Category: Elementary

How in questions
How in questions

The word “HOW” is one of the most productive words in English. It helps us create meaningful questions and sentences. The word “HOW” combines with many other words to create these questions.
In this post I try to introduce the basic phrases “How much”, “How many”, “How often”, “How well”, “How long”, “How far” and “How old”.

How in questions – mindmap

Here the students can practise the basic usage of the word HOW in questions. First, they should create their own questions and later they can cover the inner rings and say the correct phrases.
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how-in-questions

The way you can create questions with how.

How in questions – games

In the first game your task is to complete the questions with the correct word. Moreover, you should shoot all the invaders and save the Earth 🙂

Teacher Invaders

In the second game you should choose the correct answer and shoot only the BAD ducks. You can try to shoot one of the bottles too and get a bonus.

Shooting game

I hope that by now you know all the basic usages of the word HOW.

There is someone doing something – elementary grammar
There is someone doing something – elementary grammar

I had been using these phrases long before I learnt that they were a grammar item. However, as I have to teach them to my students at school, I have created this short post. There is just a simple graphical presentation of the phrases and two games to practise them.

To practise phrase there is someone doing in a more realistic and communicative  way I recommend using some similar picture where students should find the differences. Nice pictures for spotting the difference can be found at Maryglasgowmagazines (you have to pay to be a member though).

There is someone doing – Mind map

This simple chart shows how the phrase There is/are … doing something should be formed.
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there is someone doing something grammar

The way these phrases are formed.

There is someone doing – games

I think I have not used the Penalty template for some time, so here you can play the penalty shootout. Your task is to answer each question correctly and then score a goal. Good luck.

Penalty shootout game

The second game is called Teacher invaders. Your task is to shoot all the invaders and finish the sentences with the correct for of the verbs in the brackets. Be careful with your spelling.

Past simple or past continuous? – quiz

More grammar games

You can find some more grammar games for elementary students at our site. For example there are games and mind maps to learn the past simple tense of irregular verbs. Or you could try the games on forming Adverbs correctly.

Adjectives with prepositions
Adjectives with prepositions

Two days ago we encountered a simple exercise in our textbook. Students’ task was to fill in the missing prepositions. Even though my students are strong lower intermediate students who can understand a lot of English and speak quite fluently, they were not able to use the correct prepositions. Although the students met the adjectives and prepositions many time before, they could not use them. So I have created this post where I will teach the adjectives and prepositions.
This post contains only a few adjectives but I believe it is better if you always use a few adjectives with the correct preposition than if you know a lot of adjectives and use the prepositions wrongly.

Adjectives and prepostions – infographic

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Adjectives and prepositions

Learn the few adjectives with the right prepositions.

Adjectives and prepostions – games

I have been using games in class for quite a long time, but I never fail to be surprised how easily students learn the correct answers to the questions just because they want to win the game.

The first game is called Teacher Invaders and your task is to shoot all the invaders and complete the sentences with the correct prepositions.

Teacher Invaders game

The second game is called On target and your task is to shoot as many bad ducks as you can. You can shoot a bottle too and get a bonus. Give it a try.
On Target game

More posts on prepositions

If you need more practise on prepositions there are two more posts on prepositions at our site. They explain the usage of the prepositions AT, IN, ON for places and time.
You can find the posts at:
https://engames.eu/prepositions-place/
https://engames.eu/prepositions-at-in-on-time/

Present simple and continuous tenses
Present simple and continuous tenses

Many elementary students feel they cannot see the difference between these two tenses. To help them I have created a rap which explains the grammar and gives some example sentences, two mind maps explaining everything simply and several games to practise this grammar point. I hope you will find it useful.

Present tenses – mind maps

The first mind map explains the basics about the present simple tense:

Present simple tense mind map

The second mind map has already been published here in the post on Present continuous tense. The mind map explains the usage and form of the present continuous tense.
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Present tenses – rap

Watch the rap and then try to answer the comprehension questions in the game On target. The rap explains the usage of the two tenses and gives some examples.

Now try the comprehension game. Answer all the questions and then shoot the bad ducks 🙂
Play the game here.

Present tenses – games

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You can play the game En Garde here.

Verbs with two objects
Verbs with two objects

Three days ago we were talking about presents with my students and I could hear that they were using the verbs buy,give, get etc. in a way that everyone would understand them but which was wrong. So, I created the following presentation and several exercises. What surprised me was that even after my presentation the students protested that some other forms (the ones they used) were correct too. But it is not true. They are not and you have to use the verbs in the way demonstrated here to be understood and correct.

Verbs with two objects – mind map

I am really proud of this mind map. It took a lot of time to construct and I think it clearly demonstrates the verbs and their usage:
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Verbs with two objects – games

Once you have mastered the three possible patterns it is time to use them. There are two game to practise this grammar point. In the first one you should choose the correct option to get a chance to hurt your opponent. Are you good enough to win the fight?

Verbs with two subjects En Garde game.

The second game is quite quick. You have to shoot all the invaders and answer all the questions. The best I have ever seen was level 5. Can you get further?

Verbs with two objects – Teacher invaders

Verbs with two objects – for teachers

I have realised that this site is frequently visited by teachers. And that is why I have decided to enter this part into my post. Here I would like to offer the teachers the materials tuned for teaching. First is the mind map in powerpoint file. If you have an IWB you can display the parts of the mind map and explain the concept.

Verbs with two objects

The other file contains the mind map in a pdf file.

Verbs with two objects

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Time Clauses
Time Clauses

In time clauses it is important to understand that you cannot use WILL after certain conjunctions, even though you are referring to the future. And that is the whole trick. If you do this (not will do this), your English will be fine. And that is what you need.

 

Time clauses – mind map

To make this concept clearer I have created the following mind map. Read the mind map clockwise and start at 12 o’clock.
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Time clauses Mind map final

Time clauses – games

As the grammar point is quite simple to understand, I have created only two games to practise this. The first one is called Fling the Teacher and if you answer (not will answer) all the questions correctly you will fire the teacher because you won’t need him any more. So what are you waiting for? FLING THE TEACHER!

Fling the teacher – time clauses.

The second game is ideal for a classroom. You can work in two teams and the teams fight against each other. If you answer incorrectly your opponent gets a free chance to hurt you.

En Garde – Time Clauses.

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Definite and Indefinite Articles
Definite and Indefinite Articles

As there are no articles in my mother tongue, using them correctly in English is a real challenge. Like many other non-native speakers, I often leave them out or use one too many. And my students do this too.
I have been thinking for years how to teach articles effectively and finally I feel that I found the way. I created a mind map which shows the thinking process you should go through to have the articles correct.

Articles – mind map

There are two mind maps. The first one is simpler and the other is for more advanced students.
The mind maps show the thinking process you should go through to get the articles correct. Start at 1 o’clock and go clockwise.

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Articles mind map for elementary students

The following Mind map is for intermediate students:
Articles mind map for intermediate students

Articles – Video

If you still feel that you need more explanations, you can watch the following video explaining the usage of the definite article “THE”. The recording was prepared by BBC learning English.

Articles – games

For those of you who regularly come to our site there are two new games this time. The first one is a classical game called Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. You have to answer all the questions correctly to win this game. Good luck!

Articles – Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

The second new game is called Fling the teacher and your task is again to answer all the questions correctly. If you manage to do this you will fire the teacher :-), because you will not need him any more.

Articles – Fling the teacher.

The last game is the Penalty game which has been used here several times (eg. for teaching prepositions AT, IN, ON or verb patterns )

Articles – Penalty Shootout

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Containers – mind map and games
Containers – mind map and games

The concept of uncountability is very difficult to understand and use correctly for learners of English. However, even the English sometimes need to count the things which are uncountable. To do this they count the containers the things are commonly packed in or they have a countable expression which is used with the given noun. Thus, they have  one pair of trousers, two pieces of cake or a carton of milk. To master this you have to learn the containers by heart. To make it easier I have prepared a short video, a mind map and three games for you.

Containers – video

Watch the video and repeat the phrases with the native speaker.
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Containers – mind map

The following mind map visually maps the containers and their usage.

containers mind map

Once you have learnt the containers it is time to see whether you really know them. Play the following games and if you win you can be sure that you know the vocabulary.

Containers – games

The first game is the easiest one. You have to choose the correct container for the given phrase. If you succeed you will be given the chance to shoot a penalty. Can you score 10 times? No one ever has. BE THE FRIST ONE.

Containers – penalty game.

The second game is slightly more difficult. Your task is to choose the word which fits into the gap. You have to choose a noun which is commonly used with the given container. If you are successful then you can try to win the fencing duel.

Containers – En Garde game.

The last game is the most difficult one. While in the previous games it was enough to choose a word, here you have to make it up. And in the meantime the invaders get more and more aggressive. Will you save the planet?

Containers – Teacher invaders game.

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Prepositions AT IN ON – place
Prepositions AT IN ON – place

A week ago I published a post on prepositions AT, IN, ON for time. Several students asked me if I could do something like that for prepositions AT, IN, ON but for places. So here you are. There is a mind map graphically explaining the usage of the prepositions and then there are 3 games to practise the grammar point. Enjoy.

Prepositions AT, IN, ON for places – MIND MAP

Here is a mind map, where I try to explain the difference between the three prepositions. I tried to make it as illustrative as possible, so I hope everything is clear.
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[sociallocker id=”3501″] Prepositions of place AT IN ON

Prepositions AT, IN, ON for places – GAMES

[/sociallocker] Here you can try three games to practise the grammar point. The first game is called penalty and your task is to choose the correct preposition and then score a goal.

Prepositions AT, IN, ON for places – penalty.

The second game is called teacher invaders. Your task is to shoot the invaders and every few seconds complete the sentence with the correct preposition.

Prepositions AT, IN, ON for places – teacher invaders.

Are you looking for something quieter at the end? Try the quiz and if you complete more than 80% of the questions correctly you will get to play the game called Angry Finches.

Prepositions AT, IN, ON for places – cloze test and Angry Finches.

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Present continuous tense
Present continuous tense

When I was preparing the lesson on Clothes I knew that at the same time the elementary students will have to learn the present continuous tense. And as I had a little time to spare I prepared the following activities for them to learn this grammar point.

Present continuous tense Mind map

Once again I present the tense using the following mind map where I try to explain the form and basic usage of the tense.

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Present continuous tense mind map

Present continuous tense games

Now that you know the theory it is time to use it in the games. The first two games – Penalty and Hoopshot – test your knowledge of the form and of the usage of the present continuous tense. The third game test your ability to form the verbs with -ing ending in the correct way.
So good luck and you can play:

Present continuous tense – penalty game.
Present continuous tense – hoop shoot game.
Verbs with -ing ending – teacher invaders game.

More games

If you are an elementary student trying to learn English the following games and mind maps might be useful for you.
As I mentioned above our previous post deals with CLOTHES and can find there a video, mind map and four games to practise this vocabulary set.
Then you should certainly try our post dealing with past simple tense. There is a mind map explaining the usage and form of the past simple tense. Moreover, there are several games where you can learn the past forms of irregular verbs. So, do not hesitate and try our Past simple post.
If you think that you need to learn or practise more vocabulary, there is a post dealing with food. There is a mind map with the pictures of different kinds of food and then there are games where you can practise what you have learnt.

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Adverbs – elementary
Adverbs – elementary

I like teaching adverbs to students because it is very simple, there are only a few exceptions and you can see that they have learnt something immediately. Adverbs are an easy grammar point and students can use them in the same lesson and feel that they achieved something.

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Forming adverbs – infographic

Recently I have been experimenting with mind maps a lot and I was surprised how good the students’ results are. They pass even the most difficult tests and some of them pass them with 100% which I am really not accustomed to. Seeing these wonderful results I decided to go on with creating more mind maps. Here is one dealing with adverbs and their formation in English:

Adverbs mind map

Forming adverbs – games

Once you or your students understand adverbs it is time to practise forming the adverbs in games.

Adverbs – half a minute game. You have 30 seconds to put the letters into the correct order to create the right adverb.

Adverbs – Teacher invaders. Your task is to shoot all the invaders but from time to time you have to form an adverb from the given adjective.

Adverbs – Penalty game. In this game you should choose the correct option to complete the sentence. If you get it right you will have a chance to shoot a penalty.

Adverbs – Hoopshoot game. Choose the correct option and then score.

I hope you enjoyed the lesson and that your knowledge of adverbs is much better than it was a few minutes ago. If not look at the links section, too.

Forming adverbs – links

If you are looking for another explanation of adverbs, you can find one at British Council site.

Here is a great video explaining what adverbs are. I believe it can be used for teaching English as ESL too. Enjoy.

Verb patterns – pre-intermediate
Verb patterns – pre-intermediate

My pre-intermediate students are confused by all the different verb patterns. So the last two weeks I spent designing a mind map that would help them. It is in no way a comprehensive description of the grammar, but I feel quite happy about it. Looking for some rules I discovered that the pattern verb + to + verb is much more common than verb + verb-ing.
So my advice to my students is: “If in doubt, use TO + verb.” I hope this mind map will help you understand the verb patterns too.

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Verb patterns

To practise the verb patterns you can try the following games.

The first game is called Penalty Shootout. Your task is to choose the correct answer and then score a goal. To be able to play the game, you need to download the file and then open it in Acrobat Reader by Adobe.

To practise the verb patterns you can play the following game. Its name is En Garde. Your task is to choose the correct answer and then stop the target as close to the centre as possible. Hopefully, you will be faster and more accurate then your opponent. The game is in Flash and will play only if you download the file and open it in Acrobat Reader by Adobe.

Enjoy.
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Free graded readers

Past simple tense
Past simple tense

Past simple is one of the most important English tenses. Scott Thornbury once wrote that he would sacrifice all the perfect tenses and other grammar if he could teach past simple properly. I agree with him, because if the students could you this tense, then I would probably forgive them everything.

Basic English grammar rules – infographic

To teach all the basic English grammar rules about the past tense I use the following mind map.
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Basic English grammar rules – online quiz

I believe that it is critical that students know the irregular verbs. Here you can find two games to learn and practise the verbs. You cannot master the basic grammar rules without some memory work and a lot of practice. To play the games, click the download link and open the downloaded file in Adobe Reader. Then click on the game and enjoy.

During the week more activities on Past simple tense are coming. Watch out for them.
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Free graded readers

Present perfect _ basics
Present perfect _ basics

Many students do not understand the present perfect tense. Here is an infographic which should make the present perfect tense easier for students to understand.

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Present perfect vs Past simple tense
Present perfect vs Past simple tense
Present perfect vs Past simple infographic

Many students find the difference between present perfect tense and past simple very confusing. To help them I have created the following infographic.

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Present perfect tense
Present perfect tense
Irregular verbs mind map

To learn this difficult tense you first have to learn the past participles. Regular verbs just add the ending -ed but you have to memorise the irregular ones. Here is a mind map which might help you memorise the irregular verbs first

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