Grade 7 English SPORTS:OUTDOOR GAMES – READING:SUMMARISING Notes
READING: SUMMARISING — SPORTS: OUTDOOR GAMES (English)
Age: 12 (Kenya) • Focus: grammar that helps you write short, correct summaries of texts about outdoor games (e.g., football ⚽, athletics 🏃♀️, netball).
What is a summary? (Grammar view)
A summary is a short version of a text that keeps the main clauses (subject + verb + idea) and uses correct grammar. To make a good summary, change sentences if needed so they are correct and clear.
Key grammar points to use when summarising
- Find the main clause: Identify the subject and main verb. This is the most important information.
- Tense: Use present simple for facts (e.g., "Football is popular.") and past simple for events that already happened (e.g., "They played yesterday."). Keep the tense the same throughout the summary.
- Subject–verb agreement: Make sure the verb matches the subject (singular/plural). Example: "The team plays" (not "team play").
- Use pronouns: Replace repeated nouns with pronouns (he, she, they) to make the summary shorter.
- Combine sentences with conjunctions: Use and, but, because, while to join short sentences into one or two clear sentences.
- Use simple relative clauses: Use who/which/that to combine ideas (e.g., "The coach who trains the team is strict.").
- Avoid extra details: Remove examples, dates, and long descriptions unless they are the main point.
- Active voice is clearer: Prefer "The team won the match." to the long passive form unless the actor is not important.
Step-by-step grammar method (short)
- Underline the main clause (subject + verb).
- Decide the correct tense for your summary (present for facts, past for events).
- Use a pronoun for repeated nouns.
- Join short main ideas with a conjunction or a relative clause.
- Check subject–verb agreement and punctuation.
Example — full process
Original paragraph:
"On Saturday, our school football team played a match at the county field. The players were tired after the long trip, but they practiced hard during the week. The team scored two goals in the second half and they won the game 2–1."
1. Underline main clauses (subject + verb):
- Our school football team played a match.
- The players were tired.
- They practiced hard.
- The team scored two goals and they won the game.
2. Choose tense: Past simple (event happened).
3. Use pronouns and combine:
Combine: "Our school football team played at the county field. Although the players were tired, they had practiced and then scored two goals to win 2–1."
4. Short final summary (one sentence):
Our school football team played at the county field and, despite tiredness, scored two goals to win 2–1.
Grammar notes and tips
- If the original uses direct speech, change to reported speech in past tense when summarising:
Direct: "We won," said the captain. → Reported: The captain said they won. - When combining, use commas and conjunctions correctly: use a comma before "but" when joining two main clauses.
- Keep vocabulary simple; focus on clear verbs (played, scored, won, trained).
Short practice (try these)
- Text: "The netball team practiced every afternoon. They were ready for the match. They beat the other school by ten points."
Write a one-sentence summary (use past simple). - Text: "Athletics is popular in our county. Many pupils run in the morning. Running keeps them fit."
Write a one-sentence summary (use present simple for facts). - Text: "The hockey match started in the afternoon. Rain came, so the players slowed down. The game ended in a draw."
Write a one-sentence summary (use past simple).
Answers (check your grammar)
- The netball team practiced every afternoon and beat the other school by ten points.
- Athletics is popular in our county because many pupils run in the morning to keep fit. (Or:) Athletics is popular; many pupils run each morning to keep fit.
- The hockey match started in the afternoon, rain slowed the players, and the game ended in a draw.
Quick checklist before you finish a summary:
- Is the tense correct? (present facts / past events)
- Does each sentence have a clear subject and verb?
- Did you remove small details and keep main points?
- Are pronouns used to avoid repetition?
Good luck! Practice with stories about your school games and check grammar as you shorten them.