General Adjectives

Objective & content

This A2 sheet on general-purpose adjectives asks students to draw a line between each word and the word that means the opposite, in pairs such as correct / wrong and modern / old-fashioned. Eight words stand in the left column and their partners, in a different order, in the right column; page 2 holds the answer key.

Pedagogical guide

Matching is a recognition task, not a production one, so it suits the lesson in which the words are introduced as well as later revision. Four pairs are built with a prefix (possible / impossible, legal / illegal, usual / unusual, formal / informal), so use them to show the patterns im-, il-, un- and in-. The other four (correct / wrong, simple / complex, public / private, modern / old-fashioned) have to be learnt as pairs.

Suggested procedure

1. (5 min) Read both columns aloud and ask which words students already know. Do not explain yet.
2. (10 min) Students work alone in pencil and draw the lines they are sure of first; the leftovers then fall into place. Lines may be redrawn.
3. (5 min) Pairs compare sheets and defend any line they disagree on.
4. (5 min) Check with the answer key on page 2, then ask each student for one sentence that uses both words of a pair.

Adaptations

[S] Cover the lower half of the right column so that students face only four choices at a time, then uncover the rest.

[A] Students write one sentence per pair that uses both words, or add one more opposite pair of their own.

Materials & prerequisites

One printed copy of page 1 per student and a pencil; keep page 2, the answer key, for yourself.