ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives

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Adult ESOL Core Curriculum (DfES 2001) > Writing (W) > Writing sentence focus (Ws) > Ws/E2.2 Use adjectives > Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives 

Component skill and knowledge and understanding. 
Adults should learn to:
Example of application and level Sample  activities
Know and use the terms adjective and noun Write a short description of a person or place, or a simple comparison, e.g.: I think Chinese food is better than English cooking. China’s food is more delicious and cheaper than English food. We use many fresh vegetables – garlic, bean sprouts, bok choi, cabbage. I love Chinese food.
  • Learners read a short descriptive text, highlighting adjectives in one colour, nouns in another.
  • Using examples in speech and in texts, learners practise expanding kernel sentences, e.g.:  I live in a flat > I live in a council flat > I live in a big council flat > I live in a big council flat in Bolton.
  • Learners play language games to develop ability to expand kernel sentences, e.g. incremental drills.
  • Learners read short texts and make a list of adjectives that are used to convey the writer’s opinion, then discuss whether the writer’s attitude is favourable or not to the subject. They practise using a few of the adjectives to write sentences expressing their attitudes.
  • Learners read a range of descriptive texts and discuss the meaning of the adjectives, then complete gap-fill or multiple-choice exercises, using adjectives from the texts. 
  • Using a photograph of a person, place or object, learners suggest adjectives for describing it. They draw up a group list of possible adjectives, then choose from the list to write a short description.
  • In pairs, learners examine sentences containing adjectives used together and deduce the word order in terms of size, shape, colour, etc., then produce some sentences using more than one adjective.
  • Looking at examples of use of the comparative form of adjectives, learners identify sentence
    patterns, and group adjectives according to their comparative form. They then complete gap-fill sentences using comparative forms.
  • Learners read a short descriptive text (e.g. of a house/flat) and highlight common linguistic features, e.g. there is, there are, then write a short description of their own home, applying knowledge of adjectives and other linguistic features.
Understand how adjectives can be used to extend information, convey attitude and detail about a noun, and apply in writing
Know and use some common adjectives to describe people, places, feelings or objects
Understand word order regarding the use of adjectives in simple sentences, and use it appropriately
Know and use the comparative form of adjectives

Source: Department for Education and Skills (2001) Adult ESOL Core Curriculum, DfES (2001)

Related Functional Skills English links: FS Eng E2.20 Use adjectives and simple linking words
Related Adult Basic Skills Curriculum links: Adult Lit Ws/E2.2 Use adjectives

A Beginners / Entry 1 level set of activities to introduce and practise using adjectives within the theme of travel.

Practise vocabulary, antonyms, spelling, sentence structure and handwriting.

Editor's note

Although written for ESOL most parts of this resource are also very suitable for E1-2 Functional English. In addition to the many tasks it also provides a short overview of adjectives  and basic sentence structure . Great for the build up to summer holidays - or indeed any time of year!

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FE E1.8 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE E1.9 Read simple sentences containing one clause
FE E1.15 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 1
FE 1.16 Communicate information in words, phrases & simple sentences
FE E2.7 Read correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FE E2.16 Spell correctly words designated for Entry Level 2
FS English E2.20 Use adjectives and simple linking words
ESOL
ESOL Rw/E1.1a Recognise a limited number of words, signs and symbols
ESOL Rs/E1.1a Read and recognise simple sentence structures:
ESOL Rw/E2.2a Recognise a range of familiar words
ESOL Ws/E1.1a Construct a simple sentence, using basic word order & verb form
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives
ESOL Ww/E2.1b Use knowledge of sound–symbol relationships & phonological patterns when spelling
Context
Leisure, Hobbies, Travel & Tourism

Suits ESOL students at Entry 3+.  It creates plenty of scope for  further work e.g.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
Level 1
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E2.3f Give a short description
ESOL Sc/E3.4f Give a short description and make comparisons
ESOL Sc/L1.3e Describe and compare
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives
General ESOL
General
Generic resources for literacy, numeracy and beyond
Context
Art Film Media Music Radio TV

Used with an Entry Level 1 ESOL group.
1) Bring in some real objects such as a long red wool scarf, a green plastic bag, a small silver mobile phone. Discuss the word order used to describe them. Learners can describe their own bags, phones, and clothes as necessary and write some examples on the table.
2) Put the adjectives in order in the example sentences and check as a group.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
ESOL
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives
ESOL Ws/E1.1a Construct a simple sentence, using basic word order & verb form
ESOL Sc/E2.3f Give a short description
ESOL Sc/E1.4d Make statements of fact clearly
ESOL Sc/E1.4a Make simple statements of fact
Context
Independent living

Lovely introduction to nouns, verbs and adjectives. For E2-3 ESOL and Literacy.
Start with the PPT which is based on a very tasty bakery theme and includes information and examples for students to work through. Follow this with the handout and a highlighting exercise.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
Adult Lit Ws/E2.2 Use Adjectives
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.2 Use implicit & explicit knowledge of word types/order to help with decoding/predicting meaning
Adult Literacy Rs/E3.1 Recognise & understand the organisational features & typical language of instructional texts
ESOL
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives
ESOL Rs/E3.1b Use knowledge of syntax and grammar to work out meaning
Context
Catering Food Nutrition

A set of gap-fill / sentence writing exercises written for ESOL learners but also suitable for literacy students.

Level
Entry Level 2
English
Adult Lit Ws/E2.2 Use Adjectives
ESOL
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives

Major update June 2021 written for the Adult Literacy Core Curriculum but updated to reflect the Reformed Functional Skills English content. This PPT makes an ideal starter for an Entry Level session on adjectives and is designed to be intertwined with Emma Scotland’s worksheet of the same name (listed under See Also). Seamlessly moves from group work to paired work to individual work. Also provides useful Entry Level 1 reading practice (simple sentences).

Editor’s notes

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FS English E2.20 Use adjectives and simple linking words
FE E1.9 Read simple sentences containing one clause
Adult Lit Ws/E2.2 Use Adjectives
Functional Skills English
ESOL
ESOL Rs/E1.1a Read and recognise simple sentence structures:
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives

Major update June 2021 written in 2006 for Adult Literacy but updated and re-mapped to reflect the Reformed Functional English Content. This charming worksheet can be used alone or in conjunction with Moira Garland's PPT starter of the same name (2007, updated 2021, listed under See Also). Ideal for an Entry Level session on adjectives and also provides useful Entry Level 1 reading practice (simple sentences).

Editor’s notes

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FE E1.9 Read simple sentences containing one clause
FS English E2.20 Use adjectives and simple linking words
Adult Lit Ws/E2.2 Use Adjectives
ESOL
ESOL Rs/E1.1a Read and recognise simple sentence structures:
ESOL Ws/E2.2a Use adjectives