examples can also be called intensifiers)

Sentence adverbs modify whole sentences. They can express speakers’/writers’ attitudes,

allowing them to comment on what is being said or written and they can be used to link

sentences:

Attitude: I could perhaps go to work, but surely you could call someone else.

Linking: Firstly, I intend to leave; however, I will write to you.

TASKS

PRONOUNS

First person singular: me First person plural: us

Second person singular: you Second person plural: you

Third person singular: him/her/it Third person plural: them

Possessive Pronouns Possessive Pronouns are used to show possession of something: eg. ‘It is mine’:

First person singular: mine First person plural: ours

Second person singular: yours Second person plural: yours

Third person singular: his/hers Third person plural: theirs

Reflexive Pronouns Reflexive Pronouns are used when the same person is the actor (subject) and receiver of the action (object) in

a sentence. They can also be used for emphasis, for example: You really should take more care of yourself.

First person singular: myself First person plural: ourselves

Second person singular: yourself Second person plural: yourselves

Third person singular: himself/herself/itself

Third person plural: themselves

Demonstrative Pronouns Demonstrative pronouns ‘point’ to the relationship between the speaker and the person or thing. There are four:

1. this 2. these (close to the speaker) 3. that 4. those (something more distant)

Interrogative Pronouns Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions:

1. what 2. which 3. who 4. whom 5. whose

Relative Pronouns Relative Pronouns follow directly from the nouns they

describe. There are five forms: 1. that 2. which 3. who 4. whom 5. whose

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns have a less certain reference

point than other pronouns. There are two types: 1. of pronouns: all of / both of / either or / neither

of / some of 2. compound pronouns: everything / something

/ anything / nothing / everybody / nobody / somebody

Determiners are placed before nouns to determine definiteness, quantity, number or possession. There are five main types:

1. Articles 2. Possessive determiners 3. Demonstrative determiners 4. Indefinite determiners 5. Numbers

DETERMINERS

Articles Articles can be definite (the) or indefinite (a or an). The former specifies something particular, while the latter does not.

Possessive Determiners These are used to suggest ownership of a noun. There are seven forms:

1. my 2. your 3. his 4. her 5. its 6. our 7. their

Demonstrative Determiners They express a contrast, establishing either a close or more distant relationship. Like demonstrative pronouns, there are four demonstrative determiners:

1. this 2. these (close to the speaker) 3. that 4. those (something more distant)

For example:

This week is going by so quickly

Shall I keep these coupons aside for you?

That man is tall.

Those buildings are miles away! Note demonstrative determiners are all a part of noun phrases here (‘this week’ / ‘these coupons’ / ‘that man’ and ‘those buildings’).

Indefinite Determiners Indefinite determiners show a range of meanings. The most common examples are:

all, some, any, no;

every, each, either, neither, one, another;

both, several, enough;

many, more, most, few, little, fewer, less, fewest, least.

Numbers When numbers precede (come before) a noun they are functioning as determiners.

when placed before nouns, one, two, three, etc. are known as cardinal determiners

when placed before nouns, first, second, third, etc. are known as ordinal determiners For example: She has two chances to hit the target (cardinal determiner). He was the third athlete to win the

prize. (cardinal determiner).

1. What is the first person singular subject pronoun? ______ 2. What is ‘my’? _____________________________ 3. Identify the underlined pronoun: ‘their car is fast’. _____________________________ 4. What is ‘me’? ____________________________________________ 5. What is special about the pronoun ‘you’?_____________________________________

QUICK TASKS

Decide whether the words underlined in the following sentences are prepositions or particles:

1) Judith ran into the bedroom.

2) Will you carry on preparing the meal?

3) The warring factions gave in to the demands of the United Nations.

4) The sea rolled inexorably towards the defensive wall.

5) The car broke down at the traffic lights.

6) The plane rose high above me, but I could still remember the moment of take-off.

7) It’s difficult to be a single-parent family and to bring up two children alone.

8) I turned to my companion and we went down to the basement.

9) They cleared out the attic ready for moving-day.

Complete the grid by identifying the prepositions and the type of prepositions in the following

extract:

Pete left his bag on the table and shuffled towards the door. He was not like his brother. He would not come home

in the evening. Pete reached for his key, lifted it out of his pocket and slotted it into the keyhole.

Preposition Type of Preposition

ON Place

PREPOSITIONS

describe relationships that exist between elements in sentences.

Particles

look like prepositions. A

particle along with

a verb in a phrasal verb

forms a single unit:

Eg.

He kicked in the door

We ran up a bill

Prepositions convey the following relationships:

Place: at / on / by / opposite

Direction: towards / past / out of / through

Time: at / before / in / on

Comparison: as...as / like

Source: from / out of

Purpose: for

Conjunctions are joining words; there are two types: co-ordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

We also speak of correlative conjunctions and relative pronouns.

Co-ordinating conjunctions link lexical units of equal value.

Correlative conjunctions are used in pairs to link balanced words, phrases, and clauses.

Subordinating conjunctions join a subordinate clause to a main clause.

Relative Pronouns begin a subordinate clause and connect that clause to another noun that precedes it in the sentence.

The most important of these (for the moment) are co-ordinating and subordinating conjunctions:

The mnemonic device FANBOYS (below) can help you to remember co-ordinating conjunctions.The most important

ones to remember are: And, Or and But:

F A N B O Y S

for and nor but or yet so

Sample Sentences: What is being linked?

We have tickets for the symphony and the opera. noun phrase + noun phrase

The orchestra rehearses on Tuesday, but the chorus rehearses on Wednesday. sentence + sentence

Have you seen or heard the opera by Scott Joplin? verb + verb

I wanted to sit in the front of the balcony, so I ordered my tickets early. sentence + sentence

Subordinating conjunctions join a subordinate clause to a main clause:

Sample Sentences: The subordinate clauses are underlined:

We are going out to eat after we finish taking the test.

CONJUNCTIONS

are joining words. 2 main types: co-ordinating and subordinating conjunctions

Co-ordinating conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions

Since we have lived in Atlanta, we have gone to every exhibit at the High Museum.

While I was waiting in line for the Matisse Exhibit, I ate my lunch.

Although the line was long and the wait over two hours, the exhibit was well worth it

Even if you have already bought your ticket, you will still need to wait in line.

I love Matisse's works because he uses color so brilliantly.

Subordinating conjunctions can indicate:

Time Cause and Effect Opposition Condition

after Because although if

Before Since Though Unless

When Now that Even though Only if

While As whereas Whether or not

Since In order that while In case (that)

until so

Correlative conjunctions are used in pairs to link balanced words, phrases, and clauses.

Sample Sentences: What is being linked? Correlative conjunctions:

Both my sister and my brother play the piano.

subject+subject

both...and

Tonight's program is either Mozart or Beethoven.

noun+noun

either...or

Neither the orchestra nor the chorus was able to

overcome the terrible acoustics in the church

subject+subject

neither...nor

Not only does Sue raise money for the symphony, but

she also ushers at all of their concerts.

sentence+sentence

not only...but also

Correlative conjunctions

Relative pronouns

Relative Pronouns begin a subordinate clause and connect that clause to another

noun that precedes it in the sentence. Sample Sentences: It is a book that is difficult to ignore. The dog, which is a terrier, is four years old. I will consider renting or buying, whichever works out best. ‘that’ relative pronouns do not change the form with gender, person, or number. Only ‘who’ changes form with case: Subjective: ‘who’ Objective: ‘whom’ Possessive: ‘whose’

Sample Sentences:

The girl who told me the story lives down the street. The girl whom I chose will get a present. I am not sure whose that is.

Identify whether the following sentences use: co-ordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, or relative pronouns: 1. Michael sat down and waited for David to arrive. _______________________________ 2. *This is the shop that I was talking about. __________________________ 3. You’re going nowhere until you wash up. ___________________________ 4. Until you wash up you’re not going out. ________________________________ 5. I don’t watch football but I like rugby. ______________________________ 6. I do the lottery whereas Danny saves his money. _________________________ 7. Natasha and I went to the beach while it was sunny. ________________ &_______________

*What is interesting about the use of ‘that’ in sentence 2?

Nouns: Answers

Identify the nouns used in the following sentences. Write the type of noun underneath each one:

Note that those that are not proper nouns can also be labelled common nouns:

1. Emily loves Michael Jackson; she listens to his albums.

Emily: proper noun

Michael Jackson: proper noun

albums: plural concrete noun

List of all relative

pronouns:

who

whom whose which that what

whoever

whomever whichever whatever

TASK

ANSWERS

p11

For links to

further online

tasks press CTRL

and click here

2. His car runs like a dream. His family can now enjoy a quiet journey.

car: concrete noun

dream: abstract noun

family: collective noun

journey: abstract noun

3. My frustration and anger surprised the band.

frustration: abstract noun

anger: abstract noun

band: collective noun

Adjectives: Answers

Identify the comparative or superlative adjectives. Identify whether adjectives are attributive or predicative.

Welcome to SupermarketsSpecial.co.uk. We offer the finest products at the best prices.

We offer a unique online service that allows you to order your choices. Shopping this way

is quick and reliable. It is the fastest way to shop you’ll find. SupermarketsSpecial.com: we

put the ‘ping’ in shopping.

Adverbs: Answers

Identify the adverbs:

1. Robert was extremely quiet. 2. I often have toast for breakfast. 3. The ballerina performed beautifully.

‘finest’ = attributive + superlative

‘best’ = attributive +

superlative

‘quick’ = predicative ‘reliable’ = predicative

‘fastest’ = attributive +

superlative

‘unique’ = attributive ‘online’ = attributive

For links to

further online

tasks press CTRL

and click here

4. The temperature dropped considerably during the night. 5. I can see the point of that now. 6. Try harder in future. 7. I misplaced my card recently. 8. Drive slowly on the roads. 9. He runs incredibly quickly. 10. You need to leave quietly.

Pronouns and Determiners: Answers

1. What is the first person singular subject pronoun? __I____ 2. What is ‘my’? ___first person singular possessive determiner__ 3. Identify the underlined pronoun: ‘their car is fast’. __third person plural possessive

determiner_______ 4. What is ‘me’? __first person singular object pronoun___________ 5. What is special about the pronoun ‘you’? _It can be:____singular/plural/object/subject_____

Decide whether the underlined words in the following sentences are prepositions or particles:

1) Judith ran into the bedroom. Preposition 2) Will you carry on preparing the meal? Particle 3) The warring factions gave in to the demands of the United Nations. Particle 4) The sea rolled inexorably towards the defensive wall. Preposition 5) The car broke down at the traffic lights. Particle 6) The plane rose high above me, but I could still remember the moment of take-off. Preposition 7) It’s difficult to be a single-parent family and to bring up two children alone. Particle 8) I turned to my companion and we went down to the basement. Preposition 9) They cleared out the attic ready for moving-day. Particle

Identify the prepositions used in the following extract and identify what types of preposition are

used:

Pete left his bag on the table and shuffled towards the door. He was not like his brother. He would not come home

in the evening. Pete reached for his key, lifted it out of his pocket and slotted it into the keyhole.

Prepositions and type of prepositions: on: place / towards: direction / like: comparison / in: time for: purpose / out of: source / into: direction Conjunctions: Answers

Identify whether the following sentences use: co-ordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, or relative pronouns:

1. Michael sat down and waited for David to arrive. ___co-ordinating conjunction_____ 2. *This is the shop that I was talking about. _______relative pronoun___ 3. You’re going nowhere until you wash up. _____subordinating conjunction_____ 4. Until you wash up you’re not going out. ___(foregrounded) subordinating conjunction___ 5. I don’t watch football but I like rugby. ________co-ordinating conjunction_____ 6. I do the lottery whereas Danny saves his money. _____subordinating conjunction____ 7. Natasha and I went to the beach while it was sunny. __co-ord conj__&_subord. conj__

*What is interesting about the use of ‘that’ in sentence 2? The relative pronoun ‘that’ is sometimes ellipted (omitted): ‘This is the shop that I was talking about’.

Identify whether the following are concrete or abstract nouns:

1. tree _____________________

2. sadness ______________________

3. apple ____________________

4. joy ___________________

5. mind _____________________

6. brain ____________________

7. button ____________________

8. depression ______________________

9. love _____________________

Identify whether the following words are common or proper nouns:

10. tree ________________________

11. England _______________________

12. pear _________________________

13. book ______________________

14. Sheila _____________________

15. woman _____________________

16. The Lord of the Rings _______________________