JSS 2 ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDY NOTES
TERM: 1st/2nd Term (Nigeria JSS 2 Curriculum)
SUBJECT: English Language
CLASS: JSS 2 (Grade 8)
1. PHONOLOGY: Consonant Contrasts
In English, some sounds are very similar and can be confusing. We will look at two pairs of sounds.
A. /w/ and /j/
- /w/ (The Voiced Bilabial Semi-vowel): To make this sound, your lips are rounded and almost touching.
- Examples: work, win, wet, wheel, quick (/kw/).
- /j/ (The Voiced Palatal Semi-vowel): This sounds like "yuh." Your tongue is near the roof of your mouth.
- Examples: youth, yellow, yam, university, use.
| /w/ | /j/ |
|---|
| Work | Yoke |
| West | Yest (Yeast) |
| Woke | Yoke |
| Win | Yield |
B. /tʃ/ and /ʃ/ (As in March vs. Mash)
- /tʃ/ (The Voiceless Palatal-Alveolar Affricate): This is a "sharp" sound, like a sneeze.
- Examples: March, Church, Chips, Watch.
- /ʃ/ (The Voiceless Palatal-Alveolar Fricative): This is a "hushing" sound, like telling someone to be quiet ("shhh").
- Examples: Mash, Ship, Shoe, Nation.
| /tʃ/ (ch) | /ʃ/ (sh) |
|---|
| March | Mash |
| Chew | Shoe |
| Watch | Wash |
| Chair | Share |
2. GRAMMAR: Conjunctions of Contrast
Conjunctions join words or sentences. We use "contrast" conjunctions to show that two ideas are different or surprising.
A. Although and Whereas
These are followed by a subject + verb.
- Although: Used to show a surprising result.
- Example: Although it rained heavily, the students came to school.
- Whereas: Used to compare two different facts.
- Example: Musa likes football, whereas Chidi prefers basketball.
B. Despite and In spite of
These are followed by a noun or a verb ending in -ing. They are never followed by a full sentence starting with "he/she/it" unless you add "the fact that."
- Despite: Example: Despite the rain, we played the match. (NOT: Despite it rained).
- In spite of: Example: In spite of being ti
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