Plain and Simple English Talks (6)

Learning by (mixing) Patterns

We can think of 'patterns' as 'Lego bricks'. We build something by connecting some bricks together. Sometimes, bricks don't quite fit nicely. Sometimes bricks don't fit into the shape or the form we want. So what do we do? We try connect them different ways. We try with different bricks. We think of different ways or different things and we try to build what we think. [Life is like that a lot of times. ;-) ]

Talking English is much the same. We use words of different types (remember {[verb], [pronoun], [preposition],... we have learned from somewhere?) to build [phrases]. If we build a good [phrase], people can understand what we mean with the [phrase]. If we don't build [phrases] that people can understand, then we have to build different [phrases]. This is why 'patterns' are useful. We try to use 'patterns' that most people know. First, we try to use 'plain and simple' 'patterns'. Next, we try to use more or to mix in more 'plain and simple' [patterns] to build more complex [phrases] or meanings.

For now let us look at some common [adverb] words: (from: www.wordfrequency.info)

up so out just
now how then
more also here well only very
even back there down still in
as too when never really most

And some common [adjective] words: ()

good bad
new old young
first last next
long great little big high small large
own other
right wrong
same different
early important
few more much

And some common [conjunction] words:

and or but except nor
that when where which while
as if since whether like*
because
so though although
after before until till
now once unless

Note. [conjunction] 'like' looks the same as [verb] 'like'. So, how do we tell them apart?
We say 'Children like sweets like cakes, lollies and ice creams.'. If we can understand that we can tell which 'like' is [verb] and which 'like' is [conjunction]. Can you?

PSE Drill 2.a:
Please say things using those patterns and words from the lists above.

PSE Drill 2.b:
Let us try to say these words aloud as clearly as we can.
Then let our friends say them aloud and we listen as carefully as we can.

[โอ๋-อโณ]

Love it! The drills make me think of how teachers can use this lesson with their students.

[sr]

Thanks โอ๋-อโณ : I am hoping that this is the case. And other advanced learners can test out the method and offer comments.

Please note that they are 'drill' ( or repeating practice) that we can do over and over until we are happy that we can do them 'with our eye closed' ;-)