Get rid of your cards!
Point:
Minimum level:
Game type:
Approximate time:
past tense endings
intermediate
52 cards showing different verbs in past tense for four players
20 minutes
:
Rules
1 Play this game in
groups of four. Deal
the same number of
cards to each player.
2 Take turns to place
cards on the table in
front of oneself.
3 When two players
show verbs that have
the same past tense
endings, /id/, /d/ or
/t/, they should read
aloud the other’s
word correctly as
soon as possible. The
slower player has to
take all the displayed
cards from that
opponent.
Preparation
Copy and cut out a set of cards for each group of students in
class.
Presentation
1 Write the following three verbs on the board:
pick
want
love
2 Point out that verbs that have different spelling have their past
tense markers pronounced in different ways:
Verbs that end in t or d Æ /id/
Verbs that end in voiced consonants Æ /d/
Verbs that end in voiceless consonants Æ /t/;
3 Ask students to give examples of verbs that have different
past tense markers to check their understanding.
4 Pick several cards from the game to demonstrate to students.
Conducting the game
1 Divide the class into groups of four and give each group a set
of cards.
2 Explain the rules.
3 When students have finished, do a quick revision of some of
the verbs in the game and ask students to read after.
Key
/id/: decided, hated, patted, waited, tasted, interested, rested, aided,
wasted, handed, ended, wanted, sorted, aspirated, folded
4 To win the game,
/d/: robbed, heard, hugged, rolled, slammed, played, banned, waved,
players should keep
bowed, buzzed, read, carried, coughed, begged, loved, tried, mixed
as few cards as
possible in the end.
/t/: finished, rocked, soaked, laughed, dropped, washed, dressed,
hoped, washed, jumped, walked, talked, cooked, slept, worked, liked,
smoked, missed, wished, sipped
Make your own versions
You can think out some other verbs and play the game with your
friends!
Rules
1 Play this game in groups of four. Deal the same number of cards to each player.
2 Take turns to place cards on the table in front of oneself.
3 When two players show verbs that have the same past tense endings, /id/, /d/ or /t/, they
should read aloud the other’s word correctly as soon as possible. The slower player has to take
all the displayed cards from that opponent.
4 To win the game, players should keep as few cards as possible in the end.
decided
hated
robbed
heard
finished
rocked
cooked
slept
patted hugged soaked worked
waited
rolled
mixed
liked
tasted slammed laughed smoked
interested played
rested banned
aided
waved
dropped
washed
dressed
begged
loved
tried
missed
wished
sipped
wasted
handed
ended
bowed
buzzed
read
hopped
washed
jumped
wanted
carried
walked aspirated
sorted
coughed
taught
folded