Question on directions for an exercise

Question

Hi teachers,Are these acceptable directions? they are for Scrambled Sentences.Put the words in the correct order to have an affirmative sentence based on the shady bold word.1_____________________________________________________________________areissomeanythethereshelfbooksnotonaanThanks in advance.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

'Shaded', not 'shady'.
Does it need to be both shaded and bold?

I don't understand what 'based on the shaded bold word' means.
Why not just say 'Put the words in the correct order to have an affirmative sentence' ?

This seems to me like a very difficult exercise. I looked at it briefly and I couldn't do it.

I also feel that such exercises do little to help students to improve their English skills. In the real world, when and why would a person ever want to do a thing like this? But it's your teaching decision, of course, not mine.

Clive

Tenacious Learner · Answer

CliveHi,'Shaded', not 'shady'.Does it need to be both shaded and bold? Not really, it can only be shaded.

I don't understand what 'based on the shaded bold word' means. They have 'shelf' and 'books' in the 'scrambled game'. How do they know about the subject of the sentence?
This seems to me like a very difficult exercise. I looked at it briefly and I couldn't do it. I also feel that such exercises do little to help students to improve their English skills. I have already done it in class, and the students liked it very much. It's just a game, not the real word. Aren't there many exercises in English with 'Scrambled Sentences'? Are they that bad?

Hi Clive,
Thank you for you reply and comments. See above for mine. Is there a better way for the exercise? They have learnt 'there is/are' and the quantity words 'some and any'. The 'scrambled sentences' that I give them, have already been done in class in the right order.

Thanks

Clive · Answer

Hi,

If you want 'books' to be the subject, then I suggest using 'books' as the subject.

As I said, it's your choice. You know what is best for your students.

Clive

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Clive,
Thank you for your reply and suggestion.

Best,
TS

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