Having a pet dog is a joyful experience. They offer constant companionship, playfulness, and unconditional love, brightening our lives every day. The simple presence of a furry friend can bring immense happiness and warmth to our homes.
Let’s read the article below to learn more about a dog and his owner that gone viral.
What does “go viral” mean? “A video has gone viral of a dog named Sydney driving his owner around on a motorbike in Indonesia.” Use it in a sentence.
What does “glare” mean? “The dog wears a pair of thick sunglasses to protect his eyes from any glare on the road.” Use it in a sentence.
What does “lap upsomething” mean? “The duo is lapping up some limelight at the moment, all because it is something that we are not used to seeing, but the dog’s owner said that this is actually completely normal in Indonesia.” Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
What are your initial thoughts and feelings upon hearing about this viral video of a dog driving a motorbike? Why do you think it became so popular?
How important is trust in the relationship between humans and their pets?
How do you think the internet and social media platforms impact the spread of viral videos and stories like this one? What are the pros and cons of this phenomenon?
What are some personal stories or experiences related to pets or animals that have had a significant impact on your life or cultural perspectives?
Punctuating a sentence correctly may sometimes seem difficult and discretionary. But with informed choices, you can get rid of assumptions in proper punctuation of sentence.
Here are the eight punctuation patterns.
Pattern 1: Simple Sentence
Use a period to punctuate one independent clause that is consist of a subject and a verb.
Educators are alarmed about the increasing number of school dropouts.
Pattern 2: Compound Sentence
Use a comma after the first independent clause that is before a coordinating conjunction ( and, but, for, or, nor, yet, so ) and then followed by another independent clause.
Educators are alarmed about the increasing number of school dropouts; they have not implemented new measures to resolve it.
Note: The two clauses must have a logical relation and be grammatically stand-alone sentences.
Pattern 4: Compound Sentence
Use semicolon and independent marker/conjunctive adverb with the compound sentence. Examples of independent markers:therefore, finally, consequently, moreover, thus, likewise, consequently, however, also.
Educators are alarmed about the increasing number of school dropouts;however, they have not implemented new measures to resolve it.
Note: Place a comma after the transition word/independent marker. When clauses are too wordy and complex, semicolons are used to separate two balanced main clauses joined together by a coordinating conjunction. This makes it easier for the reader to understand the sentence.
Pattern 5: Complex Sentence
Start the complex sentence with a dependent marker. Examples of dependent markers: because, before, since, while, even though, although, if, unless, until, when, after, as, as if
Educators are alarmed about the increasing number of school dropouts because it has never been a major issue.
Note: No comma is required in this pattern.
Pattern 7:
This uses an additional, non-essential clause or phrase after the independent clause. Removing the non-essential clause should not alter the context of the sentence.
These embedded phrases are used to enhance the clause but are not required to make the clause to stand alone.
First part of an independent clause [ , ] non-essential clause or phrase, rest of the independent clause [ . ]
Example:
Educators, from public and private sectors, are alarmed about the increasing number of school dropouts.
Note: Place a comma before and after the non-essential clause.
Pattern 8:
This uses an additional, essential clause or phrase after the first independent clause. Removing the non-essential clause can alter the context of the sentence.
First part of an independent clause essential clause or phrase rest of the independent clause [ . ]
Example:
Educators who are alarmed about the increasing number of school dropouts have convened a committee to address the issue.
A prefix is one or more letters added before a base word to change its meaning. Prefixes have different functions. They may make the word negative (-un, in), by showing repetition (-re), or by showing support (-pro).
Prefixes are mostly used to shorten phrases. For example, if you want to say that someone is “eating too much“, you can simply say that they are “overeating“.
Here is a list of prefixes from a-z and their meaning and examples.
Prefix
Meaning
Example
ab
away, from
abstract, abort, abrupt
a
not or without, a state of being
atypical, amoral, anew
ad
to, toward, near
adjust, adapt, adverb
ambi
both
ambivalent, ambilateral
ante-
before
anteroom, antechoir
anti-
against, opposing
antibiotic, antibacterial
arch
chief, most important
archenemy, archbishop
a
at, in, on, to
awake
at
to, toward
attend
auto
self
automatic, autobiography
be
cause to be
bespoke, belittle
bene
good
benefactor, benediction
bi
two, twice
bicycle, billingual
circum-
around
circumference, circuit
co
with, together
collude, coalition
con
jointly
connect, consensus
contra
against
contraindicate, contraceptive
counter
opposite
counteract, counterbalance
co-
with
co-author, co-parent
deca
ten
decagon, decagram
demi
half
demibillionaire, demivoice
de-
off, down, away from
descend, deactivate, declog
dia
through, across
diagonal, diagram
dis-
opposite of, not
disadvantage, discredit
di
two
dilemma
dys
bad, abnormal
dyslexia
em-
cause to
embitter, empower
em-, en-
cause to, put into
enlighten, embody
en-
to cause, provide
ensure
endo
internal
endoscopy
epi-
upon, close to, after
epidemic, epilogue
equi
equal
equilibrium
ethno
race, nation
ethnocentric
ex-
former, out of
ex-wife, exclude
extra-
outside, beyond
extramarital, extracurricular
fore-
before
forefather, foresee
homo-
same
homonym, homosexual
hyper-
beyond, more than, more than normal
hypersensitive, hyperbole
im-,-in
in
improper, influence
il-, im-, in-, ir-
not
illogical, impossible, inappropriate, irrational
infra-
beneath, below
infrastructure, infrahuman
im-, in-
into
inject, imbibe
inter-, intra-
between
interact, intravenous
macro-
large
macrolanguage, macrohistory
micro-
small
microchip, microorganism
mid-
middle
midterm, midpoint
mis-
wrongly
misuse, mismanage
mono-
one, singular
monologue, monopoly
non-
not, without
nonfiction, nonpayment
omni-
all, every
omnipresent, omniscience
over-
over
overrule, overkill
para-
beside, closely related
paragraph, paradigm
post-
after
postgame, postseason
pre-
before
prenatal, prenuptial
re-
again
restart, relive
semi-
half
semicircle, semiformal
sub-
under
submarine, subordinate, subtitle
therm-
heat
thermal, thermonuclear
trans-
across, beyond
translucent, transparent
tri-
three
tristate, triathlon, tricolor
under-
under
underpay, undergo
un-
not
unable, uncommon, unhappy
uni-
one
unicameral, unison
Tips:
When to use hyphens with prefixes:
a. Prefix with a proper nounexcept for the word “transatlantic“, the only word that does not follow this rule on proper nouns.
pro-China protesters
trans-American flights
b. If the word with the prefix already exists, use a hyphen.
resign = voluntarily leave a job or other position
re-sign = sign (a document) again
c.all-, ex– (former), and self–
all-knowing
ex-husband
self-care
The prefix ex- has two different meanings (“out from,” and “in the past”). Only use a hyphen when the meaning of ex- is “former” or “in the past.”
Note:
The prefix “extra” does not need a hyphen if it means “outside of“.
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A suffix is one or more letters added at the end of a base word to make a new word.
The new word formed usually becomes a different word class from the original base word. For example, with the use of a suffix, a verb can be changed to an adjective or a noun. Similarly, an adjective or a nouncan be changed to an adverb by the use of a suffix.
Common Suffixes in English
Noun Suffixes
Suffixes
Meaning
Example
-ment
forming abstract noun
entertainment, management, improvement
-ist
one who
tourist, journalist, novelist
-ism
belief, doctrine
socialism, journalism, baptism
-sion, -tion
quality or state
discussion, manipulation, generation
-ship
quality or state, position held
leadership, membership, partnership
-dom
state of being
stardom, martyrdom
-ness
quality or state
greatness, willingness, madness
-ity, -ty
quality of
curiousity, honesty, majesty
-ance, -ence
state or quality
importance, assistance, brilliance
-acy
state or quality
legacy,accuracy, democracy
-al
act or process of
survival, denial, removal
-er, -or
one who
instructor, operator, investor
Verb Suffixes
Suffixes
Meaning
Example
-ize, -ise
become
normalize,advertise, baptize
-en
become
straighten, weaken, worsen
-ate
become
formulate, congratulate, activate
-ify, -fy
make or become
clarify, identify, certify
Adverb Suffixes
Suffixes
Meaning
Example
-ward
in a certain direction
upward, westward, wayward
-ly
in what manner something is being done
greatly, loudly, highly
-wise
in relation to
likewise, edgewise, crosswise
Adjective Suffixes
Suffixes
Meaning
Example
-ive
having the nature or cetain quality of
active, aggressive, protective
-able, -ible
able to be done or able to be used
enjoyable, lovable, adaptable
-less
without
fearless, useless, worthless
-ful
full of a certain quality
careful, joyful, painful
-ish
having the quality or similar to a certain quality
foolish, bookish, yellowish
-ic, -ical
pertaining to
dramatic, organic,historical
-ious, -ous
characterized by
religious, famous, joyous
-esque
to show likeness
carnivalesque, picturesque, statuesque
-al
related to a certain thing
annual, cultural, spiritual
-y
having the characteristics of something
smelly, airy, dirty
Tips:
The spelling of the new word may bechanged when adding a suffix.
a. For words with only one consonant and a short vowel sound, double the last consonant before the suffix.
base word
with suffix
drop
dropping
big
bigger
fat
fatter
b. For words ending in two consonants, the suffix is usually added as is.
base word
with suffix
jump
jumper
insist
insisted
c. For words ending in a consonant followed by a ‘y‘, we remove the ‘y‘ and replace it with an ‘i‘ before adding the suffix.
Noun clause is a type of subordinate clause that serves as a noun in a sentence. It is fairly easy to spot them since they usually begin with certain subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns.
A noun clause has multiple functions too. One of these functions is to act as a subject by constituting the action in a sentence. A noun clause as a subject usually comes immediately before the verb and at the beginning of a sentence.
Structure:
noun clause + verb [+ object/phrase/clause]
noun clause
verb
object/phrase/clause
Whoever made it through the night
gets
the highly coveted award.
Why she ever married that arrogant fool
is
beyond me.
Whether he is participating in the conference
is
no concern of mine.
Tips:
a. Noun clause as a subject should not be separated from the verb with punctuation.
Incorrect
Correct
Whichever you choose, is fine with us.
Whichever you choose is fine with us.
What excited them the most, is the possibility of working remotely.
What excited them the most is the possibility of working remotely.
b. When a noun clause functions as a subject, it always takes a singular verb.
Incorrect
Correct
How bosses treat their subordinatesare important signs of their prevailing company culture.
How bosses treat their subordinatesis an important sign of their prevailing company culture.
Exactly why they chose to take that trainremain a mystery.
Exactly why they chose to take that trainremains a mystery.
c.That–clause
A noun clause as a subject that starts with “that” is totally acceptable. However, it doesn’t sound natural. In written English, many writers opt for “The fact that”.
That he remembers every single detail of the incident is incredible.
The fact that he remembers every single detail of the incident is incredible.
China is considered the world’s second-largest economy. With the recent economic crises that the economic powerhouse is confronted with, US President Joe Biden described its economy as a ‘ticking time bomb’.
On contrary, Chinese President Xi Jinping believes their country’s economy has “strong resilience, tremendous potential, and great vitality”.
Read this article to learn more about China’s economic problems.
What does “ticking time bomb” mean? “US President Joe Biden described the world’s second-largest economy as “a ticking time bomb, predicting growing discontent in the country.” Use this phrase in your own sentence.
What does “to ride a wave of something” mean? “For two decades, the sector boomed as developers rode a wave of privatization. But crisis struck in 2020.” Use this phrase in your own sentence.
What does “meltdown” mean here, “The government, fearing a US-style 2008 meltdown, then put limits on how much developers could borrow.”? Use this phrase in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
In your own words, discuss China’s economic crisis.
How do you think China’s economic crisis could affect the world economy?
What are some economic crises that your country is facing right now and what do you think caused it.
“A change of economic direction requires a change of political ideology.” Do you think China should consider changing some of its political ideologies? Talk about your opinion.
“There could be a danger that Mr Xi is prioritizing ideology over effective governance, or control over pragmatism.” Share your thoughts on this.
If you are a frequent flyer, you have probably heard the cabin crew’s announcement to switch off your mobile phone or atleast put it on airplane mode for the duration of the flight. They expect the passengers to follow this rule without necessarily providing ample details for doing so.
Watch the video and be informed as to why our mobile phones should be on airplane mode when we are flying.
Vocabulary Questions:
What is the meaning of the word “interference” in this context? “At least your special eyes would be able to see this if the sky wasn’t flooded with interference from routers, satellites, and of course, people flying who haven’t put their phones on airplane mode.” Use it in your own sentence.
Define the phrasal verb “drown out“. “Since planes travel so quickly, the phones might find themselves much closer to a cell tower than expected; blasting it with a massive signal that drowns out those on the ground.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
What does the phrasal verb “blot out” mean? “This leads consumers to pay for more bandwidth, pushing service providers to take over more of the radio spectrum, and eventually, send more satellites into the sky — creating a vicious cycle that could eventually blot out the stars.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
What are the benefits of putting your phone on airplane mode when you are on a plane?
What are the dangers of not putting your phone on airplane mode?
Do you think airline companies should stop offering wi-fi connection on a plane? Why or why not?
Do you put your phone on airplane mode every time you fly? Are there other situations where you do the same?
