Grammar: 'Be' verb - is, am are

Example: MEXT is intellectually challenged.

Parts of Learning: S L

Time: 15 ~ 30 min.

Submitted by: Anonymous    Borrowed from: Anonymous     Date added: 08/06/07     Edited by: Fiona Steele

Brief Outline:  Students play the Japanese favorite Fruit Basket game using the verb ‘to be’.

Materials Needed:

• Cards for each student with a ‘be’ verb conjugation – is, am or are.

Detailed Explanation:

1. This game is played according to the regular rules of Fruit Basket.
2. After receiving one of the ‘be’ conjugations, the students sit in a circle.
3. One student stands in the middle of the circle and calls out any noun – I, we, he, she, Bob, dog, etc. The players wearing the verb conjugation that corresponds with that noun - 'is' corresponds with he whereas 'am' does not - stand and switch places.
4. The last student standing must then make a sentence with the noun and verb combo just used – He is a baseball player.
   5. Once completed, the student calls out the next noun.

Tips or Cautions:

• This activity requires the students have a fair grasp how verbs and nouns work together in the English language, so this is best used as a review game.