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Basic 4 · English Language

Retelling, Main Ideas, Verbs, Narratives and Adverbs

In this topic you will retell stories with key details, recall main ideas, use different verbs, write narratives and use adverbs of time and place.

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

  • Retell stories with key details
  • Note and recall main ideas in sequence
  • Use different types of verbs
  • Use adverbs of time and place

What you already know

  • Comparing adjectives

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
Story Telling
Indicator
B4.1.4.1.1 – Retell stories sequentially including key details

Introduction

Retelling with details makes a story come alive.

Retelling with Details

Story: "On a hot afternoon, a tired hunter rested under a baobab tree. A snake slid towards him. A small bird saw it and sang loudly. The hunter woke up, saw the snake and escaped. He thanked the bird."

Key details
DetailExample
whena hot afternoon
whereunder a baobab tree
whothe hunter, a snake, a small bird
what happenedthe bird's song woke the hunter

New words

detail
A small important fact.
baobab
A large tree with a thick trunk.
escape
To get away from danger.

Summary

  • Include when, where, who and what.
  • Details make retelling clear.

Exercises

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

  1. 1. Who warned the hunter?

    • A. A small bird
    • B. A lion
    • C. A snake
    • D. A child
    Show answer
    Answer: A small birdIt sang loudly.

  2. 2. The hunter rested under a baobab tree.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueFrom the story.

  3. 3. To get away from danger is to ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: escapeThat is escaping.

  4. 4. Retell the story in two sentences with details.

    Show answer
    Answer: A small bird saw a snake near a sleeping hunter and sang to wake him. He escaped and thanked the bird.Include details.

Lesson 2

Strand
Reading
Sub-strand
Comprehension
Indicator
B4.2.7.1.2 – Note and recall main ideas in a sequence

Introduction

The main idea is what a passage is mostly about.

Main Ideas in Sequence

Passage: "First, the farmer clears the land. Then he plants maize seeds after the first rains. Next, he weeds the farm and adds manure. Finally, he harvests the maize after about three months."

Main ideas in order
StepMain idea
1clear the land
2plant seeds
3weed and add manure
4harvest
Four steps of maize farming from clearing to harvesting
Figure 1: From clearing to harvest Draw the four steps.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

main idea
What a passage is mostly about.
sequence
The order of events.
harvest
To gather crops.

Summary

  • The main idea is the key point.
  • Recall main ideas in order.

Exercises

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

  1. 1. What does the farmer do first?

    • A. Clears the land
    • B. Harvests
    • C. Weeds
    • D. Sells
    Show answer
    Answer: Clears the landFrom the passage.

  2. 2. Maize is harvested after about three months.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueFrom the passage.

  3. 3. To gather crops is to ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: harvestThat is harvesting.

  4. 4. List the main ideas in order.

    Show answer
    Answer: Clear, plant, weed and manure, harvest.Sequence matters.

Lesson 3

Strand
Grammar
Sub-strand
Verbs
Indicator
B4.3.5.1.1 – Use different types of verbs

Introduction

Verbs show actions or states. There are different types.

Types of Verbs

Verbs
TypeExamplesSentence
action verbsrun, cook, writeShe cooks rice.
helping verbsis, are, was, have, willHe is singing.
linking verbsbe, seem, becomeThe soup seems hot.

New words

verb
A word for an action or state.
helping verb
A verb that helps the main verb.
linking verb
A verb that links the subject to a description.

Summary

  • Action verbs show actions.
  • Helping and linking verbs support meaning.

Exercises

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

  1. 1. Which is an action verb?

    • A. write
    • B. is
    • C. seem
    • D. the
    Show answer
    Answer: writeIt is an action.

  2. 2. "Is" can be a helping verb.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueAs in "is singing".

  3. 3. The soup ______ hot. (seems / runs)

    Show answer
    Answer: seemsLinking verb.

  4. 4. Find the helping verb: "They are playing football."

    Show answer
    Answer: areIt helps "playing".

Lesson 4

Strand
Composition Writing
Sub-strand
Narrative Writing
Indicator
B4.4.10.1.1 – Write about real or imagined experiences or events

Introduction

Let us write a narrative about an exciting event.

Narrative Writing Practice

Writing frame:

  • Last ______, I ______. (beginning)
  • Suddenly, ______. (problem)
  • Then, ______. (action)
  • In the end, ______. (ending and feeling)

Example: "Last Saturday, I went to the beach. Suddenly, a big wave took my slipper. Then, a fisherman swam and caught it. In the end, I thanked him and felt relieved."

New words

suddenly
Quickly and unexpectedly.
relieved
Happy that a worry has ended.
frame
A guide for writing.

Summary

  • Use a frame to write narratives.
  • Include a problem and its solution.

Exercises

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

  1. 1. Which word shows a sudden event?

    • A. Suddenly
    • B. Slowly
    • C. Always
    • D. Never
    Show answer
    Answer: SuddenlyIt shows surprise.

  2. 2. A narrative can include a problem.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueStories often have problems.

  3. 3. Happy that a worry has ended means ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: relievedThat is relieved.

  4. 4. Complete: "Suddenly, ______."

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. Suddenly, the lights went off.Add an event.

Lesson 5

Strand
Writing Conventions/ Extensive Reading
Sub-strand
Using Adverbs, Building the Love and Culture of Reading
Indicator
B4.5.6.1.1 – Use adverbs to talk about when and where the action of a verb took place

Introduction

Adverbs can tell when and where an action happens.

Adverbs of Time and Place

Adverbs
TimePlace
todayhere
tomorrowthere
yesterdayeverywhere
nowoutside
soonupstairs

Reading passage: "Yesterday, the children played outside. Today, they are reading inside because it is raining. Tomorrow, they will go there to clean the garden."

Children playing outside yesterday, reading inside today and walking there tomorrow
Figure 2: Adverbs of time and place Draw a picture for an adverb of place.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

adverb
A word that tells more about a verb.
time
When something happens.
place
Where something happens.

Summary

  • Adverbs of time tell when.
  • Adverbs of place tell where.

Exercises

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

  1. 1. Which is an adverb of place?

    • A. outside
    • B. today
    • C. soon
    • D. yesterday
    Show answer
    Answer: outsideIt tells where.

  2. 2. "Tomorrow" is an adverb of time.

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

  3. 3. The children played ______ yesterday. (outside / soon)

    Show answer
    Answer: outsideAdverb of place.

  4. 4. Find two adverbs of time in the passage.

    Show answer
    Answer: Yesterday, Today, TomorrowThey tell when.

Homework

  1. Write a narrative using the writing frame.