Top 6 Best Compositions on 'Khởi ngữ' for 9th Grade

1. Exercise 1, page 8, Textbook.

Find the 'khởi ngữ' in the following excerpts:
a) He stood idly, watching paintings and waiting for others to read, then eavesdrop. This troubled him greatly. (Kim Lân, Làng)
b) – Yes! The teacher is right! For us, this is truly a blessing. (Nam Cao, Lão Hạc)
c) Alone, the person at the summit of Phan-xi-păng at 3,142 meters is more alone than I am. (Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)
d) Being a meteorologist, working at such a height is truly ideal. (Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)
e) For me, this is a sudden shock […]. (Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)
Answer:

To identify the 'khởi ngữ,' carefully read the 'Memory' section (page 8, Textbook) and follow these steps:

- Identify the subject and predicate of the sentence, starting with the predicate. From there, the subject can be determined: the subject is the main element introducing the object or phenomenon described in the predicate. For example, in the sentence “This troubled him greatly,” the predicate is 'troubled him greatly,' and the subject is 'he.'

- Look for any word or phrase preceding the subject in the sentence. For example, in the sentence “This troubled him greatly,” 'This' precedes the subject.

- Check if the preceding word or phrase introduces the topic of the sentence. If it does, it is the 'khởi ngữ.'

- Consider whether the preceding word or phrase can be followed by relational words like 'about' or 'regarding.' This is a common but not mandatory indicator of a 'khởi ngữ.'

2. Exercise 2, page 8, Textbook.

Rewrite the following sentences by placing the bolded part at the beginning as a 'khởi ngữ':

a) He works very carefully.

b) I understand, but I still can't solve it.

Answer:

To create a 'khởi ngữ,' move the bolded part before the subject.

3. Exercise 3. In the two sentences below, identify which one contains a 'khởi ngữ' and specify the 'khởi ngữ' used:

The world is full of people who read books just for show, like rich men flaunting their wealth, thinking that the more they have, the more valuable it is. Regarding learning, such reading is mere self-deception, and in terms of character, it reflects a shallow, inferior nature. (Chu Quang Tiềm, Bàn về đọc sách)

Answer:

The passage includes a compound sentence with two 'khởi ngữ.'

4. Exercise 4. In Nhuận Thổ's statement below, which sentence contains a 'khởi ngữ'? Move the word functioning as the 'khởi ngữ' to an appropriate position in the sentence:

Nhuận Thổ said:

– Oh, dear! I respectfully inform you, I have received it. (Lỗ Tấn, Cố hương)

Answer:

The sentence includes a 'khởi ngữ.' The word functioning as the 'khởi ngữ' can be moved to an appropriate position after the verb phrase to become a part of the verb phrase.

A. GUIDELINES FOR UNDERSTANDING THE LESSON

I. Characteristics and Uses of Starting Phrases in Sentences

A starting phrase is a sentence component that appears before the subject to introduce the topic being discussed.

Example: Has he been lurking around here lately?

(Bùi Hiển)

However, there are also cases where the starting phrase comes after the subject and before the predicate.

Example: That teacher, he doesn’t smoke, nor does he drink.

II. Identifying Starting Phrases in Sentences

The words forming a starting phrase often have relational words like "about," "regarding," ... (these can be added without changing the meaning of the sentence). This is a distinguishing feature of starting phrases, setting them apart from the subject.

Example: Regarding birds, we should not shoot them.

Alternatively, the particle "then" may be added after the starting phrase. Example:

When people watch performances, they immediately start laughing when they see him.
(Nguyễn Công Hoan, Kép Tư Bền)

Though not rich, he lives a comfortable life.
(Vũ Trọng Phụng, Số đỏ)

1. Differentiate the bolded words from the subject in the sentences below by their position in the sentence and their relationship with the predicate.

a. Hearing a call, the girl startled, her eyes wide. She was confused, amazed. But him (1), he (2) could not control his emotions.

(Nguyễn Quang Sáng, Chiếc lược ngà)

"Him (1)" precedes the subject and serves to introduce the topic of the sentence.

"He (2)" is the subject, the doer of the action "could not control his emotions."

b. Rich (1), I too became wealthy (2) eventually.

(Nguyễn Công Hoan, Bước đưòng cùng)

"Rich (1)" precedes the subject and introduces the event being discussed.

"Wealthy (2)" serves as the predicate of the sentence.

c. As for literary genres in the arts, we can trust our language, knowing it is neither lacking in richness nor beauty […].

(Phạm Văn Đồng, Giữ gìn sự trong sáng của tiếng Việt)

The phrase "literary genres in the arts" precedes the subject "we" and introduces the theme of the sentence.

"We" is the subject of the sentence.

2. Before the bolded terms in section 1, there can (or may be added) relational words: "still," "about," "concerning…"

B. PRACTICE GUIDELINES

Question 1. This exercise asks you to identify the starting phrases in the excerpts from the textbook on page 8. To identify the starting phrases, compare the initial words in the sentences with the features of starting phrases. Specifically:

Check if the words introduce the topic being discussed in the sentence?
Check if relational words like "about" or "concerning" can precede those words?
The starting phrases in these excerpts are bolded.
a. He stands there idly, looking at pictures while waiting for others to read and listening in. He is quite distressed by this.

(Kim Lân, Làng)

b. – Yes! The teacher is right! For us, this is already a blessing.

(Nam Cao, Lão Hạc)

c. Being alone, the friend at the summit of Phan-xi-păng at 3,142 meters felt lonelier than me.

(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)

d. Achieving higher knowledge and living at the peak is the ideal.

(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)

e. For me, this is quite unexpected […].

(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)

Question 2. This exercise asks you to rewrite the sentences from the textbook on page 8 by transforming the bolded parts into starting phrases (you may add "then").

a. He does his work very carefully.

→ Doing his work, he is very careful.

b. I understand, but I haven't solved it yet.

→ Understanding, I understand, but solving it, I have not solved it yet.

I. Basic Knowledge

Help students understand the characteristics and functions of the introductory phrase in a sentence.

1. Identify the subject in the following sentences with the bolded words:

a) Hearing the call, the little girl was startled and looked around in confusion. She was dazed and puzzled. As for him, he couldn't contain his emotions.

(Nguyễn Quang Sáng, Chiếc lược ngà)

b) Rich, I am already rich.

(Nguyễn Công Hoan, Bước đường cùng)

c) Regarding literary forms in the arts, we can trust our language, without fearing it lacks richness and beauty.

(Phạm Văn Đồng, Giữ gìn sự trong sáng của tiếng Việt)

Hint:

As for him, he (subject) couldn't contain his emotions.

Rich, I (subject) am already rich.

Regarding literary forms in the arts, we (subject) can trust our language.

2. Compare the subjects in the sentences above with the bolded words placed before them.

Hint:

- In terms of sentence position: the bolded words appear before the subject.

- In terms of relation to the predicate: the bolded words are not subjects and do not relate to the predicate as subjects do.

3. The bolded words in these sentences are introductory phrases. Where do introductory phrases appear and what is their function in the sentence?

Hint: Introductory phrases appear before the predicate and introduce the topic being discussed in the sentence.

4. What words commonly appear before introductory phrases?

Hint: Introductory phrases are often preceded by relational words like 'about' or 'regarding.'

II. Skill Practice

1. Find the introductory phrases in the excerpts below:

a) He stood idly, looking at the paintings, waiting for someone else to read and overhear. This troubled him greatly.

(Kim Lân, Làng)

b) – Yes! The teacher is right! For us, this is true happiness.

(Nam Cao, Lão Hạc)

c) Alone, my friend at the top of Phan-xi-pang, three thousand one hundred and forty-two meters high, is truly more alone than me.

(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)

d) Working in meteorology, being high up is the real ideal.

(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)

e) For me, it was really sudden [...].

(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)

Hint:

Pay attention to the position of the introductory phrase to differentiate it from the subject: the introductory phrase comes before the subject.

Introductory phrases: (a) - This; (b) - For us; (c) - Alone; (d) - Working in meteorology; (e) - For me.

2. What role do the bolded words in the sentences below play?

a) He does his homework very carefully.

b) I understand now, but I still can't solve it.

Hint: The phrase 'does homework' in (a) and the verbs 'understand' and 'solve' in (b) serve as the main elements of the predicate in the sentence.

3. Rewrite the two sentences from the exercises above by transforming the bolded part into an introductory phrase (you may add a particle 'then').

Hint:

- Doing homework, he is very careful.

- Understand, I understand now, but solving, I still haven't solved it yet.

I. Characteristics and Functions of Introductory Phrases in Sentences

1. Position: The bolded words appear before the subject.

- In relation to the predicate: the bolded words are not the subject in the sentence and do not have the same relationship with the predicate as the subject does.

2. The bolded words are introductory phrases. They appear before the predicate, introduce the topic being discussed, and often are preceded by relational words such as 'about' or 'regarding.'

Practice

Exercise 1 (Page 8 of 9th Grade Literature Textbook)

The introductory phrases:

a) This

b) For us

c) Alone

d) Working in meteorology

e) For me

Exercise 2 (Page 8 of 9th Grade Literature Textbook)

The phrases 'does homework' in (a) and 'understand' and 'solve' in (b) are the central elements of the predicate.

- Rewrite the two sentences from the exercises above by changing the bolded part into an introductory phrase (you can add the particle 'then').

- Doing homework, he is very careful.

- Understand, I understand now, but solving, I still haven’t solved it.

Section I: FEATURES AND ROLE OF SUBJECT PRONOUNS IN A SENTENCE

Question 1 (Page 7, Literature Book 9, Volume 2):

Distinguish the bolded words from the subject in the following sentences in terms of their position and relationship with the verb phrase.

Answer:

(a) The subject in the last sentence ("As for him, he could not control his emotions") is the second "he" (not the first one).

(b) "Rich, I am already rich." The subject of this sentence is "I".

(c) "In terms of the literary forms in the arts field, we can trust our language, and we need not fear its lack of richness and beauty [...]." The subject of this sentence is "we".

Question 2 (Page 7, Literature Book 9, Volume 2):

What relational words can precede the bolded words above?

Answer:

The words "about" or "for" can precede the bolded words.

Section II: EXERCISES

Question 1 (Page 8, Literature Book 9, Volume 2):

Find the subject pronouns in the following excerpts:

a) He stood idly looking at paintings, waiting for someone else to read and eavesdrop. This was a source of great distress for him.

(Kim Lân, "The Village")

b) - Yes! The teacher is right! For us, this is pure happiness.

(Nam Cao, "Lao Hac")

c) Alone, the friend on the peak of Phan-Xi-Pang at three thousand one hundred and forty-two meters is more alone than me.

(Nguyễn Thành Long, "Silent Sa Pa")

d) Working in meteorology, being able to work at high altitudes is the real ideal.

(Nguyễn Thành Long, "Silent Sa Pa")

e) For me, this came as a sudden shock [...].

(Nguyễn Thành Long, "Silent Sa Pa")

Answer:

The subject pronouns are:

- In (a): "This"

- In (b): "For us"

- In (c): "Alone"

- In (d): "Working in meteorology"

- In (e): "For me"

Question 2 (Page 8, Literature Book 9, Volume 2):

Rewrite the following sentences by converting the bolded part into a subject pronoun (you may add the word "then").

a) He works very carefully.

b) I understand, but I haven't solved it yet.

Answer:

In (a): "Working, he is very careful."

In (b): "I understand, but I haven't solved it yet."

Basic Knowledge

a) A starting phrase is a part of a sentence that precedes the subject and introduces the topic being discussed.

Before the starting phrase, we can use relationship words such as 'about' or 'regarding' and can also add 'then' after the starting phrase.

- The element in the starting phrase can be repeated with a substitute word: I have read this book already.

- The element in the starting phrase can be omitted, and in its place, an equivalent element may be placed.

b) The starting phrase has an indirect relationship with the rest of the sentence:

A good poem is never something you can read once and put down.

(Nguyễn Đình Thi)

Features and Uses of Starting Phrases

Question 1 - Page 7 in Textbook

Distinguish between the bolded words and the subject in the following sentences based on their position and relationship with the predicate:

(a) Hearing the call, the girl jumped, wide-eyed. She was confused and astonished. As for him, he could hardly contain his emotions.

(Nguyễn Quang Sáng, Chiếc lược ngà)

(b) Rich, I am already rich.

(Nguyễn Công Hoan, Bước đường cùng)

(c) Regarding literary forms in the arts, we can trust our language and not worry about it lacking richness and beauty [...].

(Phạm Văn Đồng, Giữ gìn sự trong sáng của tiếng Việt)

Answer:

The bolded components come before the subject.

- The subject in sentence (a) is the second 'he' (As for him, he could hardly contain his emotions).

- The subject in sentence (b) is 'I.'

- The subject in sentence (c) is 'we.'

Observation:

- The bolded words come before the subject to introduce the topic being discussed.

- Relationship with the predicate: The bolded elements are not the subject of the sentence and have no direct connection with the predicate.

Question 2 - Page 8 in Textbook

What relationship words can be added before the bolded components?

Answer:

Before the bolded components, we can add the words: 'as for,' 'regarding,' 'about.'

Practice Exercises

Question 1 - Page 8 in Textbook

Find the starting phrases in the following excerpts:

a) He kept standing, pretending to look at the pictures while waiting for others to read and overhear. This worried him greatly.

(Kim Lân, Làng)

b) - Yes! The teacher is right! For us, this is happiness.

(Nam Cao, Lão Hạc)

c) Alone, the friend at the Phan-Xi-Pang peak, 3,142 meters high, was truly more alone than I.

(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)

d) Doing meteorology, being in a high place is the true ideal.

(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)

e) Regarding me, it was truly unexpected [...].

(Nguyễn Thành Long, Lặng lẽ Sa Pa)

Suggestion: Find the starting phrase by identifying the words that come before the subject and introduce the topic of the sentence, drawing attention to the next content.

Answer:

a) This,

b) For us;

c) Alone;

d) Doing meteorology

e) Regarding me

Question 2 - Page 8 in Textbook

Rewrite the following sentences by transforming the bolded part into the starting phrase (you may add 'then' if necessary):

a) He does his work carefully.

b) I understand, but I haven't solved it yet.

Answer:

For (a): Doing his work, he is very careful.

For (b): Understanding, I do understand, but solving, I haven't solved it yet.

Summary

Key Points to Remember:

- A starting phrase is a part of a sentence that precedes the subject and introduces the topic being discussed.

- Before the starting phrase, relationship words like 'about' and 'regarding' are commonly used.