S.2E English LanguageS.2E English LanguageModule 7: Making GeneralizationsModule 7: Making Generalizations

25 March 2011

Do you think …Do you think …

• all students at Pope Paul VI College are good at English?

• all government officials in Hong Kong are responsible?

Making generalizationsMaking generalizations• What does this mean?

• To describe a general situation or experience.

• To say that something often happens.

How can we make generalizations?1. tend to + verb

e.g. People in Hong Kong tend to make complaints immediately whenever they are not feeling satisfied with something.

e.g. Students at Pope Paul VI College tend to behave well and participate actively in class.

How can we make generalizations?1. tend not to + verb

e.g. People tend not to go to Japan due to the radiation.

• Give me one example.• … tend to … // … tend not to …

• E.g. I tend to leave school before 4pm.

2. Most … , a lot of … , not many … , very few …(Note: this is a writing skill to avoid over-generalisation)

e.g. Tourists from Mainland China are impolite.

Most tourists from Mainland China are impolite.

2. Most … , a lot of … , not many … , very few …(Note: this is a writing skill to avoid over-generalisation)

e.g. Hong Kong students lack creative thinking.

Many Hong Kong students lack creative thinking.

3. Using adjective patterns(i) Read the following sentences and see if you can observe the adjective patterns:

It is (not) + ___________ + ______________

It is difficult to create catchy slogans.It is not not easy to design eye-catching logos.It is not acceptable to smoke in restaurants in Hong Kong.

adjective to-infinitive

• Give me one example.• It is + adjective + to-infinitive…

• E.g. It is happy to see friends after a long working day.

• (ii) Read the following sentences and see if you can observe the adjective patterns:

It is (not) + _________ + ________ + __________

It is happy for people to gather together after a long working day.

It is not

not easy for students

to design eye-catching logos.

It is not

acceptable for diners to smoke in restaurants in Hong Kong.

adjective for … to-infinitive

• Give me one sentence• It is + adjective + for … + to-infintive

• It is lovely for couples to hold each other’s hand.

A brief recap• How can we make generalizations?

• tend to + verb // tend not to + verb• People in Hong Kong tend to make complaints immediately

whenever they are not feeling satisfied with something.

• People tend not to go to Japan due to the radiation.

• Most … , a lot of … , not many … , very few …

• Adjective patterns• It is (not) + adjective + to-infinitive

• It is (not) + adjective + for … + to-infinitive

Classwork• Peter Wong, a local designer, is going to give a

presentation about designing adverts. He has written down some notes. Help him to rewrite the notes using ‘it is’ + adjective + to-infinitive, OR ‘it is’ + adjective + ‘for’ … + to-infinitive.