Dick and Jane
Would you please explain this picture? (Several words are enough, please don't trouble yourself to write an abundant answer.)
At one time english grammar was taught in an almost mathematical sense.
Teachers would break a sentence into parts--subject, predicate or verb and object. These pieces were placed on a line with a "|" separating the pieces from each other.
The illustration, which I posted orginally, is not a good one since it it a bit complicated for esl.
The sentence above is "See spot run".
The you is understood so is put in parenthesis.This is better:
I hit Jim.
The diagram is;
I | hit | JimHope this explains it.
bBut what about the picture? A teacher and a running cow? (sheep?)
And what does "See spot run" mean?
The mid to late 50s here in the US saw an elementary reading primer entitled "The Dick and Jane Series".
It was a series of very simple reading exercises with sentences such as " See Dick run" or "I see Jane".
Dick and Jane were the parents and they had kids (I think )and a dog named Spot.
So the cartoon is an illustrated example of that reading series.
The animal is a dog on a leash and he is running, hence "See spot run".
Great shot of Spot and Sally.
Replies
- Dick and Jane Smokey Stover 01/March/04