Interrogative Pronouns Interrogative Pronouns Through IdiomsThrough Idioms

By Felis SianBy Felis Sian

Student ProfileStudent Profile

• Student Profile: Student Profile: Taiwanese students who Taiwanese students who are seniors in high are seniors in high school.school.

• Students are false Students are false beginners of English. beginners of English. Most likely they have Most likely they have been studying English been studying English since elementary since elementary school. school.

• Most plan to study in a Most plan to study in a university or work in the university or work in the U.S. or English speaking U.S. or English speaking country.country.

Why Interrogative Why Interrogative Pronouns to Chinese Pronouns to Chinese speakers, you ask?speakers, you ask? Chinese does not really have Chinese does not really have

question words that are used in the question words that are used in the same way.same way.– ““Ta shi Ta shi sheishei?” – “?” – “WhoWho is he?” is he?”– ““Ni qu zai Ni qu zai narnar?” – “?” – “WhereWhere are you going?” are you going?”– ““Ni Ni shenme shihoushenme shihou you shijian?” – “ you shijian?” – “WhenWhen do you have do you have

time?”time?”– ““WeishenmeWeishenme ni tai shou le?” – “ ni tai shou le?” – “WhyWhy are you too thin?” are you too thin?”– ““Ni Ni duo jiuduo jiu keyi shuijiao?” – “ keyi shuijiao?” – “How longHow long can you sleep?” can you sleep?”– ““Ni hao Ni hao mama?” – “?” – “HowHow are you?” are you?”

Content & Language Content & Language ObjectivesObjectives

Language Objectives:

Students will be able to:

•Understand the different types of Interrogative Pronouns and their uses

•Produce basic sentences using the Interrogative Pronouns without

it being a question

Content Objectives:

Students will be able to:

•Hypothesize the meaning of an Interrogative Pronoun in its context

•Recognize the idioms with Interrogative Pronouns already discussed in class

Don’t worry, this will Don’t worry, this will be a “piece of cake”be a “piece of cake”

Reminder:Reminder:

– Idioms: an expression with a Idioms: an expression with a meaning that is not predictable from meaning that is not predictable from the usual meanings of the individual the usual meanings of the individual words.words.

It’s All Greek to Me!It’s All Greek to Me!

Review:Review:– Prepositional idioms:Prepositional idioms:

arrive atarrive at (a specific location, a conclusion) – (a specific location, a conclusion) – She will She will arrive atarrive at the library before 4pm. the library before 4pm. arrive inarrive in (a city, country) – I will (a city, country) – I will arrive inarrive in three three days.days.

part frompart from (leave)—I (leave)—I parted fromparted from the group the group early this year. early this year.

part withpart with (a possession)—I (a possession)—I parted withparted with the the Rolls Royce reluctantly. Rolls Royce reluctantly.

– Figurative idioms:Figurative idioms: ““The cat’s out of the bagThe cat’s out of the bag.” – “secret is .” – “secret is

revealed” or “the surprise is exposed”revealed” or “the surprise is exposed” ““The ball is in your courtThe ball is in your court” – “I will let it be ” – “I will let it be

your decision”your decision”

Interrogative PronounsInterrogative Pronouns“Go out on a limb.”“Go out on a limb.”

Who – antecedent for a humanWho – antecedent for a human What – antecedent for nonhuman thing/object What – antecedent for nonhuman thing/object Where – antecedent for a placeWhere – antecedent for a place When – antecedent for a timeWhen – antecedent for a time Why – antecedent for reasonWhy – antecedent for reason How (much, many, long) – antecedent for How (much, many, long) – antecedent for

quantityquantity Which – antecedent for particular typesWhich – antecedent for particular types

Great Minds Think AlikeGreat Minds Think Alike

““Shui dao qu cheng”Shui dao qu cheng”– ““Where water flows, a channel is formed.” Where water flows, a channel is formed.”

Meaning: “When conditions are ready, Meaning: “When conditions are ready, success will come.”success will come.”

““Where there’s a will, there’s a way”Where there’s a will, there’s a way” Meaning: “If you want it, there’s a way to get it.Meaning: “If you want it, there’s a way to get it.

Let’s use it in a sentence!Let’s use it in a sentence!

It’s a small world!It’s a small world!

““Chufei taiyang cong xibian chulai”Chufei taiyang cong xibian chulai”– ““Unless the sun would rise from the west.”Unless the sun would rise from the west.”

Meaning: Something that will never ever happenMeaning: Something that will never ever happen

““When pigs fly”When pigs fly” Meaning: That will never happenMeaning: That will never happen

Let’s use it in a sentence!Let’s use it in a sentence!

When it rains, it When it rains, it pours… Idioms that is!pours… Idioms that is!

““Da shui chong le long wang mao”Da shui chong le long wang mao”– ““The Dragon-King’s temple is flooded.”The Dragon-King’s temple is flooded.”

Meaning: You can be harmed by the bad things you do. Meaning: You can be harmed by the bad things you do.

““What goes around, comes around.”What goes around, comes around.”– Meaning: Your actions will be done to youMeaning: Your actions will be done to you

Let’s use it in a sentence!Let’s use it in a sentence!

Activity: Activity:

Students will then break up into Students will then break up into groups of 7 and they will be given a list groups of 7 and they will be given a list of English Interrogative Pronouns to of English Interrogative Pronouns to observe and analyze the meanings. observe and analyze the meanings.

They will make contexts in which to They will make contexts in which to use these expressions.use these expressions.

Then the students will present their Then the students will present their understanding of the idioms by acting understanding of the idioms by acting out a few in class.out a few in class.

Why are Idioms so Why are Idioms so important? important?

A lot of English speakers A lot of English speakers use idioms… especially use idioms… especially prepositional idioms.prepositional idioms.

Idioms enrich the Idioms enrich the language, present an language, present an image that would take image that would take too long to articulate in too long to articulate in their literal meaning.their literal meaning.

Ex: “Honeymoon is Ex: “Honeymoon is over!” What do you get over!” What do you get from that when a from that when a teacher just assigned a teacher just assigned a big assignment? big assignment?

Why are Interrogative Why are Interrogative Pronouns so Pronouns so important? important? I don’t know…I don’t know…

Imagine not being Imagine not being able to ask a able to ask a question. Imagine question. Imagine not being able not being able inspire someone to inspire someone to wonder your wonder your meaning.meaning.