Additional information:

Many of our common verbs are "irregular" such as went, ate, saw, met, swam and slept. (Most grammar textbooks will have comprehensive lists of irregular verb tenses for learners to refer to.)

  • Other verbs are "regular" and have "ed" endings. Examples of regular verbs include: danced, watched and faxed.
  • Some linguistics believe that irregular verbs are words that have generally been in the English language for a long time.
  • New words that have recently been coined almost always follow the "ed" rule. Examples include faxed and e-mailed.


graphic of an overhead projector
  • Show overhead, Grammar (Example 2).
  • Ask trainees, "How would you correct the sentences? What type of word is causing the problem (noun, verb, adjective, adverb)? What rule can be applied?"
  • Possible responses include: the phrases used to compare the two items are often worded incorrectly.
  • Give handouts, The Comparative Form and discuss.
  • Discuss the handout and the resources that trainees can use for grammatical information.


Optional component: Review of the optional portion of
Session 3 (the inductive vs. deductive approach)

  • Ask trainees: Would the following exercise be an example of inductive or deductive teaching?
  • The response should be inductive.
  • Ask trainees: What were my objectives?
  • Possible responses include: You were demonstrating that a tutor knows more grammar than she thinks.)