Clarifying Form for Vocabulary: Example Sentences Worksheet

(TESOL Ideas--Any Vocabulary Set, Parts of Speech)

Sample: docs, pub

This is for the Clarification Stage of a Vocabulary Lesson.

It's very simple.  The students are given a worksheet containing each of the target vocabulary words in an example sentence.  Based on the grammar of the sentence, the students then have to decide what part of speech the target vocabulary is (i.e. noun, adjective, adverb, verb, etc).

My students often struggle with this, at least at first, so I talk through the first couple ones with them as examples before I let them do the rest on their own.  Then I make sure to allow time for pair-checking, and finally, I am prepared to do extra clarification and explanation during the feedback and checking stage.

It's somewhat of a guided discovery in the sense that the students are supposed to work out the parts of speech of the vocabulary words themselves, but in practice I also find there is also often a lot of teacher-centered clarification in the feedback.

This sample sheet is from Impact 3 the vocabulary lesson on pages 112-114.

Look at the underlined word in each sentence.  Write in the word form.  You can use the following code:

Noun=N

Verb=V

Adjective=Adj

anger: When you feel anger, you are upset. _________

audience: A photographer can’t be sure how an audience will react to a photo. _________

canvas: An artist paints on canvas. _________

image: The images in the magazine tell an incredible story. _________

meaningful: This old photo of my grandparents is really meaningful to me. _________

oral: Many cultures pass down stories through oral traditions. _________

portrait: Each year at school, a photographer takes students’ portraits._________

portray: This photograph portrays the love the family shared._________

represent: To me, this painting represents the artist’s feelings about the situation. _________

scene: In this rural scene, we can see trees and animals in a field. _________

shock: When you are really surprised, you may be in shock. _________

subject: Three children were the subject of the painting. _________

understanding: When we travel, we have a better understanding of how

other people live._________

visual: Visual stories can be told through painting and photography. _________

witness: After the event, witnesses talked about what they saw._________

capture: This old photograph really captures my aunt’s youth. _________

certain: Photos can create certain emotions, such as anger or sadness._________

last: Photographs help to make our memories last longer. _________

permanent: This painting is part of the museum’s permanent collection._________

Answer Key

anger: When you feel anger, you are upset. Noun

audience: A photographer can’t be sure how an audience will react to a photo. Noun

canvas: An artist paints on canvas. Noun

image: The images in the magazine tell an incredible story. Noun

meaningful: This old photo of my grandparents is really meaningful to me. Adjective

oral: Many cultures pass down stories through oral traditions. Adjective

portrait: Each year at school, a photographer takes students’ portraits.Noun

portray: This photograph portrays the love the family shared. Verb 

represent: To me, this painting represents the artist’s feelings about the situation. Verb 

scene: In this rural scene, we can see trees and animals in a field. Noun

shock: When you are really surprised, you may be in shock. Noun

subject: Three children were the subject of the painting. Noun

understanding: When we travel, we have a better understanding of how

other people live. Noun

visual: Visual stories can be told through painting and photography. Adjective

witness: After the event, witnesses talked about what they saw. Noun

capture: This old photograph really captures my aunt’s youth. Verb 

certain: Photos can create certain emotions, such as anger or sadness.Adjective

last: Photographs help to make our memories last longer. Verb 

permanent: This painting is part of the museum’s permanent collection.Adjective