Hello,
This is a very hard question to answer, but I though I'd ask for your opinion nevertheless...
Im currently studying the TESOL course at university, and am having problems explaining esl errors to students in simple, plain english with the omission of grammatical terminology.
Is there a knack to this? Or am i destined to explain to these kids grammar in all its ( difficult ) technical glory?
Any pointers from experienced teachers would be great.
simple english
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At the risk of making a fool out of myself with all the experts here, I'll tell you what I do.sivvy wrote:"Do you know where is my home?"
Explaining this simply just baffles me!
The sentence order for the sentence is "My home is in XXXX."
The question order is "Where is my(your) home?"
You need to have question order for questions. (Where my home is? is not correct)
If you put "I know" in the front of a sentence, there is no change in order.
as in "I know where your home is."
When you make it into a question, you change "I know" to "Do you know" and add a question mark. There is no need to touch the other part of the sentence.
Do you know where my home is?
I tell my students that the question mark goes with "Do you know" and there is no need for 2 question orders.
Okay, I'm ready for the flames...after all, it's 3:15 AM here and I've no doubt lost my better judgment.
Actually, you're pretty close. What is important here is what the native speaker hears so that he knows what to reply--communication. If a native speaker hears the verb before the subject then he knows he is being asked a question and responds to the question.
Where is he? answer He isn't here. (Answer required)
If a native speaker hears the verb after the subject then he knows he is being given information from the speaker not vice versa.
I know where he is. (No answer is required.)
Also, "I know" requires a noun to complete the idea--it signals that information is coming next.
So what is a native speaker to do when he hears:
I know where is he. Two conflicting signals have been sent. The "I know..." signals information is coming, but the verb before the subject signals that information is required. The native speaker doesn't know what to say or whether to say anything.
Where is he? answer He isn't here. (Answer required)
If a native speaker hears the verb after the subject then he knows he is being given information from the speaker not vice versa.
I know where he is. (No answer is required.)
Also, "I know" requires a noun to complete the idea--it signals that information is coming next.
So what is a native speaker to do when he hears:
I know where is he. Two conflicting signals have been sent. The "I know..." signals information is coming, but the verb before the subject signals that information is required. The native speaker doesn't know what to say or whether to say anything.
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coffeedecafe
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add to that the fact that beginning english structure uses the subject-verb-object as the first grammar examples taught and you can definitely feel for the student. and the teacher. if time is not an object ,reading aloud and catching practical grammar by osmosis[or pointed out example] might be easier than trying to do it all by explanation. but thats a cop out and i know of no easy way to explain so i'll save any flames for anyone else till cooler weather.
simple english
Sivvy,
If you read my earlier explanation about word order, you'll understand how I explain this in simple english.
I write two sentences on the board and ask them which needs the question mark and how do they know. For example:
Tom is a teacher Is Tom a teacher
This is usually a no brainer, but it reminds them that they have learned how to invert verbs to form questions. Then above the sentence in the appropriate place I write
SV=.
VS=?
therefore in a clause, we usually have: ?SV (question word, S, V)
?VS=.
If there is no question word available as in the question above, then there are other words which take that place such as "if, that, because,
whose shoe, before, etc. I always use the ?SV though for every type of clause. I have found that it does not confuse them even when the clause does not begin with a question word or the word is omitted in an adjective clause. I make them test their sentences after they write to make sure their word order is right. These "formulas" are easy for them to remember and I encourage them to memorize and write on their test if necessary.
If you read my earlier explanation about word order, you'll understand how I explain this in simple english.
I write two sentences on the board and ask them which needs the question mark and how do they know. For example:
Tom is a teacher Is Tom a teacher
This is usually a no brainer, but it reminds them that they have learned how to invert verbs to form questions. Then above the sentence in the appropriate place I write
SV=.
VS=?
therefore in a clause, we usually have: ?SV (question word, S, V)
?VS=.
If there is no question word available as in the question above, then there are other words which take that place such as "if, that, because,
whose shoe, before, etc. I always use the ?SV though for every type of clause. I have found that it does not confuse them even when the clause does not begin with a question word or the word is omitted in an adjective clause. I make them test their sentences after they write to make sure their word order is right. These "formulas" are easy for them to remember and I encourage them to memorize and write on their test if necessary.