Stardust: Adverbs x Adjectives

This is a funny scene with Robert de Niro in great shape. The movie wasn't such a great blockbuster because it had been advertised as a new Harry Potter, which made people reject it. It is a good movie, though. It has nothing to do with Harry Potter. I used this scene to talk about stereotypes, activating the students' schemata, in order for them to practice when to use adjectives or adverbs in a sentence. The task is simple, but effective. The correct answers are in green. A. Talk to a partner about the following questions:

1 - Do you consider the first impression the most important one? Justify your answer.

2 - Do you think people have a correct idea of your personality just by looking at you, your physical appearance and clothes? Explain it.

3 - What are some personality traits a doctor must have? Name at least 5 adjectives.

4 - What about a teacher?

5 - Did you have a different opinion about your teacher's personality in the beginning of the term? Why (not)? What made you change your mind?


B. Write down six adjectives you would use to describe the captain of a ship. What are some important features he must have?

1 - ......................................
2 - .......................................
3 - ......................................
4 - .....................................
5 - ........................................
6 - ......................................

C. Watch the video segment and check which of the adjectives you chose in the previous exercise actually describe Captain Shakespeare?


D. Now choose the correct form of the words (adjectives or adverbs) in the sentences below.

1) Capitain Shakespeare has a fearsome/ fearsomely reputation.

2) While putting on some makeup, the Captain moved his head gentle / gently.

3) The fighters handled their swords elegant / elegantly.

4) While everyone was fighting violent / violently on the deck of the ship, Capitain Shakespeare was dancing graceful / gracefully in his cabin.

5) Capitain Shakespeare's dancing was awkward / awkwardly.

6) He looked unhappy / unhappily after his friends saw him with those ridiculous clothes.

How to prepare your own video activity:

- Choose an attractive scene with action.

- Write down sentences about the film with adjectives or adverbs for the students to select the correct one.

- Make sure you use action and stative verbs about the segment. Doing so, the students will have the choice for both adjectives and adverbs.






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