International TEFL InstituteGrammar Activities
Here are a few grammar activities and techniques that you could use in the language classroom.
- Troublesome Grammar
For practice with troublesome grammatical structures, have an assortment of dittoed multiple-choice and filling-the-blank exercises in the following areas:
- Verb Tenses
- Prepositions
- Question formation
- Adjective placement
- Modals
Prepare an answer key for self-checking.
- Sentence Structuring
On index cards, write a sentence or question, with each word on a separate card. On the back, number each word card in sequence. The students must put the cards in the correct word order. They can check themselves by looking at the numbers on the back. Keep each set of cards in a rubber band or in an envelope.
- Memory Games
In this activity, you may divide the students into two groups. Give each group a copy of the same picture. Tell them to look at it but do not tell them that they are expected to memorise the items in the picture. Give them a minute or two. Then take the pictures away from the groups. Each group nominates a spokesperson for their group. In this activity, the material is utilised to work on the present continuous tense (is/am/are + ing). The teacher reads out some true /false statements about the picture, using the present continuous tense (e.g. The man is…; The boys are…). After each group has discussed the statement, their spokesperson relays their answer to you. Points are awarded for correct answers.
- Miming an Action
Create two piles of cards. One pile should consist of cards with an adverb written on each and the other pile with a verb each. Divide the learners into two groups (Group A / Group B). Group A sends one of its members up to the front of the class. This student selects one card from each pile on the teacher’s desk which is face down. The student must then mime the action to Group A who then have 45 seconds to guess the action correctly (You’re walking quickly – present continuous). This can be used to practise a variety of tenses. If the students in Group A guess the correct action within the allocated time, then Group A is awarded a point. It is now Group B’s turn to send a student up to the front of the class.
- Creating Time Lines
A useful activity may be to encourage students to create their own timelines when dealing with new tenses. Write a sentence on the board and ask the students to either come up to the board and create a timeline on the board or ask them to complete a timeline in their books.
Example: Write the following sentence (past perfect) on the board and ask students to create their own timelines – I arrived when the train had left.
- Split Sentences
In this activity, you may wish to use the first conditional for example or a variety of tenses. Once you have written a number of sentences on a piece of paper, proceed to cut each sentence in two.
Distribute these various pieces to the students in the class. The students must then read half of the sentence to the class and attempt to find the missing half of their sentence.
Example: (first conditional)
If you don’t look you’ll be hit by a car.
If you don’t wash the apple you’ll get sick.
If you play with the cat it’ll scratch you.
If you buy it now you’ll save yourself a lot of money.
If you study hard you’ll pass the test.
If you don’t practise you’ll not be selected for the team.
- Grammar Quiz
You could initiate a grammar quiz for two teams. Write a verb infinitive on the board and the first team to write the correct past participle on the board is awarded a point. You could create a number of variations of your own; for example, ask each team to prepare their own questions to present to the other team.
- Growing Stories
Growing story activities are excellent practice for work on the past simple tense. Students are given the first sentence of a story. They then have to add another sentence to the story in order to continue the storyline. The students then pass their stories to the person next to them who in turn adds another sentence. Alternatively, this activity may be done in a computer laboratory with students adding to a Word document. This can be a timed exercise with students changing computer workstations when you tell them to. The stories can then be printed at the end of the lesson and read. This makes for some interesting stories and variations. Many follow-up exercises can be initiated such as correcting the mistakes etc.
Example: (first sentence)
I had just climbed into bed when there was a flash of bright light outside.
- Questionnaires
Ask the students to write a questionnaire by utilising recent grammar items which have been covered in class. Alternatively, you could assist the students by presenting them with basic structures (e.g. What/do/tonight?). Once the questionnaires have been completed, ask the students to survey one another.
- Objects and Things
By bringing certain objects and things (e.g. wallet, handbag, money, glasses) into your classroom, you add a hands-on feel to your teaching. In order to teach beginning level students the use of the possessive form, you could encourage the students to bring a few items to class. Ask them to place the items on their desks.
Gather the objects and place them on different desks around the classroom. Students then work in pairs. They walk around the classroom and by using the target language (placed on the board) and the embedded politeness forms (‘Excuse me’) and discourse ellipsis rules (‘No it’s Justine’s, rather than ‘No, it’s Justine’s purse’).
Example: (target language)
Student A: Excuse me. Is this your purse?
Student B: No, it’s Justine’s. / Yes, it is. Thank you.
Student A: Excuse me. Are these your glasses?
Student B: No, they’re Ron’s. / Yes, they are. Thank you.
- Maps and Drawings
Maps are practical and simple visual aids for the classroom and can serve to illustrate certain grammatical structures such as the use of:
- Prepositional phrases (down the street, across the road, etc.)
- Question forms (where is, how do I find, is this, etc.)
- Imperatives (go, walk, turn, keep an eye out for, etc.)
- Appropriate discourse when asking for directions, attracting someone’s attention, clarifying information and ending the conversation.
Drawings are an excellent way in which to provide practice in stating locations and giving directions (with the use of prepositional phrases). You may wish to begin by using a simple drawing. After introducing the relevant terms (next to, in the bottom left-hand corner, in the centre, below etc.) divide the students into pairs. Give one student a copy of the picture and the other student a piece of paper and a pencil. The student with the picture describes what is in the picture and where these things are (without showing the other student) whilst the other student draws what is described on their piece of paper.
- Charts and Graphs
Charts and graphs are extremely useful when practising various patterns and clarifying certain grammatical relationships. This kind of exercise will offer students some simple practice in understanding and interpreting graphical information. Students are also introduced to the idea of trends. Alternatively, you could ask students to locate a statistical chart in a local newspaper and share it with the class. A related activity is to create posters on the various ways of displaying graphical information.
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