ESOL Ws/E3.2a Use basic sentence grammar accurately
ESOL > Writing > Sentence Level > Ws/E3.2 use correct basic grammar, e.g. appropriate verb tense, subject–verb agreement > Ws/E3.2a Use basic sentence grammar accurately
(i) Know the form of, and understand the concept expressed by a variety of tenses, in statement, negative and question form, and apply this in writing
(ii) Know that the range and usage of tenses and aspect does not always correspond directly with the range in learners' other languages, e.g. in Chinese there are no verb changes to express the concept of time
(iii) Understand that a verb and its subject must agree in terms of number, and apply this in their own writing
(iv) Understand that the use of tenses or subject-verb agreement in written standard English is not always the same as those in spoken varieties of English, and recognise the effect of this upon register e.g. he done it (London variety of English), I were right pleased (Yorkshire variety of English)
(v) Develop accuracy in non-verb grammar, e.g. use of articles, comparative form of the adjective
(vi) Use pronouns to show links between different parts of a text, making it clear what the pronouns refer to
Example of application and level
- Write sentences in a formal letter or piece of coursework using correct tense and subject–verb agreement.
Sample activities
- Learners correct a text with errors in tenses and negative question forms, and then, in pairs, discuss their findings with another learner, giving reasons for their corrections.
- Learners practise using correct basic grammar through a range of grammar practice activities, e.g.: gap-fill verbs in a text using appropriate tense and person, identify and correct errors with subject–verb agreement in a text, compare the use of tenses in English with tenses or other features to express time in their languages.
- Learners listen to short dialogues including a range of varieties of English, and discuss how formation of tenses, subject–verb agreement, use of pronouns may differ from written standard English.
- Learners read short excerpts from texts using regional varieties of spoken English: e.g. poems by Merle Collins, Benjamin Zephanaiah, short stories by Olive Senior, Buchi Emecheta, Anita Desai. In small groups, learners discuss their meaning and write a standard English version of some of the sentences. They discuss the differences they can identify between spoken varieties and written standard form. They then discuss whether similar differences occur in their own languages.
