‘Farmyard with Poultry’ by Pierre Cottin (1823–1886).
‘Farmyard with Poultry’ by Pierre Cottin (1823–1886), kept today at the Bowes Museum in County Durham.
Worksheet No. 3
These Worksheets are based on textbooks written by NL Clay (1905-1991) and used in English schools from the 1920s to the 1960s. They focus on vocabulary, sentence structure, and clear speaking. They are best studied in pairs or small groups, because that allows you to pool ideas and encourages you to speak; but you may of course share your sentences with me.
Composition
For each group of words, compose a single sentence that uses at least one of them. They are generated randomly from a list of very common English words.
I. Art. President. Strong.
II. Production. Writer. Nearly.
III. Hold. So. Player.
See more Spinners.
Opposites
Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; try to think of several, and choose the one you like best.
IFar. IIFresh. IIIMean. IVPolite. VProgress. VIQuick. VIIStrange. VIIIWhole.
Familiar. Generous. Near. Part. Regress. Rude. Slow. Stale.
See more Opposites.
Observation
Choose one of the words below, and suggest things connected with it. When you have collected at least three words, try to gather as many as you can into a sentence or short passage. Where possible, try to draw a moving picture, with action or even dialogue.
If you’re stuck for ideas, remember to ask yourself What, Who, Where, When, How and Why.
IChef. IIFarmyard. IIIRabbit.
Bale. Barn. Cat. Cattle. Chop. Dice. Dog. Ears. Farmer. Farmhouse. Hat. Hen. Herb. Hop. Kitchen. Knife. Lettuce. Mud. Order. Pot. Restaurant. Sauce. Scut (tail). Shout. Sizzle. Steam. Taste. Tractor. Trough. Twitch. Warren.
See more Pen Portraits.
Vocabulary
Rewrite the following sentences so as to avoid using the words in italics. Don’t be afraid to make major structural changes to the sentence.
IHis rivals started a vile slander against him. IIImitation is the sincerest form of flattery. IIIThe members had no hesitation in electing him leader. IVThe modest sum was poor recompense for his labours. VTheir coolness is due to an old misunderstanding. VIThroughout the night the prisoners were closely guarded.
Grammar
Change each example of direct speech into indirect (reported) speech.
1. “I don’t know what you have done,” said Joe Gargery, “but I wouldn’t have you starved to death for it.”
→ Joe Gargery told the escaped convict...
2. “When you go to dine with Mr Jaggers,” Mr Wemmick told Pip, “look at his housekeeper.”
→ Mr Wemmick told Pip...
3. “Did you send that note of Miss Havisham’s to Mr Pip, Wemmick?” asked Mr Jaggers.
→ Mr Jaggers asked...
Adapted from Great Expectations (1861) by Charles Dickens. See posts tagged Home Page.
Narration
Turn these notes on one of Aesop’s Fables into continuous prose. Add any extra colour you like, including dialogue if you wish.
Cat fell in love with owner. Prayed to Aphrodite. Turned into beautiful woman. Owner fell in love with her. Married. Aphrodite curious. How deep was the change? Let a mouse go at wedding breakfast. Bride chased it. Curiosity satisfied. Easy to change how you look. Harder to change who you are.
See The Cat’s Wedding.
Elocution
Read each group of words out clearly:
IEars, years. IIFort, port. IIIHarp, half. IVMy, nigh. VString, strong. VITongue, tong. VIIViol, file.
See more Pronunciation Pairs.
Read this short passage out aloud, clearly and without haste.
The language I have learned these forty years,
My native English, now I must forgo;
And now my tongue’s use is to me no more
Than an unstringed viol or a harp.
Thomas Mowbray, on being exiled, in Richard II I.iii.159 (?1595) by William Shakespeare.
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