TEACHER’S NOTES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S A Fun but Challenging Game

Activity Type Introduction

Grammar and Vocabulary In this noun phrases game, students complete sentences by
Game: matching, gap-fill creating noun phrases with adjective pairs and but.
(group work)
Procedure
Focus Divide the students into groups of four, comprising of two teams
of two (Team A and B).
Complex noun phrases
containing adjective pairs Give each group a copy of the worksheet and a set of noun cards.
and but
Ask the students to shuffle the cards and place them face-down
in a pile on the table.
Aim
Explain that the students are going to play a game where they
To complete sentences match nouns with adjective pairs to form noun phrases with but
by creating noun phrases in order to complete sentences.
with adjective pairs and
but. Teams then take turns picking up a noun card from the pile and
placing it face-up on the table, e.g. town.

Preparation That team has one minute to choose a sentence where they
think the noun belongs and form a noun phrase using one of the
Make one copy of the adjective pairs with but between the adjectives.
worksheet and one set of
cards for each group of The team then writes the noun phrase in the sentence, labelling
four, cutting the cards out it A or B, e.g. It's in a remote but charming town called Aliston...'
as indicated.
Once a sentence has been completed, it's the other team's turn
to play.
Level If, after one minute, a team hasn't found a matching sentence
Upper-intermediate (B2) and adjective pair, the other team can choose to use the noun or
place it back at the bottom of the pile and pick up another card.

Time The game continues until all the sentences have been completed.

30 minutes Afterwards, elicit the correct answers from the class.

Teams score a point for each correct answer and subtract a point
for each incorrect answer. The team with the most points wins
the game.

Answer key

1. remote but charming town 11. hot but refreshing beverage

2. cheap but dirty means 12. long but comfortable flight
3. cute but greedy puppy 13. short but happy marriage
4. slow but steady progress 14. long but gripping book
5. simple but tasty meal 15. sour but juicy apple
6. moist but well-drained soil 16. cold but gentle breeze
7. clever but lazy boy 17. independent but loving pets
8. popular but rough sport 18. serious but stable condition
9. small but strong athlete 19. strong but tasty coffee
10. tiny but vicious insects 20. patient but overworked nurse

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 NOUN PHRASES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S A Fun but Challenging Game

long / gripping remote / charming simple / tasty small / strong

sour / juicy patient / overworked slow / steady popular / rough

long / comfortable cold / gentle short / happy tiny / vicious

cheap / dirty clever / lazy independent / loving strong / tasty

cute / greedy moist / well-drained hot / refreshing serious / stable

1. It's in a ................................................. called Aliston, not far from the border. ......

2. Coal is a ................................................. of heating your home in the winter. ......

3. The ................................................. ate all the other dog's food. ......

4. He's made ................................................. this term. You should be proud of him. ......

5. He made a ................................................. using vegetables from our garden. ......

6. ................................................. is vital for healthy plant growth. ......

7. The ................................................. could do much better in school if he tried. ......

8. Rugby is a ................................................. that originated in England. ......

9. The ................................................. was able to lift three times his own weight. ......

10. Fleas are ................................................. that can give a nasty bite. ......

11. Tea is a ................................................. that is made from the leaves of plants. ......

12. It was a ................................................. that took just over 16 hours. ......

13. He had a .................................................to a woman from Japan. ......

14. I read a ................................................. about a murder in the mountains. ......

15. The ................................................. made my hands wet and sticky. ......

16. A ................................................. entered the room when I opened the door. ......

17. Cats are ................................................., and they make very good companions. ......

18. She's in ................................................. and is expected to make a full recovery. ......

19. I drank a very ................................................. on my way to work. ......

20. The ................................................. was doing her best to look after her patients. ......

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 NOUN PHRASES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S A Fun but Challenging Game

soil progress

means marriage

apple sport

insects flight

puppy meal

pets coffee

beverage breeze

nurse condition

boy book

athlete town

Teach-This.com © 2022 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.