ENGLISH LANGUAGE NOTE

Topic: Verbs
Class: JSS 1

What is a Verb?

A verb is a word that shows action, state, or being. Verbs are also called doing words because
they tell us what someone or something is doing.

Types of Verbs

1. Action Verbs
These show physical or mental action.
✅ Examples: run, jump, write, think, eat
o The boy runs fast.
o She thinks about her homework.
2. Linking Verbs
These do not show action. They link the subject to more information.
✅ Examples: is, am, are, was, were, seem, become
o He is a teacher.
o They are happy.
3. Helping Verbs
These help the main verb to show tense or possibility.
✅ Examples: is, am, are, was, were, has, have, had, will, shall, can
o She is going to school.
o I have eaten my food.

Tenses of Verbs

Verbs change form to show time (tense).

1. Present Tense – shows something happening now

o She plays football.
2. Past Tense – shows something that already happened
o She played football yesterday.
3. Future Tense – shows something that will happen
o She will play football tomorrow.

Examples of Verbs in Sentences

 I eat rice every day. (Present)

 They went to the market. (Past)
 We will visit grandma next week. (Future)

Class Activity
Underline the verbs in the following sentences:

1. The dog barks at strangers.

2. I am tired.
3. We will go to school tomorrow.
4. She writes a letter.
5. He was happy.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE NOTE

Topic: Active and Passive Voice

Class: JSS 1

What is Voice in English?

In English, voice shows whether the subject of a sentence is doing the action or receiving the
action.

1. Active Voice

In Active Voice, the subject does the action.

✅ Structure: Subject + Verb + Object

Examples:

 The boy kicks the ball.

 Mary sang a song.
 They are eating rice.

� The subject (boy, Mary, they) is doing the action.

2. Passive Voice

In Passive Voice, the subject receives the action.

✅ Structure: Object + Helping Verb + Past Participle + by + Subject (optional)

Examples:

 The ball is kicked by the boy.

 A song was sung by Mary.
 Rice is being eaten by them.
� The object (ball, song, rice) is now the focus of the sentence.

How to Change Active to Passive Voice

Use this guide:

1. Identify the subject, verb, and object.

2. Move the object to the beginning of the sentence.
3. Change the verb into the correct passive form (use "be" + past participle).
4. Add „by‟ + the subject (optional).

Examples

Active Voice Passive Voice

She reads a book. A book is read by her.
The teacher teaches the students. The students are taught by the teacher.
They cleaned the room. The room was cleaned by them.
We will watch a movie. A movie will be watched by us.

Important Notes:

 Not all sentences can be changed into passive voice (especially intransitive verbs like
"sleep," "arrive").
 Passive voice is used when the doer is unknown or not important.

Class Activity

Change the following sentences from active to passive:

1. John paints the wall.

2. The cat chased the mouse.
3. She will write a letter.
4. The boys are playing football.
5. He ate the cake.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE NOTE

Topic: Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)
Class: JSS 1

What is Reported Speech?

Reported Speech is when we tell someone what another person said, without using their exact
words.

✅ We usually change the tense, pronouns, and sometimes time words.

1. Direct Speech

In Direct Speech, we repeat the speaker’s exact words. We use quotation marks (“ ”).

Examples:

 She said, “I am hungry.”

 John said, “I will go home.”

2. Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

In Reported Speech, we do not use quotation marks. We change the words to fit into our
sentence.

Examples:

 She said that she was hungry.

 John said that he would go home.

Rules for Changing Direct to Reported Speech

1. Change the Tense (If the reporting verb is in the past)

Direct Speech Reported Speech

am / is → was “I am tired” → She said she was tired.
are → were “They are ready” → He said they were ready.
do / does → did “She does her work” → He said she did her work.
have / has → had “I have a pen” → She said she had a pen.
will → would “I will go” → He said he would go.
can → could “I can swim” → She said she could swim.

2. Change the Pronouns

 “I am tired” → He said he was tired.

  “We are coming” → They said they were coming.

3. Change Time Words

Direct Speech Reported Speech

today → that day “I will come today” → She said she would come that
day.
tomorrow → the next day / following “I will go tomorrow” → He said he would go the next
day day.
yesterday → the day before “I came yesterday” → She said she had come the day
before.
now → then “I am leaving now” → He said he was leaving then.

Examples

Direct Speech Reported Speech

“I am happy,” she said. She said that she was happy.
“We are late,” they said. They said that they were late.
“He will travel tomorrow,” John said. John said that he would travel the next day.

Class Activity

Change the following to reported speech:

1. She said, “I am going home.”

2. He said, “We will play football tomorrow.”
3. Mary said, “I have finished my homework.”
4. The teacher said, “You are doing well.”
5. They said, “We came yesterday.”

ENGLISH LANGUAGE NOTE

Topic: Capitalization (with Interjections)

Class: JSS 1
What is Capitalization?

Capitalization means writing the first letter of a word in capital (uppercase).

Example:

 lagos → Lagos
 john → John

Why is Capitalization Important?

It helps us:

 Know the beginning of a sentence.

 Recognize proper nouns (specific names).
 Show respect (like using "I").
 Express strong emotions (with interjections).

Rules of Capitalization

1. Always capitalize the first word in a sentence.

✅ Example: She is my sister.
2. Capitalize the pronoun “I”.
✅ Example: I am going to school.
3. Capitalize names of people, places, days, and months.
✅ Example: Mary, Kaduna, Monday, December
4. Capitalize holidays and special days.
✅ Example: Christmas, Children‟s Day
5. Capitalize the first word of direct speech.
✅ Example: He said, “I am ready.”
6. Capitalize titles when used with names.
✅ Example: President Buhari, Aunt Joy

Using Capitalization with Interjections

Interjections are words used to express strong feelings or sudden emotions.

Common interjections: Wow!, Oh!, Hey!, Oops!, Hurray!, Alas!

✅ The first letter of an interjection is always capitalized when it starts a sentence.

Examples:

 Wow! That’s amazing!

 Oh! I forgot my book.
 Hurray! We won the match.
  Alas! The bird is dead.
 Hey! What are you doing?

� Remember: If the interjection is in the middle of a sentence, we do not always capitalize it

unless it’s a proper noun.

Class Activity

Correct the capitalization in these sentences:

1. hurray! we are free today.

2. i love christmas and new year.
3. oh! my pen is missing.
4. we traveled to abuja on monday.
5. wow! the baby is so cute.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE NOTE

Topic: Antonyms, Synonyms and Homonyms

Class: JSS 1

1. Antonyms

Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings.

✅ Think: Opposite!

Examples:

 Hot ↔ Cold
 Big ↔ Small
 Fast ↔ Slow
 Happy ↔ Sad
 Up ↔ Down

Sentences:

 The water is hot, but the juice is cold.

 Tolu is happy, but Musa is sad.

2. Synonyms

Synonyms are words that have similar meanings.

✅ Think: Same or Almost the Same!

Examples:

 Begin = Start
 Speak = Talk
 End = Finish
 Big = Large
 Smart = Clever

Sentences:

 She is a clever girl. She is also very smart.

 Please start the engine. You may also say begin.

3. Homonyms

Homonyms are words that sound the same or are spelled the same, but have different
meanings.

✅ Think: Same word or sound, different meaning!

Types of Homonyms:

a. Homophones (Same sound, different spelling and meaning)

 Two / To / Too
 See / Sea
 Right / Write

Examples:

 I want two oranges.

 I see the sea.
 Please write with your right hand.

b. Homographs (Same spelling, different meaning and sometimes pronunciation)

 Bank (money place) / Bank (river side)

 Bow (to bend) / Bow (used to shoot arrows)
 Tear (to rip) / Tear (from the eye)

Examples:

 She went to the bank to withdraw money.

 The river bank is flooded.
  Please bow before the king.
 He tied the gift with a bow.

Class Activity

1. Write the antonym of the following words:

o tall → _______
o clean → _______
o early → _______
2. Write a synonym for each of these words:
o happy → _______
o quick → _______
o pretty → _______
3. Choose the correct homonym in the sentence:
o I can (see/sea) the ships.
o She cried a (tear/tear) after watching the film.
o He will (write/right) a letter.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE NOTE

Topic: Question Tags

Class: JSS 1

What is a Question Tag?

A Question Tag is a short question added at the end of a sentence.

It is used to confirm or check information, or to ask for agreement.

✅ It turns a statement into a question.

How Do We Form Question Tags?

Rule:
� If the main sentence is positive, the question tag is negative.
� If the main sentence is negative, the question tag is positive.

Examples:

Statement Question Tag Full Sentence

She is coming isn’t she? She is coming, isn’t she?
You are tired aren’t you? You are tired, aren’t you?
He can swim can’t he? He can swim, can’t he?
They don’t like fish do they? They don’t like fish, do they?
We won the match didn’t we? We won the match, didn’t we?
I am late aren’t I? I am late, aren’t I?

� Note: “I am” becomes “aren‟t I?” in question tags.

Helping Verbs Used in Tags

Use the helping (auxiliary) verb from the sentence in the tag:

 is, are, was, were

 do, does, did
 has, have, had
 can, will, shall, may, etc.

Examples by Tense:

 Present:
o He works hard, doesn‟t he?
o You don‟t know him, do you?
 Past:
o She went home, didn‟t she?
o They didn‟t come, did they?
 Future:
o We will go, won‟t we?
o He won‟t stay, will he?

Class Activity

Add the correct question tags:

1. It is hot, ___________?
2. She can dance, ___________?
3. We don’t eat meat, ___________?
4. You were at school, ___________?
5. I am your friend, ___________?

ENGLISH LANGUAGE NOTE

Topic: Punctuation
Class: JSS 1
What is Punctuation?

Punctuation is the use of marks or signs in writing to make the meaning of sentences clear and
easy to understand.

✅ It helps us know when to pause, stop, or show emotion in writing.

Common Punctuation Marks and Their Uses

1. Full Stop (.)

 Used to show the end of a sentence.

✅ Example:
 She is my friend.
 The sun is hot.

2. Question Mark (?)

 Used at the end of a question.

✅ Example:
 What is your name?
 Are you coming?

3. Comma (,)

 Used to separate items in a list or to show a pause.

✅ Example:
 I bought rice, beans, yam, and plantain.
 After school, we went home.

4. Exclamation Mark (!)

 Used to show strong feelings, such as surprise, joy, anger, or excitement.

✅ Example:
 Wow! That’s amazing!
 Oh no! I forgot my book!

5. Apostrophe (')

 Used to show possession or to make a short form (contraction).

✅ Examples:
 This is Mary‟s bag. (possession)
 It‟s time to go. (It is)
 Don‟t be late. (Do not)
6. Quotation Marks (“ ”)

 Used to show direct speech or someone’s exact words.

✅ Example:
 She said, “I am happy.”

7. Capital Letters (A, B, C...)

 Used at the beginning of a sentence, for names, days, months, and the pronoun “I”.
✅ Examples:
 John is my brother.
 Monday is the first day of the week.
 I am going home.

Class Activity

Punctuate the following sentences correctly:

1. where are you going

2. i am happy to see you
3. she bought apples oranges and bananas
4. oh no the glass is broken
5. he said i love school

ENGLISH LANGUAGE NOTE

Topic: Expository Essay

Class: JSS 1

What is an Expository Essay?

An Expository Essay is a type of writing that explains, describes, or gives information about a
topic in a clear and simple way.

✅ Think: “Expose” the truth or facts about something.

Purpose of an Expository Essay

 To inform or teach the reader.

  To explain how something works.
 To describe a process or an idea.

Features of an Expository Essay

1. Clear and Simple Language – Easy to understand.

2. Facts and Examples – Not opinions.
3. Logical Order – Step-by-step explanation.
4. No arguments or debates – Just explain!

Structure of an Expository Essay

1. Introduction
o Introduce the topic.
o Give a general idea of what you will explain.
2. Body Paragraphs
o Give details, facts, steps, or examples.
o Use one idea per paragraph.
o Make it clear and logical.
3. Conclusion
o Summarize what you have explained.
o Do not introduce new points.

Examples of Expository Essay Topics

 How to keep your environment clean

 The importance of education
 How to prepare your favorite food
 The duties of a good student
 How to care for a pet

Example (Expository Essay)

Topic: How to Keep Your Environment Clean

Keeping your environment clean is very important for good health. First, you should always
throw waste into dustbins. Sweeping the floor and picking up litter helps remove dirt. Also,
planting trees and avoiding bush burning will make the air fresher. If everyone does their part,
the environment will remain clean and safe for all.

Class Activity

Choose one of the following topics and write a short expository essay:
 1. How to prepare a cup of tea
2. How to be a good student
3. How to brush your teeth properly

ENGLISH LANGUAGE NOTE

Topic: Speech Work – Vowel Sounds

Class: JSS 1

What Are Vowel Sounds?

Vowel Sounds are speech sounds made without blocking the flow of air from the mouth.

They are produced with the mouth open, and the tongue in different positions.

✅ The letters: A, E, I, O, U are vowel letters, but in speech, we have vowel sounds, not just
letters.

Types of Vowel Sounds

There are 20 vowel sounds in English.

They are divided into:

1. 12 Pure Vowels (Monophthongs)

 2. 8 Diphthongs (Double vowels)

1. Pure Vowel Sounds (12)

These are single, steady sounds. They can be:

a. Short Vowels (7)

Sound Example Words

/ɪ/ sit, ship, bit
/e/ pen, bed, send
/æ/ cat, man, bag
/ʌ/ cup, luck, sun
/ɒ/ pot, hot, dog
/ʊ/ put, good, book
/ə/ about, doctor, teacher

b. Long Vowels (5)

Sound Example Words

/iː/ seat, sheep, beat
/ɑː/ arm, car, father
/ɔː/ door, saw, talk
/uː/ school, blue, food
/ɜː/ girl, word, bird

2. Diphthongs (8)

These are two vowel sounds joined together in one syllable.

Sound Example Words

/eɪ/ day, say, play
/aɪ/ eye, high, my
/ɔɪ/ boy, toy, noise
/aʊ/ now, cow, house
/əʊ/ go, show, home
/ɪə/ here, ear, idea
/eə/ care, hair, share
/ʊə/ sure, tour, cure

Tips for Students

 Listen carefully to how words are pronounced.

  Practice saying vowel sounds aloud.
 Use a dictionary with phonetic symbols.
 Watch English cartoons or listen to native speakers.

Class Activity

1. Say the words: bit, beat, boat, bat, but

o Identify the vowel sounds in each.
2. Match the vowel sounds with the correct words:
o /æ/, /iː/, /ɒ/, /ʊ/, /eɪ/
o A. seat
o B. hat
o C. show
o D. hot
o E. play