Introduction
November weather isn’t always as miserable as Hood makes out. But the sun doesn’t rise until half-past seven in the morning, and it sets just after four o’clock, so the days are a little short.
November
NO sun - no moon!
No morn — no noon —
No dawn — no dusk — no proper time of day.
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any
member. —
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds! —
November!
Précis
Thomas Hood shares his frustration with the late Autumn month of November, playing on the negative connotations of the opening syllable ‘No’. He laments the long nights, miserable weather, and lifeless countryside of Britain on the edge of winter. (39 / 60 words)
Thomas Hood shares his frustration with the late Autumn month of November, playing on the negative connotations of the opening syllable ‘No’. He laments the long nights, miserable weather, and lifeless countryside of Britain on the edge of winter.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 45 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 35 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, despite, if, just, may, not, unless, whereas.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Butterfly. Time. Warmth.
2 Cheer. Health. Proper.
3 Bird. Fruit. Sun.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Flower. 2 Ease. 3 Cheer. 4 Leave. 5 Time. 6 Sun. 7 Shine.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
sp (7+3)
sap. seep. sip. soap. soup. spa. sup.
asp. sepia. sop.
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
