Collect five sentences from any print media. Identify each of them according to clause, group and word classes. (Identify the source, make a photostated copy of the original and attach it to the portfolio)

       grammar (about five sentences).  Identify the subject, the finite verb and

        the nonfinite clause.

        **     Underline once the subject in red

       

        **     Underline the finite verb in green

        **     Draw an arrow to connect the finite verb in the subject to check for

                agreement

        **     Box the nonfinite clause

        **     Identify an object and a complement

          Functional and traditional grammar differ in their approaches,

assumptions and some terminologies.  The traditional grammar focuses on

    object

syntactic well-formednesss while functional grammar aims at meaningful and

appropriateness of communicational exchange.  A good understanding and

knowledge of both systems will be an advantage towards language

                            complement

proficiency.  It is important to know word labels and the slots occupied by the

units even though functionally such discrete analysis  is not heavily

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emphasized upon.  Functional grammar focuses on meaningful units of a

sentence.

Activity 3

Noun Groups and referrers

1. Listen to and record a section of the news on radio.  Transcribe the text (about

150 words) and underline all the noun groups.  What kind of referrers amd

referencing was used?

2. Find an example paragraph of your own to show the features of referrers and

the different types of  referencing.  (You may include the demonstrative and

possessive referents).

9

RADIO NEWS

                                                                                                              LINE

    NG                                                          NG

Stone action would be taken against the owners of car  and motorcycle   1              

                                                                                     NG

workshops` refusal to display the price list at their premises.  The            2

  NG

Minister of Trade and Consumer Trade and Consumer Trade Ministry      3

Enforcement division director general Abdullah Nawawi Mohd said this    4

included imposing high compounds as provided for under consumer       5

protection for Asian workshop of information display.  Checks by the      6

ministry  revelled only a small number of ten thousand workshops           7                                                                                      

                                                                                       NG

nationwide been monitored by the ministry of the list.  Abdullah             8

10

                                                        NG

 told the reporter after heading enforcement team to inspect                        9

                 NG

several workshops in Jalan Pier and Jalan  Tun Teras in Kuala              10

Lumpur.  He said more disappointing to see the price list kept in an        11

                                                                    NG

unseen place in some workshops.  The Sarawak Government which     12

                                                                                                 NG

will not be paying any half month bonus to its 25 thousand state civil     13

servants is considering alternative ways to motivate and compensate 14

               NG

them.    State Secretary Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Hussein said that       15

  NG

Federal  Government had announced bonus as part of the 7.3 billion 16

ringgit.  Economic stimulus package for its nine hundred thousand     17

  NG

Federal Civil servants do not mean the state government will follow   18

soon.

1. Kinds of referrers used:-

1.     Demonstratives     this     (in line 4)

                                       

B)     Possessive            their     (in line 2)

                                       Its        (in lines 13 & 17)

2. Kinds of reference:

11

1. Generic:

**     The Minister of Trade and Consumer Trade Ministry

         enforcement division director general Abdullah        

                                             Nawawi Mohd

                                   **     Asian

                                   **     Sarawak Government

                                   **     State Secretary Datuk Amar Abdullah Aziz Hussein

                                   **      Federal Government

2. Definite:

                                    **      stone action

                                     **     the owners of car and motorcycle workshops

                                      **     the price list

                                      **     their premises

                                      **      high compound

                                       **     consumer protection

                                        **     reporter

                                        **     enforcement team

                                        **     workshop

3. Indefinite

**     a small number of ten thousand workshops    

                                           nationwide

           **     an unseen place

           **     alternative ways

3.     Types of referencing

1. The Ministry of trade and consumer trade ministry enforcement division director general Abdullah Nawawi Mohd said this included imposing high

Compounds as provided for under consumer…

(line 4)  refers to stone action  (line 1)

                                               :  definite, backward pointing referencing

2. The Sarawak Government which will not be paying

half-month bonus to its 25 thousand state civil

servantsis considering alternative ways to motivate

and compensate them.(in line 15)  refers to the

state civil servants.

:  definite, backward pointing referencing.

                               

12

4. Noun Groups

**stone action

**owners of car and motorcycle workshops

**price list

**premises

**Minister of Trade and consumer trade Ministry enforcement division director general Abdullah Nawawi Mohd

**high compounds

**consumer protection

**Asian

**a small number of ten thousand workshops

**Abdullah

**reporter

**enforcement team

**workshops

**an unseen place

**Sarawak Government

**state civil servants

**State secretary Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Hussein

**Federal Government

**Federal Civil servants

3B     Find an example paragraph of your own to show the features of referrers and the different types of referencing.

(You may include the demonstrative and possessive referents).

Title:     SCHOOL DROPOUTS

 NG                                                NG

School dropouts have become a phenomenal social            1

                                                                                NG

problem over the years.  The alarming number of school       2  

                                             NG

dropouts has prompted the state government to carry out      3

                                                NG

studies to find out why these youngsters stop schooling.        4

                              NG

Postmag talks to young students on what they think about     5

13

this issue.                                                                                 6

                                                                  NG

                 One of the reasons why some kids drop out from   7

                                                                        NG

school is because they are burdened with personal problems 8

                   NG

especially families matters such as parents getting divorce.    9  

                                             NG

They cannot cope with the pressure and tend to drop out       10

from  school.                                                                             11                                                                                  

                 

                                     Another reason is that some kids have to work after      12

school to help support the family, or support their siblings       13

because their parents had separated and couldn’t  take care  14

 of them.                                                                                    15        

Some just drop out just to find out more about life --- what      16

It is like to be adults and earning money.                                  17

         

          Some students just couldn’t cope up with their studies. 18

                              Ng                                                 NG

It could be due to personal problems or just poor time             19  

14

management.                                                                          20

         

          Some people are not born to be good in learning and 21

 they opt to drop out.                                                                22

            NG                                                        NG

           Parents should be responsible to their children and    23

                                     NG

they should not let the children to drop out from school.        24

       NG                                   NG                               NG

The parents should give moral support to their children and 25

don’t pressure them unnecessarily.                                        26

  NG                                                                 NG

Students should equip themselves with education as it          27

                                     NG                                          NG

will promise them a better future.  Dropping out from school  28

                                 NG

will only give them short-lived pleasure and they will tend       29

                                  NG

to get involved with unhealthy activities.                                   30

           

         Dropout should go back to school if they have the          31

  NG

chance.                                                                                     32

15

Generic reference:     **school dropouts

                                   **The State Government

Definite reference:      **the years

                                   **these youngsters

                                   **the pressure

                                   **the family

                                    **the children

                                    **the parents

                                    **the chance

Indefinite reference:     **a phenomenal social problem

                                     **their children

                                      **a better future

Quantifiers:                    **one

                                       **some

Demonstrative referents:**these

                                        **it

Possessive referents:     **their

i)     this issue   (line 6)  refers to school dropouts  (line 1)

        (definite, backward-pointing referencing)

2. They  (line 10)  refers to some kids  (line 7)

(definite, backward-pointing referencing)

3. them  (line 15)  refers to some kids  (line 12)

(definite, backward-pointing referencing

4. their  (line 18)  refers to some students  (line 18)

(definite, backward pointing reference)

16

22. they  (line 24)  refers to parents (line 23)

(definite, backward pointing referencing)

                           Vi)     them (line26)  refers  to children  (line 25)

                                     (definite, backward-pointing referencing)

vii)A better future  (line 28)  is external to the text.  (definite, outward-pointing referencing)

Activity 4

                 Nominalised Noun Groups

                

                Make sentences to show the use of each of the following group of words in the formation of noun groups.

Domestic                    commercial                      agriculture                         education

Domesticated              commercialized               agricultural                        educational

Industry                       industrialised                    industrial  

1. domestic

**  The Malaysian Airline System is planning to increase the number of domestic flights to cater to the increasing number of passengers traveling by air.

          Domesticated

               **  The little cub in the British Royal Circus is more domesticated than the dog

                we have kept for a year.

2. commercial

**  The high commercial value of the elephant tusks lures the illegal hunting of the endangered animal species.

17

 Commercialized

**  The educational programmes run by the state agencies has become very

commercialized and it encouraged healthy competitions towards a higher

education standard.

3. agriculture

**  Agriculture is a sole source of income for many underdeveloping  country.

Agricultural

**  The agricultural dependent countries of the Asian region are poorer and more

undeveloped than the industrialized dependent countries in Europe.

4. education

**  The education is vital for the civilization of the people in the society.

Educational

**  The government has spent quite a large amount of money on the broadcasting of the educational programmes through radio and television every year.

5. industry

**  The Batik industry of Malaysia has prospered due to the introduction of new machinery in Batik processing.

Industrial

**  The industrial areas by the riverside will be moving to another place soon.

Industrialized

**  The industrialized countries of the world should take positive measures to reduce the air pollution.

18

Activity 5

Verbs

(Refer to Task 4f p.78 in the text)

1. Which of the following verbs can occur in:

1. Intransitive (Actor – only) clauses
2. Transitive   (Actor and Goal) clauses
3. Ditransitive (Actor, Goal and Recipient or Beneficiary)  clauses

buy        catch                sleep                hand                cut                exercise

disappear        design                drop                evaporate                fly                write

descend

Make sentences with the words according to a, b, and c.

1. buy

**  Father buys chicken wings from the hypermarket.     (Transitive clause)

       **He buys chicken wings from the hypermarket for his children. (Ditransitive Clause)

     

2. cut

**   Butcher cuts the meat (Transitive clause)

19

**   The meat cutter cuts the meat for butcher.

3. drop

**     John dropped the vase.      (Transitive Clause)

4. descend

**     Grandfather descends the stairs slowly.  (Transitive Clause)

**     The parachute descended slowly.     (intransitive clause)

5. catch

**     Hashim  catches grasshoppers  every day.     (Transitive clause)

**     He catches grasshoppers for his brother.

20

6. exercise

**     He exercises every day.     (Intransitive clause)

**     People exercise to keep healthy.     (Transitive Clause)

7. Evapotate

**      The sun evaporates the water.     (Transitive clause)

8. Sleep

**     The baby sleeps     (Intransitive clause)

 

      **     People sleep to ease their tiredness.  (Transitive clause)

 

9. disappear

 **     The little girl disappeared.      (Intransitive clause)

21

10. fly

**     Birds fly.     (Intransitive clause)

**     The pilot flies the aeroplane.     (Transitive clause)

**     The bird flies to feed its nestlings in the nest.

11. hand

**     Johan handed me a few story books.     (Transitive clause)

12. Design

**     Kim Fera designed his own house.     (Transitive clause)

**     The architect designs the house for Kim Fera.     (Ditransitive clause)

22

13. Write

**     I write every day.     (Intransitive clause)

**     Peter writes a letter to his friend.     (Ditransitive clause)

**        Peter wrote  the letter.     (Transitive clause)

23

Activity 5.2:  Where a verb can occur in two or more types of configuration, which type would you consider it most useful for learners to learn first?

          All verbs can occur in the transitive clause type of configuration  but not all verbs would make meaningful clauses if used in the Intransitive form and Ditransitive form.  Therefore it is most useful for learners to learn  verbs that can occur in the Transitive type of configuration first.  It would be more easily understood when a verb is mapped on a direct or indirect object in a clausr.

Activity 5.3:     By  translating into another language some of the  clauses you used to explore the possible configuration s of participants with the verbs listed.  How similar or different are the configurations in the two languages.

        

1. buy

---   In these  two clauses, the configurations re similar in both languages,

       i.e.     in English and Bahasa Malasysia.

24

2. drop

------     In these two clauses, the configurations are similar as the original

            meaning of the verb in the clause is no longer retained  even though

            the arrangement of the  words in the  two clauses might be similar

            translated from English to Bahasa Malaysia

3. Catch

            

     

____   All these clauses are similar in their configurations even after being translated from English to Bahasa Malaysia.  In the first two clauses, the actor is the subject and the goal realizes the direct object.   In the Ditransitive clauses (second table) his brother realizes the beneficiary for whom the action is done for.

25

Activity 6

Action Processes

1. The following sentences express more or less the same “meaning” but in

different terms.  Analyze each one in terms of process, participants and

circumstances.

1. She bought the house from him for RM 60,000.

         

2. He sold her the house for RM60,000.

3. She paid him RM60,000 for the house.

4. He got RM 60,000 for the house.

5. The house was sold to her for RM60,000.

2

2. Write a short paragraph about a dream you had in which you will use sentences to show various types of mental process—perception, affection, cognition and volition.  (two sentences for each type).  Analyze them using the terms learnt e.g. senser, phenomenon etc.  Show the sentences in table form.

                        I was sitting in a hot air balloon enjoying the beautiful scene of

              the town.  I saw tiny creatures and fast moving vehicles.  Watching the

              birds flying freely, reminded me of the freedom.  I sat there longing for                                                    t             the freedom that the bird has.  Then, I noticed a huge                                  

              black bird flying towards me.  With great fear, I knew it signals the

              danger that I am going to encounter.  I believed I could help, so I

              signalled  to the black bird.  I wished for miracle to stop it knocking.

              I was filled with great fear as I saw the huge black bird flying nearer.

I wanted to shout and cry for help loudly.  Suddenly, I was shook out

Of my weird dream.

1.

2.

3

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

4

9.

10.

5

ACTIVITY 7

TENSES

6

Activity 7

Tenses

1. In the following sentences, correct any errors in the use of the verb form.  Explain the problems.

1.     In school, teachers are  teaching the students thinking skills to prepare

         them for work.

         Verb error:     are teaching

         Correct form:     In school, teachers teach the students thinking skills to

                                         prepare  them for work.

        Problem:     The verb group are teaching is in the relative present tense.

                      The verb group in this sentence serves to mean that the action

               process is still going on at the present time and it has a                                 t               temporary duration.   However, the verb teach shows a                                 r               recurrent event in a timeless process.

        

2. The babysitter doesn’t want to take care of babies who has cried 

non-stop.

Verb error:     has cried

Correct form:     The babysitter doesn’t want to take care of babies  

                          who cry non-stop.

Problem:     Baby crying is a recurrent event or habitual action,

                   therefore stating that the babysitter doesn’t want to

                   take care of babies who cry non-stop would need to

                   be stated in the present tense.

8

3. All students are wearing uniforms to school.

Verb error:        are wearing

Correct form:        All students wear uniforms to school.

Problem:        The use of the absolute simple present tense of the                          

                verb form wear more accurate to situate a timeless

                process as everyone knows that it is a must to wear

                uniforms to school everyday.  Therefore the use of a

                relative present perfect tense verb form of are

                wearing is not right as it only relates to a process of

                temporary duration.

4. He is working for ASP Co. since he came to Malaysia.

Verb error:        is working

Correct form:He works for ASP Co. since he came to Malaysia.

Problem:        The verb form of is working in the relative form

                situates that the process in the first clause of the

                sentence  is located at the present time.  The verb

                form does not co-relate to the verb from since he 

                came in the second clause which reflects an

                indefinite time.  However, using the absolute simple

                present tense of works would certainly indicate to us

                he would still be working with ASP Co. indefinitely.

9

5. In the photo, the lady who stands in the middle is my aunty.

Verb error:        stands

Correct form:        In the photo, the lady who is standing in the middle is

                my aunty.

Problem:        The verb form stands which is in the simple present

                form cannot be used to relate to a process that

                happened in the past.

6. They are reading magazines for the past one hour.

Verb error:        are reading

Correct form:They have been reading magazines for the past one

                  Hour.

Problem:        To use the present perfect continuous tense (Relative

                tensepresent in past tense) would be more accurate

                todescribe  a process that has started at a point of

                time in the past  and has continued to the time of

                speech.

                Therefore the usage of  the absolute present tense

                form as in the above sentence does not agree to the

`                time process.

7. Have you saw the movie yet?

Verb error:        saw

Correct form:Have you seen the movie yet?

Problem:        The event express by the past tense is seen as

                disconnected from the present but when expressed

                by the present perfect tense the event is then

                psychologically related to the present.

10

8. He is understanding the instructions given to me.

Verb error:        is understanding

Correct form:He understood the instructions given to me.

Problem:        The verb in the phrase given to me indicates a

                process that of the present perfect but is

                understanding (present in tense) does not tie

                with the first process.  Therefore it is more

                appropriate to use the simple past tense form

                of the verb – understood.

9. Most of the young boys in Malaysia are playing football.

Verb error:        are playing

Correct form:Most of the young boys in Malaysia play football.

Problem:        The process described by the phrase are playing

                relates to us that it is a temporary action.  But in this

                situation it is wrongly use, as making a general

                statement regarding a massive number of

                participants involved in the on-going process.

10. We knew each other for a long time.

Verb error:                know

Correct form:        We have known each other for a long time.

Problem:                Simple present tense is used to show action

                        process expressing habitual or timeless

                        actions.  Therefore the use of the verb know is

                        not appropriate as the idea in the sentence

                        meant a process in the present perfect form.

11

7(b)                Underline the finite verb groups in the article and

                    change only those that have problems.

                Explain the problems.

Yummy, Healthy, Delicious Chocolate.

        Hmm….  Every time you pop that small piece into your mouth it’s practically heaven.  Smooth, creamy and unbelievably fattening!  Now don’t you just hate it when suddenly a so-called friend comes and ruins  your intimate session with a bar of chocolate?

        Of course you do!  The usual You-Will-Never-Catch-Catch-Me-Eating-That scenario will ensue between you and your so-called friend.  Eating a piece of chocolate makes you feel like you are committing a serious offence and drives you to insanity.  Now how do you deal with this without being rude?

        Well, here are a few facts you can use to set these people straight.

        Christopher Columbus discovered chocolate in the new world at the end of the 15th century.  By the 17th century chocolate was known as a beverage in England.  Cadbury was the first company to produce the first box of chocolate candies.  During the first time, a Swiss chocolate manufacturer, Daniel Peter, was looking for a way to combine milk with chocolate.  At the same time Henri Nestle was investigating ways to make milk with chocolate.  At the same time Henri Nestle investigating ways to make  milk more stable for the use of baby formula.  The product of Nestles experimentation was condensed milk.  In 1879, Henri Nestle and Daniel Peter jointed hands and formed Nestle,,.  Because of the ingenious idea, we have milk chocolate.  From

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then, white chocolate, dark chocolate, bitter chocolate and many other types of chocolate were created to our delight.

        Chocolate over centuries had been blamed as the cause of obesity and other cardiovascular diseases.  Only overindulgence in chocolate makes you fat.  The recommended quantity is about half a bar or less.  Sugar found in chocolate is usually table sugar, which is better than fructose corn syrup, found in almost very other food available.  According to a research done by professors of Penn State and Southwestern University Medical Center in Dallas eating milk chocolate have increases cholesterol levels even though it is high in saturated fats.  Stearic acid found in chocolate does not have the same effects as other saturated fats.  The American Chemical Society  reported  that a regular bar of chocolate contains high levels of antioxidant polyphenols.  These antioxidants may exert their effect directly on low-density polyphenols.  These antioxidants may exert their effect directly on low-density lipoproteins, a transporter of cholesterol.  Antioxidant prohibits the damaging oxidants of low-density lipoproteins thus slowing down the rate of fatty build up in the arteries.  Another antioxidant known as catechin, which is found in cocoa, may help protect you from cardiovascular disease and cancer.  Cardiovascular diseases are mainly caused by the lack of exercise, smoking and unbalanced diets.  So let’s all stop blaming that little piece of delicious brown candy!  The American Cocoa Research Institute currently sponsored a study to evaluate the amount and different types of antioxidants found in  chocolate..

The results of this research will  also provide information on other additional benefits of chocolate in our diet.

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Explanation to the problems

                        The first and the third paragraphs of the article states about

Something in general and the form is not tied to any exact specified time but expressing recurrent and timeless actions.  Therefore the tense use should be in the simple present tense for these two paragraphs.  Though some sentences may change to using the present continuous tense indicating continuous actions.

        The second paragraph mainly relates about some actions that has happened in the past, therefore, the simple past tense is used to refer to events of the past.

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        Activity 8

        Mood

        Identify the mood for each of the sentences.  Label the elements as

        Subjects, Finite, Predicator, Complement, and Adjunct involved.

1. Where did he picked up that habit?

   

   

2. He picked up the habit from school.

3. Where have all the children gone?

4. They have all gone home an hour ago.

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5. Did Kim Eng bring her sister along?

 

6. Of course, Kim Eng could not leave out her sister.

7. Right now, however, you might have to refer your course.

8. I really have to, don’t I?

9.     Don’t you dare do otherwise!

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ACTIVITY 9

SENTENCE COMBINING

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Activity 9

Sentence Combining

Combine the following groups of sentences into one sentence.  Use the words or punctuation marks indicated in brackets to help you join the ideas together.

1. The best known of New Zealand’s birds is the kiwi.

It has become the symbol of New Zealanders.     (which)

-----     The best known of New Zealand’s birds is the Kiwi which has

            become the symbol of New Zealanders.

        

2. It’s a small bird.

It’s a tubby bird.

It’s a flightless bird.     (commas)

-----     It’s a small, tubby and flightless bird.

3. It is nocturnal.

It is not easy to observe.     (because)

-----     It is not easy to observe because it is nocturnal.

4. Kiwis may have no wings, feathers that are more like hair than real

feathers, short sight and a sleepy nature.

          All blacks have nothing in common with Australia’s  “cute” national

          symbol, the koala.     (but)

-----     Kiwis may have no wings, feathers that are more like hair than

                     real feathers, short sight and a sleepy nature but All Blacks have

                nothing in common with Australia’s “cute” national symbol, the

                koala.

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5. It has a shocking temper.

It is manifested when it is upset.     (which)

It gives a thumping big kick to whoever and whatever.  (giving)

-----     It has a shocking temper which is manifested when it is upset giving a thumping big kick to whoever and whatever.

6. They are most active in the night time.

They are still fairly lazy.     (despite the fact)

They sleep for as many as 20 hours a day.     (sleeping)

-----     They are most active in the  night time despite the fact that they

            are fairly lazy sleeping for as many as 20 hours a day.

        

7. The rest of the time, they spend poking around for worms.

They sniff them out with the nostrils on the end of their long bill.     (which)

-----     The rest of the time, they spend poking around for worms which

   they sniff out with the nostrils at the end of their long bill.

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ACTIVITY 10

TEXTUAL FUNCTION

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Activity 10

Textual Function

Write sentences that together will form a coherent paragraph on the topic:  Studying through distance learning,  Your sentences should exhibit discoursal features of enhancement.  Cover all the varieties as listed on pp.258 – 259.

You need not follow the order given in the text.

Number your sentences,, underline the clause and at the side define the enhancement feature.