Basic 3 · English Language
Special Greetings, Sight Words, Two Paragraphs and -ing Verbs
In this topic you will use greetings for special occasions, read sight words in sentences, write two paragraphs and identify -ing verbs in texts.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Use greetings for special occasions
- Read and use sight words in complex sentences
- Write two paragraphs using leading questions
- Identify the present continuous in texts
What you already know
- Drama and present continuous
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Oral Language
- Sub-strand
- Conversation
- Indicator
- B3.1.6.1.1 – Use appropriate greetings for special occasions
Introduction
Ghanaians have special greetings for festivals, birthdays and sad times.
Greetings for Special Occasions
| Occasion | Greeting | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas | Merry Christmas! | Merry Christmas to you too! |
| New Year | Happy New Year! | Same to you! |
| birthday | Happy birthday! | Thank you! |
| Eid | Eid Mubarak! | Eid Mubarak! |
| funeral | My condolences. | Thank you. |
New words
- occasion
- A special event.
- condolences
- Words of sympathy when someone dies.
- Eid Mubarak
- A greeting meaning "Blessed Eid".
Summary
- Different occasions have special greetings.
- We respond politely to greetings.
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. What do you say on someone's birthday?
- A. Happy birthday!
- B. Good night!
- C. My condolences.
- D. Goodbye!
Show answer
Answer: Happy birthday!It is a birthday greeting.2. "Eid Mubarak" is used at Eid.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueMuslims greet each other this way.3. Words of sympathy when someone dies are ______.
Show answer
Answer: condolencesThat is condolences.4. Write the greeting and response for New Year.
Show answer
Answer: Happy New Year! – Same to you!Special greeting.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Reading
- Sub-strand
- Comprehension
- Indicator
- B3.2.6.1.1 – Read level-appropriate sight words understand and use them in meaningful complex sentences
Introduction
Sight words help us read longer sentences smoothly.
Sight Words in Longer Sentences
| although | because | through | together |
|---|---|---|---|
| enough | thought | while | until |
"Although it was raining, we walked together to school because we did not want to be late."
New words
- although
- Even though.
- until
- Up to the time when.
- together
- With each other.
Summary
- Sight words appear often in longer sentences.
- Words like "because" and "although" join ideas.
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which word means "even though"?
- A. although
- B. until
- C. enough
- D. through
Show answer
Answer: althoughAlthough means even though.2. "Together" means with each other.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThat is its meaning.3. We waited ______ the rain stopped. (until / although)
Show answer
Answer: untilUntil means up to the time.4. Write a sentence using "because".
Show answer
Answer: E.g. I stayed home because I was sick.Because gives a reason.
Lesson 3
- Strand
- Writing
- Sub-strand
- Guided Composition
- Indicator
- B3.4.8.1.1 – Develop two coherent paragraphs on one idea or concept using leading questions
Introduction
Leading questions help us organise two paragraphs on one topic.
Writing Two Paragraphs
| Paragraph | Leading questions |
|---|---|
| 1 | What is the festival? Where and when is it celebrated? |
| 2 | What happens? Why do you like it? |
Example paragraph 1: "My favourite festival is Homowo. It is celebrated by the Ga people in Accra in August."
Example paragraph 2: "People sprinkle kpokpoi and dance. I like it because families come together and share food."
New words
- paragraph
- Sentences about one idea.
- leading question
- A question that guides writing.
- organise
- To put in order.
Summary
- Use leading questions to plan two paragraphs.
- Each paragraph has one main idea.
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Each paragraph should have…
- A. One main idea
- B. No sentences
- C. Ten topics
- D. Only pictures
Show answer
Answer: One main ideaParagraphs focus on one idea.2. Leading questions help organise writing.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThey guide ideas.3. To put in order is to ______.
Show answer
Answer: organiseThat is organising.4. Answer the first leading question for your favourite festival.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. My favourite festival is Christmas.It starts paragraph 1.
Lesson 4
- Strand
- Grammar Usage
- Sub-strand
- Using Action Words
- Indicator
- B3.5.4.1.1 – Identify the present continuous form of action words in spoken and written communication
Introduction
Let us find present continuous verbs in a passage.
Finding -ing Verbs
"It is Saturday. Father is washing the car. Mother is cooking. My brothers are playing football, and I am reading a book."
| Subject | Verb |
|---|---|
| Father | is washing |
| Mother | is cooking |
| My brothers | are playing |
| I | am reading |
New words
- identify
- To find and name.
- verb
- An action word.
- passage
- A short piece of writing.
Summary
- Present continuous verbs use am, is or are + -ing.
- We can find them in passages.
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Which is a present continuous verb?
- A. is cooking
- B. cooked
- C. cooks
- D. will cook
Show answer
Answer: is cookingis + -ing.2. "are playing" is present continuous.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: Trueare + -ing.3. I ______ reading a book.
Show answer
Answer: amI takes am.4. Find one present continuous verb in the passage.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. is washing.is + -ing.
Lesson 5
- Strand
- Extensive Reading
- Sub-strand
- Reading
- Indicator
- B3.6.1.1.1 – Read a variety of age and level- appropriate books and summarize them
Introduction
Today we read and summarise a story about Christmas.
Reading and Summarising
"On Christmas morning, Yaw and his sister went to church in new clothes. After the service, the family ate rice and chicken. In the afternoon, they visited Grandmother in the village. She gave them oranges and told them stories."
Summary: Yaw's family went to church, ate together and visited Grandmother at Christmas.
New words
- service
- A meeting for worship in church.
- village
- A small community in the countryside.
- visit
- To go to see someone.
Summary
- Yaw's family celebrated Christmas at church and at home.
- They visited Grandmother in the village.
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Where did they go in the morning?
- A. Church
- B. Market
- C. School
- D. Farm
Show answer
Answer: ChurchThey went to church.2. Grandmother gave them oranges.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueThe story says so.3. They visited Grandmother in the ______.
Show answer
Answer: villageThe story says village.4. Write a one-sentence summary.
Show answer
Answer: Yaw's family went to church, ate together and visited Grandmother at Christmas.Main points.
Homework
- Write two paragraphs about your favourite festival using leading questions.