Classroom Language

Hook

Before the grammar starts, you need a handful of instruction words. They appear in almost every lesson, worksheet and video, in this course and in any English class. Learn them once and every exercise becomes easier to follow.

Notice

  • Listen and repeat.
  • Read the text.
  • Look at the picture.
  • Write the answer.
  • Match the words to the pictures.
  • Complete the sentences.
  • Circle the correct word.
  • Work with a partner.

What do all these sentences have in common? Look at the first word.

Rule

These are instructions (imperatives). We make them with the base form of the verb and no subject: Listen. Write. Look. To tell someone not to do something, add Don’t: Don’t write in the book.

InstructionWhat you do
Matchconnect two things that go together (a word and a picture)
Complete / Fill in the gapwrite the missing word in the space ___
Circle / Underlinedraw a circle around / a line under the answer
Tick / Cross✓ = yes, correct; ✗ = no, wrong
Choosepick one answer: a, b or c

Useful things to say in class: Can you repeat that, please? · What does “…” mean? · How do you say “…” in English? · I don’t understand.

Watch Out

  • ✗ You listen and repeat. → ✓ Listen and repeat. (instructions have no subject)
  • ✗ No write in the book. → ✓ Don’t write in the book.
  • ✗ What means “match”? → ✓ What does “match” mean?

Practice

  1. “___ and repeat.”
  2. “___ your book at page 5.”
  3. “___ the correct word: am / is.”
  4. “___ the words to the pictures.”
  5. Make it negative: “Write in the book.”
  6. True or false: an instruction like “Listen” needs a subject (“You listen”).
  7. You don’t know a word. What do you ask?
  8. Your teacher speaks too fast. What do you say?
Show the answers
  1. Listen
  2. Open
  3. Circle / Choose
  4. Match
  5. Don’t write in the book.
  6. False
  7. What does “…” mean?
  8. Can you repeat that, please?

Your Turn

Write five instructions you might see on a worksheet, using five different verbs from this lesson. Then write one sentence you can use when you don’t understand.

Connect

Our Sentence Builder gives you the words of a sentence in the wrong order. Follow the instruction “Put the words in order” and build it.

Try our Sentence Builder →

CEFR A1 — Listening: I can understand instructions addressed carefully and slowly to me and follow short, simple directions.

Azizul Hakim
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