SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDY NOTES: ENGLISH LANGUAGE (S.S. 1)

Subject: English Language
Class: S. S. 1
Scheme of Work: Nigerian National Curriculum
Topic: Adjuncts, Vocabulary (Antonyms), and Record Keeping

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1. ADJUNCTS

Definition

An adjunct is a word or group of words (a phrase or a clause) that provides extra information about the action in a sentence. It tells us more about where, when, why, or how something happened.

Key Feature: Adjuncts are optional. If you remove an adjunct from a sentence, the sentence still makes grammatical sense.

Classes of Adjuncts

A. Adjuncts of Place

These answer the question "Where?". They indicate the location or direction of an action.

• Examples:
  1. The students are playing on the field.
  2. Ngozi sat there.
  3. We are traveling to Abuja tomorrow.
  4. Put the books inside the cupboard.

B. Adjuncts of Time

These answer the question "When?". They indicate the time, frequency, or duration of an action.

• Examples:
  1. We shall have our English lesson at 10:00 AM.
  2. Tunde visited his grandmother yesterday.
  3. The bell rings every hour.
  4. I will see you soon.

C. Adjuncts of Degree

These answer the question "To what extent?" or "How much?". They modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

• Examples:
  1. The water is extremely cold.
  2. He completely forgot about the meeting.
  3. She was very happy with her results.
  4. The work is almost finished.

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📝 Exercise 1: Adjuncts

Identify the adjuncts in the following sentences and state their class (Place, Time, or Degree).

1. The principal spoke to us briefly.
2. My father lives in Lagos.
3. We will submit our assignments on Friday.
4. The teacher was quite impressed with your essay.
5. They found the lost keys under the table.

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2. VOCABULARY: ANTONYMS

Definition

Antonyms are words that are opposite or nearly opposite in meaning to other words. Understanding antonyms helps in precision of expression and performing well in the "Lexis and Structure" section of exams like WAEC/NECO.

Common Examples of Antonyms

Formation of Antonyms using Prefixes

In English, many antonyms are formed by adding a prefix to the base word:

• un-: happy $\rightarrow$ unhappy
• dis-: honest $\rightarrow$ dishonest
• im-: possible $\rightarrow$ impossible
• in-: active $\rightarrow$ inactive
• ir-: regular $\rightarrow$ irregular

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📝 Exercise 2: Antonyms

Choose the word that is nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word.

1. The manager is very generous with his staff. (a) Kind (b) Stingy (c) Wealthy (d) Selfish
2. The liquid is transparent. (a) Clear (b) Dark (c) Opaque (d) Thick
3. The task was arduous. (a) Easy (b) Difficult (c) Long (d) Heavy
4. He gave a vague description of the thief. (a) Clear (b) Blurred (c) Short (d) False

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3. RECORD KEEPING

Definition

Record keeping is the act of documenting events, activities, or transactions in writing for future reference. In a school setting, it involves keeping track of what happens in the classroom or during daily activities.

Importance of Record Keeping

1. Reference: To remember what was discussed or decided.
2. Accountability: To show evidence of work done.
3. Organization: To keep track of progress (e.g., a teacher's diary or a student's log).

Writing Simple Records (Class/Daily Events)

A simple record should include:

• Date
• Time
• Subject/Event Title
• Brief Description of what happened
• Outcome/Conclusion

Sample: Class Captain’s Daily Log

Date: Monday, 23rd October 2023 Class: S.S. 1B

• 8:00 AM: Morning Assembly held. The Principal spoke about punctuality.
• 9:00 AM: Mathematics lesson. Mr. Okon taught "Quadratic Equations." All students were present except Chidi.
• 11:00 AM: Break time. No incidents reported.
• 12:30 PM: English Language lesson. We learned about "Adjuncts."
• 2:00 PM: Closing. The classroom was swept by Group A.

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📝 Exercise 3: Record Keeping

Imagine you are the Secretary of the Press Club in your school. Write a simple record of your club's meeting held yesterday. Include the date, time, members present, and two main points discussed.

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ANSWER KEY (For Teacher/Self-Correction)

Exercise 1 (Adjuncts):

1. Briefly (Degree)
2. In Lagos (Place)
3. On Friday (Time)
4. Quite (Degree)
5. Under the table (Place)

Exercise 2 (Antonyms):

1. (b) Stingy
2. (c) Opaque
3. (a) Easy
4. (a) Clear