Spelling, punctuation and grammar

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SPAG PLC - How to make a difference in 40 minutes?!

• Spelling- Homophones•Punctuation- Apostrophes•Grammar- Sentence

construction

Whole School Literacy

"Every teacher is a teacher of English because every teacher is a teacher in English. We cannot give a lesson in any subject without helping or neglecting the English of our pupils."– George Sampson, (Primary teacher and school

inspector) 1921.

We are not experts! We get it wrong too! The 1990s education system did not have a focus on grammar – we are generally self-taught as a consequence of PGCE study.The study of English Literature is not focussed necessarily on language,

TASK:

Have a go at the

questions in your

SPAG test

Grammar – where did it come from?

Grammar is a construct – the rules of grammar were not created by a god or divine power.Grammar was developed to teach Latin – a lingua franca of Western Europe because of the Roman Empire. ‘Grammar’ came from the Greek word for writingMost of the population in the Middle Ages of England were illiterate and English was very much a ‘spoken language’The printing press made it possible for more people to read and therefore the rules of grammar enabled a ‘standard’ version of English to be developed.

What is this?

Homophone - Same pronunciation- Sometimes Same

Spelling- Different Meaning

A cross bear can’t bear to

cross rivers

A cross bear can’t bear to

cross rivers

A cross bear can’t bear to

cross rivers

A cross bear can’t bear to

cross rivers

A cross bear can’t bear to

cross rivers

Common Homophones for students to learn

• There / their / they’re • Were / We’re / Where • To / Too / Two • Sea / See • For / Four / Fore • Piece / Peace • Hear / Here • Your / You’re

Practice vs Practise

Affect vs Effect

Common Homophones for students to learn

• There / their / they’re • Were / We’re / Where • To / Too / Two • Sea / See • For / Four / Fore • Piece / Peace • Hear / Here • Your / You’re

Practice vs Practise

Affect vs Effect

Practice = Noun Football practice Practise = Verb

I practised football

Affect = Verb To influence or make a

difference Effect = Noun and Verb

Noun = a result or influence

Verb = to bring something about as a

result

Sentences

Task:

Look at the sentences below and highlight the main clauses in one colour and subordinate clauses in another. Separate the clauses using a comma.

1. The twins asked Dad to turn up the heating because it was cold.2. Louisa snored loudly while she was sleeping.3. Before he could go swimming Ali packed his towel. 4. After drinking his water Mark washed his glass. 5. Peter disliked his new trousers but his mum thought they were very smart.

Main Clauses Subordinate Clauses

TASK Highlight the main clause, add a comma, highlight the subordinate clause

Puncture, punctuate, break

19

TASK 2: Now see if you can match up the name and one of the jobs of each of these punctuation marks.

hyphen

comma

semi-colon

exclamation mark

colon

brackets

This can be used to show a loud voice or strength of feeling.

This can introduce an idea, a list or a quotation.

This can be used to separate a main clause and a subordinate clause.

These may be used to add stage directions or asides in a script.

This can be used to join two words together.

You can use this to link two sentences about the same topic.

Copy the following into your books:

Title: Using the Comma

What is a comma?

A comma is used within a sentence to separate one group of words from another so that the meaning of the sentence is clear. We use commas:

•In lists •To separate additional information from the main sentences •Before a connecting word eg but •In long sentences

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

‘Becky, our secretary, has left us’

‘Becky, our secretary has left us’

Red Colour Captain: COMMAS

Green Colour Captain: CAPITAL LETTERS

Blue Colour Captain: FULL STOPS .

Black Colour Captain: PARAGRAPHS

YOUR TASK Read through your work 4 times carefully – each time think about a different type of punctuation.

Apostrophes(not apostrophe’s!)

Pupils People find apostrophes difficult!

We know this because we see them used incorrectly ALL the time!

People miss them out when they should use them…

But they also put them in where they shouldn’t…

And, sometimes, they do both!

The guitar of JoshRule

Find the owner

Add the apostrophe

Add the s if there isn’t one

Josh

Josh’s guitar

Josh’

The car of my parents

Rule

Find the owner

Add the apostrophe

Add the s if there isn’t one

my parents

my parents’ car

my parents’

The cars of the menRule

Find the owner

Add the apostrophe

Add the s if there isn’t one

the men

the men’s cars

the men’

The apostrophe replaces the letter/s you have taken out:

do not = do not

do n ot‘

aren’t = are notcan’t = cannotcouldn’t = could notcould’ve = could havedidn’t = did notdon’t = do notdoesn’t = does nothe’s = he is

he hashe’ll = he willI’m = I amI’ve = I haveI’ll = I willI’d = I would

I shouldisn’t = is notit’s = it is

it has

mightn’t = might notmustn’t = must notshe’s = she is

she hasshe’ll = she willshouldn’t = should notshould’ve = should havethey’ll = they willthey’d = they hadthey’ve = they have‘til = until‘tis = it iswouldn’t = would notwould’ve = would haveyou’ve = you haveyou’ll = you willyou’d = you had

Remember, if you are making something plural, you never use an apostrophe.

The two cats sat on the mat.

The two cat’s sat on the mat.

It's the first day of spring.Our bird has escaped from its cage.

Its or it’s?

Do not use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns

Because possessive pronouns already show ownership, it's not necessary to add an apostrophe:

yourshishersitsourstheirs

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