idioms

Idiomatic expression 

What is an idiom:An idiom is an expression  whose meaning  cannot  be arrived as by giving

a definition  to the individual works that makes up the expression.  In other words an idiom is a fixed expression.

Examples of idioms and their meanings 

* A black leg (one who betrays people)

*To smell a rat (to be  suspicious)

*To have a headache like a  sieve (to be  forgetful)

*To bury the hatchet  (to settle a quarrel)

*A green horn (an inexperienced  person)

*To keep at arm's length (to avoid a person)

*To dig someone in the ribs (to make unkind remarks about a person)

*To be at sixes and seven ( to be  confused)

*To kiss to the dust (to die)

*To hit the nail at the head( to go straight to the point)

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figures of speech

                FIGURES OF SPEECH

This  is a figurative part of speech.

 It is a figurative  in the sense that the words or sentence  used by the writer helps to create an image in the mind of the reader.

It gives connotative meaning to words. The following are types of 

figures of speech.

Metaphor

Oxymoron

Paradox

Simile

Personification

Synedoche

Irony

Hyperbole

Euphemism.

Metaphor :it is the commonest figure  of speech. It can also be referred to  as the sole of words .

It involves a direct  comparison between two things that are not alike but have something  in common.

Examples  of metaphor. Peter holds the  key to her heart

Austin  is a lion

The car thundered by.

Oxymoron :This involves the usage of contradictory items or terms to describe situation or incident.

Examples  of oxymoron

Bittersweet

True lies

joyful sorrow

Sweet pain

Personification :it is all about  adding a human trait or attribute to an inanimate object.

Examples of personification

She kissed the hands of death

The trees sang for joy

Let the floods clap their hands

 Synedoche :This is a figure of speech  in which a path is made to stand for  the whole.

Examples of synedoche

All hands must be on deck

He has many mouths to feed

Simile:This is an indirect comparison  between two things that are not related with words such as like and as

Examples of simile

The man is as old as the hills

Amanda is as slippery as an eel

His head is like a coconut

     .

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parts of speech

                        

            PART OF SPEECH

Part of speech refers to classes of word as determined by the kind of roles the play in a sentence. Every word has a given  functional identity.

Words are grouped  into classes to show  their  grammatical function. There are(8) families of word that form this community  called part of  speech. This  families are grouped into (2) called  the lexical or content word and structural or function word.

Lexical or content word :the are those 

words that has denotative meaning. Under lexical word we have noun, verb, adverb, adjectives.

Functional or structural  words :the do not have dictionary meaning. Under structural  we have  pronoun ,preposition, interjection, conjunction.

                        Noun

A  noun is a name of  a person,  animal ,place or thing, quality, emotion.

          Function of  a noun

.1. Noun plays the role of a subject,object.

2. It can function as a compliment.

                        VERB

A verb is an action  word or a state of being. Verb can be sub divided into two major  part  which are.

* finite verb : the  are controlled by the subject

* non finite verb

      ADVERB

An adverb  modifies  a verb, an adjective and other adverb.

           ADJECTIVES

Adjectives are word that modifies  a noun.

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Study skills

Study skills

Study skills involve reading and listening .

     A good approach  to studies will enhance  appreciation  and understanding of the material  read .

That is to say that comprehension is a key to effective studies. There are various  types  of skills  which  a student  can apply in order to have effective  studies, the include

1. Reading skills :  Here the student  is expected to be able to locate any information he seeks in a textbook,by going through its Table of contents,  usually found at the beginning of a book.

2.Listening skills: Good  listening  entails  paying attention to what one hears and think about it in order to assimilate the information or knowledge  being imparted.

two ways of improving your listening skills

* the material needed for a given lecture, have to be ready  before  the stated time for the lecture so that the moment it starts, you are ready for the information being given.

* Noise is a barrier  to effective listening.it must be avoided.

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