Word choice: Activity 1

What word would you place in the blank slot?

  • She
    wore
    the
    most
    beautiful
    BLANK
  • After
    the
    rain
    had
    stopped
    we
    BLANK
  • The
    things
    they
    had
    shouted
    made
    him
    very
    BLANK

How did you decide?

  • Meaning - Which words make sense?
  • Grammar - Which words are allowed?

It is ungrammatical to say:

  • She wore the most beautiful happy.
  • After the rain had stopped we car.
  • The things they had shouted made him very unfortunately.

It is grammatical to say the following, but the meaning is a bit silly:

  • She wore the most beautiful elephant.
  • After the rain had stopped we exploded.
  • The things they had shouted made him very invisible.

  • She
    wore
    the
    most
    beautiful
    BLANK

In this example, we would probably expect to see a noun.

  • Did you come up with a noun?
  • Is it possible to insert any other word classes?
  • Is it possible to insert a plural noun? A possessive noun?

  • After
    the
    rain
    had
    stopped
    we
    BLANK

In this example, we would probably expect to see a verb in the past tense.

  • Did you come up with a verb in the past tense?
  • Is it possible to insert a noun or adjective?
  • Is it possible to insert a verb that isn't in the past tense?

  • The
    things
    they
    had
    shouted
    made
    him
    very
    BLANK

In this example, we would expect to see an adjective.

  • Did you come up with an adjective?
  • Is it possible insert a different word class?
  • Can the adjective be in comparative form (with -er) or superlative form (with -est)?

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