F2 English U5 Notes

Unit 5 : Teen spirit

1. Introduction section
Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service surveyed 1,646 students in local secondary
schools to assess their wellbeing from last November to April, releasing the results
on Sunday. The survey found out that 33.6 per cent of students presented symptoms
of depression, while 25.5 per cent experienced middle- to high-level depression and
should seek help from clinical professionals.
The NGO said many students reported having thoughts such as “I think
I am useless,” “I do not have any expectations,” and “I hate my life.” Thomas Fung,
director of children and youth mental health of Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service, said
on RTHK on Monday morning that the survey also found that many students tended
to blame themselves whenever anything bad happened, such as performing poorly
in school exams.“They criticise themselves harshly… If they fail at something
important, they tend to blame themselves for their every shortcoming,” Fung said in
Cantonese.
The NGO urged different stakeholders to help students reduce self-
criticism, enhance family relationships and build a positive school culture.It also
recommended that school, family and community mental health centres should
strengthen their collaboration to support teenagers at risk, and that authorities
should listen to young people’s ideas and opinions when formulating mental health
policies.
(Extract : Hong Kong Free Press )
Link : https://hongkongfp.com/2024/09/02/1-in-4-hong-kong-secondary-school-
students-suffer-from-moderate-to-severe-depression-ngo-finds/
Reflections
The article clearly indicates that myriads of secondary school students are
currently suffering from depression . However, this shouldn’t be astounding for most
people as Hong Kong is notorious for it’s suffocating education system : sky-high
expectations from parents and teachers , a copious amount of homework and
tutoring classes. Therefore, the best way to ameliorate is to create a better school
environment that has less stress. For example, schools can provide more courses
for students to learn how to relieve stress.
Complex word list (from the reflection section ) :
Myriads : A lot of something
Astounding : Very surprising or shocking
Notorious : Famous for something bad:
Suffocating : to (cause someone to) die because of not having enough oxygen
Copious : In large amounts
Ameliorate : To make a bad or unpleasant situation better

Complex words in the TB (Refer to p.37-38 ) :

Malicious : intended to harm or upset other people
Vast : extremely big
Underlying : Real but not immediately obvious
Stimulate : To encourage something to grow, develop, or become active
Be on the scene : To arrive
Pique someone's interest : to make someone interested in something and want to
know more about it
 2. Vocab Enrichment corner
Idiomatic expression about feelings
 Idiomatic expression : Has a figurative meaning that differs from the literal
meaning
 Example : On cloud nine
 This idiom means to be extremely happy, not to be on the clouds.
 Other examples of idiomatic expressions that are used to describe feelings :

Idiom Meaning
On top of the world Extremely happy
On pins and needles Worried / Excited (about what is going to happen )

3. Grammar and Usage

i) Modal verbs for giving advice and talking about possibility
Quick recap : Modals [From F1 U5 ]
 Example of modals : will, would may, might , can , could ,etc
 Some usages of modals : To talk about ability (summarized in the table )

Modal Usage
Can To talk about ability in the present
Could (Past form of To talk about ability in the past
can )
Be able to To talk about ability in the present, past and future
(Reason : The word ‘to’ is invincible )

Modal verbs for giving advice :

 Should / Should not (shouldn’t ) and Ought / Ought not to : Tell people what is
good / not good to do
 Must : Give advice that is right / necessary (in our point of view )
 Must not : To indicate that something is not allowed / against something
 Can / Could : Suggesting antidotes

 Note 1 : The sense of duty of must, could and can : must > should > can
 Note 2 : Remember to use the base form after modals
 Note 3 : Modals stay the same form regardless of what tense it is
 Note 4 : The sense of duty of should and ought are the same
 Modal verbs for talking about possibility :
 May : When something is more likely to happen
 Might / Could : When something is less likely to happen
 Note : May not / Might not ≠ Could not

ii) Bare infinitives

Recap : ‘to- infinitives ’
- Structure : To ___( It must be in BASE FORM )____
- Usage : To talk about the purposes
Bare infinitives :
 After some verbs / phrases : followed by an infinitive (without -to )  bare
infinitive
 Bare infinitive : Doesn’t change regardless of the person, number or tense
 Usages of bare infinitive :

 After modals
 After ‘let’ and ‘make’
 After expressions like ‘ had better ’ , ‘would rather’
 After ‘why not ’

iii) Conditional sentences

Recap : Conditionals (Type 0 + 1 )
 Zero conditional : To talk about facts or general truths
 If clause + main clause : Present tense
 Example : If we mix red and blue, we get purple.

 First conditional : To talk about possible future consequences (the main

clause ) when something (the if clause ) is satisfied
 If clause : Present tense ; Main clause : Future tense (will + base form)
 Example : I may buy some snacks if I go out.
 Notes :
 Can use modals instead of ‘will’ in the first conditional
 You can change the order of the sentence and the meaning stays the same
(Change the sequence of the main and if clause )
 If the main clause comes first, there is no need to add a comma in the middle.

Second conditional :
 Definition : Imaginary / Untrue situations and their possible consequences OR to
give advice
 If clause : past tense (use were) ; Main clause : would + bare infinitive
 Note 1 : Might / Could can replace would in the main clause
 Note 2 : As usual, the order can be changed
 Note 3 : If the main clause comes first, there is no need to add a comma in the
middle.

4. Writing : An email of advice

 Aim : Provide concrete, useful and relevant advice
 How to do so : Express sympathy + explain reason ; use an understanding,
sympathetic and supportive tone
 Tone : Informal
 The following table provides some phrases that are useful in giving advice :

Perhaps you could try talking to Yuna.

Why don't you try doing nothing?

 Note : You can also use the second conditional to talk about advice as well
(refer to the usage of the second conditional ).

--End of Unit 5--