GRADE 8 English CHOOSING A CAREER – READING:NON-FICTION Notes
READING: NON-FICTION — CHOOSING A CAREER (ENGLISH GRAMMAR NOTES)
Short grammar guide for reading non-fiction texts about careers. Examples are simple and relate to life in Kenya. Age: 13.
Use the present simple for facts and habits found in non-fiction. Verbs: base form (add -s for he/she/it).
Examples:
• Teachers work in schools in Nairobi. ✅
• An engineer designs bridges. ✅
• He studies at a technical college. ✅
Use be + verb-ing to show actions happening now or around now.
Example:
• Many students are preparing for vocational courses this year.
Use for finished events, often used in career stories or interviews.
Example:
• She graduated from university in 2022.
Common modals: can, could, should, must, may, might, will. They show ability, advice or chance.
Examples:
• You can ask a teacher about training opportunities. (ability)
• You should visit a career fair. (advice)
• She may join a diploma course next year. (possibility)
Singular subjects need singular verbs; plural subjects need plural verbs.
Examples:
• The student (singular) wants a scholarship. — wants (not want)
• The students (plural) want apprenticeships. — want
Use pronouns (he, she, they, it) to replace nouns. In non-fiction, use they as a gender-neutral singular if needed.
Example:
• A nurse works at the county hospital. They help patients. (They = the nurse)
Use who / which / that to add details about people or things.
Examples:
• The engineer who works in Mombasa visited our school.
• A job that pays well may need special training.
Use be + past participle when the action matters more than who does it. Common in reports.
Example:
• The course is offered at the technical college. (we do not need to say who offers it)
Use words to show relationships: because, so, therefore, however, moreover, for example.
Example:
• She chose nursing because she wanted to help people.
• Many students want vocational training; however, not all can afford it.
Facts: statements with present simple or numbers. Opinions: words like best, better, I think, probably, should, might.
Examples:
• Fact: "There are five colleges in the county." ✅
• Opinion: "Nursing is the best job for everyone." ❗ (shows a personal view)
Use full stops for statements, question marks for questions, commas in lists, and capital letters for names and places (Kenya, Nairobi, Kisumu).
Example:
• She studied agriculture, business, and IT.
• Where will you study after KCSE?
- Change to present simple: "She (to study) for exams every day." → She studies for exams every day.
- Choose modal: "You ___ (should/can/may) ask a mentor for advice." (best: should)
- Make passive: "They offer the course at the college." → The course is offered at the college.
- Is it fact or opinion? "A teacher is the most useful job." → Opinion.
- Combine with a relative clause: "A mechanic repairs cars." → "A mechanic who knows electronics repairs cars."
- Spot verbs to tell if a sentence is a fact (present simple) or a report/opinion (modals, adjectives).
- Check relative clauses for extra details about people or jobs.
- Note passive forms — they often hide the doer and focus on the process or fact.
- Watch connectors: they show cause, contrast or examples in the text.
Emoji guide: 📚 example sentences • ✅ correct form • ❗ opinion warning