Tag: grammar

This is helpful for learners with lower language levels who are struggling with the auxiliary verb system (be, do and have).

I give learners a piece of paper or mini-whiteboard with one word of a short sentence. They … Read More ....

A simple idea for students to practice “gonna”.

Play the iconic video Never Gonna Give You Up. Students simply check the things Rick is never gonna do.

Or don’t use the checklist at first, just let them listen and take … Read More ....

This is a standard game and can be played to practice a variety of language forms (or just for fun!).

I use it to practice the difficult “have/has been …” present perfect tense.

Put the forms on the board.   The … Read More ....

I have used this recipe to hilarious effect over my teaching years. Always a winner!

It focuses on the present perfect continuous tense and gets students practicing this form/conjugations.

Come to class dressed up kind of looking like Mr. Bean. … Read More ....

A good game for large classes and for reviewing vocabulary lessons.

1. Prepare a list of review vocabulary words.
2. Write each word on two small pieces of paper. That means writing the word twice, once on each paper.
3. … Read More ....

This recipe is for intermediate or higher levels. But the video can be used for all levels really.

This video is superb! It has verbs linked to nouns in categories (Play / Blow etc… see the worksheet).

Watch the … Read More ....

We all know there is no way to teach grammar efficiently without being systematic.  We OUGHT to teach grammar systematically.  For example,

PAST SIMPLE

Explain in native tongue the tense and give the structure

Positive: Subject+verb+complement.

Negative: Subject+didn’t+verb+complement

Questions: Did+subject+verb+complement.… Read More ....

This is a standard lesson / activity for practicing possessives.

1. Put on the board

my ….. – mine.

your ….. – yours.

his ….. – his.

her ….. – hers.

its …… – its.

our … – ours

your … Read More ....

This is an excellent writing exercise, getting students to increase the length of their sentences and beginning to use clauses.

Write a simple sentence on the board. Students copy it.

Ex. The dog ran. 

Ask the students questions and the … Read More ....

  Everyone loves to brag, so this lesson recipe works every time with a variety of levels and ages. It also allows students to use their own “lexicon” and thus practice producing language rather than just “acquiring”. It really helps … Read More ....