Beginner level of English
Grammar Lesson:
Using Adjectives
The following activity incorporates a conscious-raising task directed at helping learners discover where adjectives can be placed and a communicative language task by having the students describe each other and items. At this point in time, it is assumed that students have learned the proper use of nouns, verbs and sentence order (subject, verb and object).
Objective -
Students will realize adjectivies can modify nouns in different locations within a sentence.
Activity:
1. Study these sentences about the old man and small boy. Circle any adjectives you may find. Please note that some sentences may not have an adjective.
- An old man stands in the middle of the library.
- He is tall and he is thin.
- He is looking for a small, red book.
- Unfortunately, the book does not have a title.
- A small boy walks up to the old man and asks him with a curious face, “What are you looking for?"
Activity:
1. Study these sentences about the old man and small boy. Circle any adjectives you may find. Please note that some sentences may not have an adjective.
- An old man stands in the middle of the library.
- He is tall and he is thin.
- He is looking for a small, red book.
- Unfortunately, the book does not have a title.
- A small boy walks up to the old man and asks him with a curious face, “What are you looking for?"
- The old man looks down at the small boy and says with a crooked smile, “I am looking for a small, red book."
2. First, the students answer the following question by themselves. Then, after they come up with their own ideas, they will get into groups of three to compare their answers /ideas.
When are the adjectives used? In other words, where are they located in relation to articles and nouns?
When are the adjectives used? In other words, where are they located in relation to articles and nouns?
3. Which of the following sentences are ungrammatical? Why? (This will be done in group work as well)
- The man young is selling candy.
- She kind is.
- Mean he is.
- John has a large blue book
- That man has a strange face.
4. Try to make up a rule to explain where adjectives can be used.
For example:
a. Syntactic category: ? // Adjective // ?
b. An adjective can be placed (between / on the left of / ?): _________________
____________________________________________________________.
5. Separate into pairs and use adjectives to describe each other and any items in the room. (The teacher will walk around and provide feedback/recasts when necessary). Or have students work in pairs and continue the story from section 1.
6. Discuss how to use adjectives correctly on the board and ask for question
For example:
a. Syntactic category: ? // Adjective // ?
b. An adjective can be placed (between / on the left of / ?): _________________
____________________________________________________________.
5. Separate into pairs and use adjectives to describe each other and any items in the room. (The teacher will walk around and provide feedback/recasts when necessary). Or have students work in pairs and continue the story from section 1.
6. Discuss how to use adjectives correctly on the board and ask for question
