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Basic 4 · English Language

Spoken Language, Blends, Verb Agreement, Letters and Prepositions

In this topic you will practise features of spoken language, produce words with blends, use subject–verb agreement, write friendly letters and use prepositions.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Use features of spoken language in presentations
  • Produce words with consonant blends
  • Use correct subject–verb agreement
  • Write a friendly letter in the correct format
  • Use prepositions to convey meaning

What you already know

  • Narratives and adverbs

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
Presentation
Indicator
B4.1.10.1.2 – Demonstrate awareness of the features of spoken language

Introduction

Good speakers change their pace and volume to keep listeners interested.

Using Spoken Language Features

  • Slow down for important points.
  • Pause before key words.
  • Raise your volume to show excitement.
  • Lower your voice for something serious.

Practice line: "Ladies and gentlemen... (pause) our school has WON the quiz!"

New words

emphasis
Making a word stand out.
pause
A short stop.
presentation
A talk to an audience.

Summary

  • Change pace and volume for effect.
  • Pause to add emphasis.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. A short stop in speech is a…

    • A. Pause
    • B. Shout
    • C. Song
    • D. Gesture
    Show answer
    Answer: PauseThat is a pause.

  2. 2. Slowing down helps important points stand out.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueIt adds emphasis.

  3. 3. Making a word stand out is ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: emphasisThat is emphasis.

  4. 4. Say one sentence with a pause for effect and write it.

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. And the winner is... (pause) Basic 4!Pause adds drama.

Lesson 2

Strand
Reading
Sub-strand
Blends and Consonant Clusters
Indicator
B4.2.5.1.1 – Orally produce single-syllable words

Introduction

Consonant blends combine two or three consonant sounds.

Consonant Blends and Clusters

Blends
BlendWords
strstreet, string, strong
splsplash, split
scrscream, scratch
thrthree, throw
grgreen, grass
Pictures of a street, a splash, a scream and three with their blends highlighted
Figure 1: Consonant blends Draw two blend words.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

blend
Consonant sounds said together.
cluster
A group of consonants together.
syllable
A part of a word.

Summary

  • Blends combine consonant sounds.
  • Each sound in a blend is heard.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which word starts with "str"?

    • A. street
    • B. seat
    • C. sit
    • D. tree
    Show answer
    Answer: streets-t-r.

  2. 2. "Splash" has the blend "spl".

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: Trues-p-l.

  3. 3. thr + ee = ______

    Show answer
    Answer: threeBlend the sounds.

  4. 4. Write two words starting with "scr".

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. scream, scratch.They start with scr.

Lesson 3

Strand
Grammar
Sub-strand
Verbs
Indicator
B4.3.5.1.2 – Use appropriate subject-verb agreement − singular/plural

Introduction

Subjects and verbs must agree in number.

Agreement Practice

Correct and incorrect
IncorrectCorrect
The boys plays football.The boys play football.
She go to school.She goes to school.
My friends is here.My friends are here.

New words

agree
To match.
number
Singular or plural.
correct
Without mistakes.

Summary

  • Singular subjects take singular verbs.
  • Plural subjects take plural verbs.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. She ___ to school.

    • A. goes
    • B. go
    • C. going
    • D. gone
    Show answer
    Answer: goesSingular subject.

  2. 2. "My friends are here." is correct.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TruePlural agrees.

  3. 3. The boys ______ football. (play / plays)

    Show answer
    Answer: playPlural subject.

  4. 4. Correct: "He have a pen."

    Show answer
    Answer: He has a pen.Singular takes has.

Lesson 4

Strand
Composition Writing
Sub-strand
Letter Writing
Indicator
B4.4.15.1.1 – Write to friends about personal experiences using appropriate letter formats

Introduction

A friendly letter is written to someone you know well.

Writing a Friendly Letter

Parts of a friendly letter
PartExample
address and dateP.O. Box 12, Ho. 15th March, 2024.
greetingDear Abena,
introductionHow are you? I hope you are well.
bodynews and experiences
conclusionI hope to hear from you soon.
closingYour friend, Esi
A friendly letter layout with address, date, greeting, body and closing labelled
Figure 2: Friendly letter format Copy the layout of a friendly letter.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

greeting
The opening, like "Dear Abena,".
body
The main part of a letter.
closing
The ending, like "Your friend,".

Summary

  • A friendly letter has an address, date, greeting, body and closing.
  • Write in a friendly, informal style.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which is a greeting in a friendly letter?

    • A. Dear Abena,
    • B. Yours faithfully
    • C. The End
    • D. Goodbye forever
    Show answer
    Answer: Dear Abena,It opens the letter.

  2. 2. The address goes at the top of a friendly letter.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueUsually top right.

  3. 3. The main part of a letter is the ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: bodyThat is the body.

  4. 4. Write the closing for a letter to your friend.

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. Your friend, KofiInformal closing.

Lesson 5

Strand
Writing Conventions/ Extensive Reading
Sub-strand
Using Prepositions, Building the Love and Culture of Reading
Indicator
B4.5.7.1.1 – Use prepositions to convey a variety of meanings

Introduction

Prepositions show position, direction and time. Read and find them.

Prepositions with Different Meanings

Prepositions
MeaningPrepositions
positionon, under, beside, between
directionto, from, into, across
timeat, on, in, during, before, after

Reading passage: "During the holidays, Ama travelled from Accra to Kumasi. She stayed with her aunt beside the market. Every morning, she walked across the road to buy bread before breakfast."

New words

preposition
A word showing relationship of position, direction or time.
direction
The way something moves.
position
Where something is.

Summary

  • Prepositions show position, direction and time.
  • They link nouns to other words.

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which preposition shows direction?

    • A. to
    • B. on
    • C. beside
    • D. under
    Show answer
    Answer: toIt shows movement towards.

  2. 2. "During" is a preposition of time.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueIt tells when.

  3. 3. She walked ______ the road. (across / during)

    Show answer
    Answer: acrossIt shows direction.

  4. 4. Find two prepositions of direction in the passage.

    Show answer
    Answer: from, to, acrossThey show movement.

Homework

  1. Write a friendly letter to a friend about your holiday.