Sentence Swap: Verbs with Prepositions

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This is a peer teaching lesson plan for C1+ students in which students teach and test each other on verbs with dependent prepositions. You will need the cards and worksheet below:

Sentence swap verbs with preps

verbs-and-prepositions-worksheet update

Preparation

Cut out the cards, fold them over and stick them together so that one side shows the gapped sentence and the other shows the answer. I chose to laminate them for future reuse.

Procedure

Peer testing + teaching

Give out one card to each student. I designed this of a class of 16 so it worked out as one each, for smaller groups either give students 2 each or split the activity over two classes.

Explain to students that they are going to test their partner’s knowledge of verbs with prepositions. They must read the gapped sentence to their partner who must try to guess the preposition. If they can’t do it then the “teacher” shows them they answer. Then they swap roles.

After both students have taught their verb + prep, students swap cards with their partner and find a new partner. They then repeat the process. They continue until they have been tested and taught on all the verb/preposition combinations.

Worksheet

Hand out the worksheet and have students complete the first exercise in pairs.

Students can task check themselves, further reducing teacher talk time, the person holding the card for the first sentence holds it up and calls out the correct answer for everyone to check.

Personalisation

Students then complete the sentences with the correct preposition and some information about themselves. Do a few examples to set the ball rolling and encourage them to share:

I sometimes boast about my cooking abilities.

My problem with my attention span stems from using social media too much.

Worksheet

Sentence Completion

Which verb and preposition combinations can you remember?

1.       The school provided me ______ all the materials I needed for the course.

2.       The car slid on the icy road and crashed ______ the parked car.

3.       He was so engrossed _____ his book that he missed his metro stop.

4.       He succeeded _____ playing the symphony without making any errors.

5.       I think you would benefit _____ spending a few weeks in an English speaking country.

6.       The cute guy kept glancing _____ me during the lecture.

7.       He’s so big-headed, he’s always boasting _____ something he has done. (boast=jactarse)

8.       I don’t know where she is I’m a little concerned _______ her.

9.       I’m sorry but this theme park doesn’t cater _____ little babies. (Cater = atender)

10.   We bought a big dog to deter people _____ robbing our house. (deter = disuadir/impedir)

11.   I’m not sure but I think the problem stems _____ a lack of car parking spaces in the city centre. (stem = originate/come)

12.   I suspect him ____ having cheated in the exam, but I have no proof.

13.   Scientists attribute the melting ice caps _____ global warming.  (attribute = atribuir)

14.   Messi prides himself ____ his ability to run past any player. (pride yourself = enorgullercerse de)

15.   He’s a surgeon, he specialises _____ feet and ankles.

16.   Please refrain _____ using mobiles in the library. (refrain=abstenerse)

17.   They charged me €15 _____ a sandwich and a bag of crisps!

 

Personalise

Complete the sentences with the correct preposition and some information about you.

1. I sometimes boast _______ _______________________________________________.
2. I pride myself ______ ___________________________________________________.
3. My school provides me _______ ________________________________________.
4. If I were a teacher, I would specialise _____ __________________________________.
5. The best way to deter people _______ cheating in exams is _____________________.
6. I suspect _________ (a person) _____ (preposition) __________________________.
7. Sometimes I’m so engrossed _____ __________________________ that I ________________________.
8. My problem with ________________ stems ________ _________________________.
9. I’m a bit concerned ________ ________________________________________.
10. I find it difficult to refrain _______ _______________________________________.

Cards

The school provided me ______ all the materials I needed for the course.	With
The car slid on the icy road and crashed ______ the parked car.	Into
He was so engrossed _____ his book that he missed his metro stop.	In
He succeeded _____ playing the symphony without making any errors.	In
I think you would benefit _____ spending a few weeks in an English speaking country.	From
The cute guy kept glancing _____ me during the lecture.	At
He’s so big-headed, he’s always boasting _____ something he has done. (boast=show off/say how great you are)	About
I don’t know where she is I’m a little concerned _______ her.	About
I’m sorry but this theme park doesn’t cater _____ little babies. (Cater = atender)	For
We bought a big dog to deter people _____ robbing our house. (deter = disuadir/impedir)	From
I’m not sure but I think the problem stems _____ a lack of car parking spaces in the city centre. (stem = originate/come)	From
I suspect him ____ having cheated in the exam, but I have no proof.	Of
Scientists attribute the melting ice caps _____ global warming.  (attribute = atribuir)	To
Messi prides himself ____ his ability to run past any player. (pride yourself = enorgullercerse de)	On
He’s a surgeon, he specialises _____ feet and ankles.	In
Please refrain _____ using mobiles in the library. (refrain=abstenerse)	From
They charged me €15 _____ a sandwich and a bag of crisps!	For