SPOKEN ENGLISH
ABSOLUTE BEGINNER COURSE
ABSOLUTE BEGINNER COURSE
Page 1
English Grammar: Pronouns
I - we - you
Section 1 Words we need when we start speaking English
When we start learning to speak English, we should first look at small, simple words. When we first speak English, we need to learn words which we will use in our daily life. We should learn bigger words and words which we will use not very often later, as we start speaking English fluently and confidently.
When we begin to speak English with people around us, we will need words which will help us to talk about the people who speak, the people who are being spoken to and the people or things, animals etc, being spoken about.
In other words, we will first need to learn pronouns. Pronouns are words used in the place of nouns. That is to say, pronouns are words used instead of persons, places, animals, things and feelings or emotions.
In our first few spoken English lessons, we will look at some pronouns and their uses and pronunciations.
Remember, you can learn to speak English only by speaking English. So, when I ask you to speak in the English Aam video mehfils, please speak with me. This is very important.
When we begin to speak English with people around us, we will need words which will help us to talk about the people who speak, the people who are being spoken to and the people or things, animals etc, being spoken about.
In other words, we will first need to learn pronouns. Pronouns are words used in the place of nouns. That is to say, pronouns are words used instead of persons, places, animals, things and feelings or emotions.
In our first few spoken English lessons, we will look at some pronouns and their uses and pronunciations.
Remember, you can learn to speak English only by speaking English. So, when I ask you to speak in the English Aam video mehfils, please speak with me. This is very important.
English Grammar - Using Pronouns In Spoken English
What should you learn first - to ride a cycle or to fly an aeroplane?
We all know the answer. So, let's start with some small words.
I - the person who speaks if he or she is alone. In English grammar, this is called first person singular.
We - if there are more than one person who are speaking together or (more often), one person speaking on behalf of herself or himself as well as on behalf of others. In English grammar this is called first person plural.
You - this is used to refer to the person one is speaking to. When you speak English, you refer to the person you are speaking with as 'you' if there is only one person with whom you are speaking. In English grammar this is called second person singular. But, 'you' is also used for referring to more than one person with whom you are speaking. In English grammar this is called second person plural.
You all - this is used for referring to more than one person with whom you are speaking. So, when you are speaking with more than one person, you can use either 'you' or 'you all'. In English grammar this is called second person plural.
Very often, my students ask me if it is impolite to use 'you' when speaking to someone who is older to us or when speaking to a person who is our senior in terms of status, for example our boss or a senior officer. In many languages, as in Hindi, there are pronouns which vary according to these situations.
However, when you speak English, the pronoun 'you' is to be used for all persons you speak with, regardless of their age, status or position in society. There is nothing impolite in using 'you' while speaking with someone.
Here we are, here you are,
We are Eastern, you are Western,
We are both face-to-face.
There are two groups in this situation, the Eastern and the Western. So, when the Eastern group says, 'We are Eastern,' the use of 'we' refers only to themselves and not to the group they are speaking with, that is to say, here the pronoun 'we' means only the Eastern group and not the Western group. Here the pronoun 'we' refers only to the speakers and not to the persons being spoken to.
But when the same Eastern group says, 'We are both face-to-face.' the pronoun 'we' includes both the Eastern group and the Western group. Here 'we' means both the speakers and the persons being spoken to.
Some lines from another song I wrote:
Where have we come my sweetheart,
What is this earth, what is this sky.
There is love, only love here,
We are here and our longings.
In this song, when one lover sings for the other, 'Where have we come my sweetheart,' the pronoun 'we' refers to both the singer and the listener.
LESSONS IN ABSOLUTE
BEGINNER COURSE
CHAPTER 1
|
No comments :
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.