Teaching Sentence Formation and Syntax

Class/Grade: VI (Age group: 11–12 years)
Subject: English (with parallel Hindi support)
Skill Focus: Sentence Formation and Syntax (वाक्य निर्माण और वाक्य रचना)
Approach: Parallel Bilingual (समांतर द्विभाषी) – Explicitly comparing Hindi and English sentence structures side-by-side to highlight similarities and differences, building on students' Hindi proficiency to strengthen English syntax.
Duration: 45–50 minutes (can be extended over 2–3 periods for deeper practice)
Board Alignment: CBSE/NCERT/State Boards (English as second language context in India)

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  1. Identify basic sentence components (Subject, Verb, Object) in both English and Hindi.
  2. Understand key differences in word order: English (SVO) vs. Hindi (SOV).
  3. Form simple affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences in English, using Hindi parallels for support.
  4. Construct compound and complex sentences with correct syntax.
  5. Translate simple sentences between Hindi and English while maintaining proper structure.

Key Concepts (with Parallel Examples)

  • Basic Structure: English (SVO): Subject + Verb + Object → "I eat an apple." Hindi (SOV): Subject + Object + Verb → "मैं सेब खाता हूँ।"
  • Questions: English: Auxiliary verb first → "Do you eat an apple?" Hindi: "क्या" at start + SOV → "क्या तुम सेब खाते हो?"
  • Negatives: English: "Do/Does" + not → "I do not eat an apple." Hindi: "नहीं" before verb → "मैं सेब नहीं खाता हूँ।"
  • Compound Sentences: Joined by "and/but" (और/लेकिन)
  • Complex Sentences: Using "because/although" (क्योंकि/हालाँकि)

Materials Required

  • Whiteboard/chart with parallel columns: English | Hindi | Translation/Notes
  • Flashcards: Subject/Verb/Object cards in both languages
  • Worksheets: Sentence building strips (cut-out words), translation exercises
  • Projector (optional): Slides showing parallel sentences
  • Bilingual sentence strips (printed examples)

Procedure

1. Warm-up (5–7 minutes)

Objective: Activate prior knowledge and introduce parallels.

  • Greet bilingually: "Good morning! नमस्कार!"

  • Quick oral activity: Ask students to say a simple sentence in Hindi about daily life.
    Example prompt: "आज सुबह आपने क्या किया?" (What did you do this morning?)
    Students respond: "मैं नाश्ता किया।"

  • Teacher writes on board in parallel columns:

     
     
    Hindi English Notes
    मैं नाश्ता करता हूँ। I eat breakfast. Hindi: Object before Verb
     

  • Discuss briefly: "देखिए, हिंदी में क्रिया अंत में आती है, लेकिन अंग्रेज़ी में बीच में।"

2. Introduction to Syntax Differences (8–10 minutes)

Objective: Explicitly teach parallels and contrasts.

  • Explain bilingually: "Today we will learn how to make correct English sentences by comparing with Hindi. आज हम हिंदी और अंग्रेज़ी वाक्यों की तुलना करके सही अंग्रेज़ी वाक्य बनाना सीखेंगे।"
  • On board/projector, display and explain components:
    • Subject (कर्ता): Who/what does the action (मैं, तुम, वह)
    • Verb (क्रिया): Action word (खाना, जाना, पढ़ना)
    • Object (कर्म): What receives the action (सेब, किताब)
  • Model 5–6 parallel sentences chorally:
    1. मैं स्कूल जाता हूँ। → I go to school.
    2. वह किताब पढ़ती है। → She reads a book.
    3. हम खेलते हैं। → We play.
  • Highlight: "English में Verb Object के पहले आता है!"
3. Main Activity 1: Simple Sentences (Affirmative, Negative, Questions) (10–12 minutes)

Objective: Practice basic syntax with parallel support.

  • Group activity: Divide class into groups of 4–5. Give sentence strips (words cut out). Hindi example: मैं / सेब / खाता हूँ English: I / eat / an apple
  • Task: Arrange Hindi correctly first (SOV), then rearrange for English (SVO).
  • Teacher models negatives/questions: Negative: Hindi: मैं सेब नहीं खाता हूँ। → English: I do not eat an apple. Question: Hindi: क्या तुम खेलते हो? → English: Do you play?
  • Pairs practise: One student says Hindi sentence, partner translates to correct English syntax.
4. Main Activity 2: Compound and Complex Sentences (10 minutes)

Objective: Build advanced syntax.

  • Introduce connectors bilingually: "And" (और), "But" (लेकिन), "Because" (क्योंकि)
  • Board examples: Compound: Hindi: मैं स्कूल गया और दोस्तों से मिला। English: I went to school and met friends. Complex: Hindi: मैं खुश हूँ क्योंकि छुट्टी है। English: I am happy because it is a holiday.
  • Worksheet: Students complete parallel tables: Fill English equivalent or vice versa. Example: Hindi given → Write correct English (focus on word order).
5. Speaking and Production Practice (5–7 minutes)

Objective: Apply in oral use.

  • Chain game: Each student adds to a sentence using connectors. Start: "I woke up early..." → Next: "...and brushed my teeth..."
  • Parallel translation: Teacher says Hindi complex sentence → Students respond in English.
6. Conclusion and Wrap-up (3–5 minutes)
  • Recap bilingually: "What is the main difference in word order? वाक्य में सबसे बड़ा अंतर क्या है?"
  • Choral repetition of 3 key sentences.
  • Praise: "You made great English sentences using Hindi knowledge!"

Assessment

  • Formative (during lesson):
    • Observation: Correct arrangement of strips, oral translations.
    • Quick exit ticket: Write 2 English sentences (one simple, one compound) about your day.
  • Worksheet: Mark for correct syntax (SVO order, auxiliary use).
  • Self-assessment: Students rate: "I can make English sentences correctly" (हाँ / थोड़ा / और अभ्यास चाहिए).

Differentiation

  • Advanced: Create original complex sentences, remove Hindi support earlier.
  • Struggling: More Hindi prompts, simpler verbs, peer support.
  • Visual learners: Extra charts/pictures in sentences.

Homework

  • Write 10 parallel sentences (5 Hindi → English, 5 English → Hindi) in notebook.
  • Speak 5 English sentences to family (record if possible).

This parallel approach leverages students' strong Hindi foundation to make English syntax less intimidating, while explicitly addressing common errors like wrong word order. It can be extended over multiple lessons for deeper mastery!