=> GRAMMAR BRAIN TWISTER
=> QUICK LIST OF TOPICS
=> ANSWER: Grammar Brain Twister
=> In the Next Issue

—————————————————————
GRAMMAR BRAIN TWISTER
—————————————————————

Here’s a kind of puzzle that you can use as a warm-up
in class. Write these two unfinished sentences on the board:

1. I told that..

2. I said that…

Now finish each sentence. One time. Use whatever
words you like. Just make sure they’re correct.

(Answers are after the “Quick List of Topics”)

—————————————————————
QUICK LIST OF TOPICS
—————————————————————

<>Let your students choose from this list of topics. They can
write about them–in class or at home. Or, if you like,
go ahead and develop them into speak activities.

1. Recount an intriguing, unusual, or comical event that
occurred while you were riding a trolleybus, tram, bus,
train, or airplane.

2. Describe an interesting occurrence at a disco or a club.

3. Where were you this last summer? At a camp? Working?
America? Say what was great or disappointing about your summer.

4. Who is your most unusual relative? Describe why he or she is
interesting and unusual in details.

5. Describe an encounter you had with some creature–an animal
or insects? What happened? Was it terrible, interesting,
disgusting, or lovely?

6. Describe a dream, the kind you have when you sleep. How
often do you dream? How often do you have nightmares?
Describe your last dream, or your strangest dream, or your
all-time favorite dream.

7. Do you think people have the right to own guns? Would you like
to have a gun in your house? Do you have a gun in your house?

8. Are you social or solitary? Would you like to live alone? How
many hours do you need to be alone every day? If you were
married (or if you ARE married) would you like to have a
separate bedroom from your spouse?

9. Hobbies. Einstein collected suitcases. Kevin collects
photographs that he finds on the street. Do you know
anyone with an unusual hobby? Do you have a hobby?

10. Describe your first date, or the first time you met a boy/girl
romantically. Or describe a really bad date.

11. What was the best time of your life? Tell about it. Be
specific. Why was it so great?

12. What’s your favorite holiday? Why? What foods do people
eat and drink during this holiday? What customs are there?

13. Talk/write about the most interesting pet you’ve had, or that
you’ve known. What things did it used to do? How was it
different from other pets?

14. What’s your earliest memory? Describe it in as much detail
as possible.

15. Tell us about a really cool movie that hasn’t been made,
or even thought of. In other words, invent the plot to
a film and describe it. Say who the stars are. Use
your imagination.

————————————————————–
ANSWERS: Grammar Brain Twister
————————————————————–

Some possible answers…

1. I told that dumb man to shut his mouth.
I told that policeman I was innocent.
I told that old woman a lie.

You usually “tell” SOMEONE SOMETHING.
The word “that” in these sentences is a demonstrative
adjective and needs to be followed by a noun.

2. I said that I was hungry.
I said that love is blind.
I said that it wasn’t my fault.
* I said that.
* I said that badly.

You usually “say” SOMETHING to SOMEONE.
The word “that” is a conjunction here; it joins
two parts of the sentence.

*In these last examples “that” functions as a
demonstrative pronoun.

<> HOW TO USE BRAIN TWISTER IN CLASS

1. You don’t need to explain any grammar.
Just give your students the puzzle. Allow a
few minutes for them to work.

2. Make two columns on the board, one for
“I told that,” one for “I said that.”

3. Ask students for their sentences. If the
sentence is right, put it on the board. If
incorrect, (for example “I told that I was hungry),
don’t write it on the board.

4. Once you have two lists of correct examples,
ask students to find a pattern. They’ll find the
rule all by themselves.

*Avoid “I said that badly”
unless a student happens to provide a
similar example.

————————————————————–
IN THE NEXT ISSUE: (Sept. 5, 2002)
————————————————————–

Latin in English–
ad infinitum (without end).