1.

Context- based differences:

a) Mathematics and English- comparison of adjectives:

This is the better option.(= there are two to choose from)

This is the best option. (= more than two to choose from)

b) “to be or not to be”- comparison of adjectives:

She bought me a DVD with Elvis’s last movie.

The latest performance by Brad Pitt that caught critics’ attention was in “The Curious
Case of Benjamin Button”( ! multiple/ side context emerges, by arising audience’s
interest in entertainment and showbiz)

b’) “to be or not to be”- tenses of the indicative:

b “)”pampering” Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Continuous

Choose:

Has Carol pampered herself with a nice warm bath or has she been pampering herself
with a nice warm bath?
Has carol typed her article or has Carol been typing her article?
Has Carol just unpacked or has she been unpacking?
Has Carol had soup or has Carol been having soup for dinner?

1c) Odd one out( can be used in assessment classes) :

have/ had/ been/ have got

midwife/ roof/ knife/ leaf
conduct/ mirror/ spot/ know
impossible/ irresistible/ speechless/ uncountable
news/ scissors/ measles/ trousers
must have/ know how/ no way/ chit chat

1d) generate confidence- teach new structures as if they were not new; for example:
making wishes is pretty common; using subjunctive mood to make wishes may take
some students aback; remind them:

“Bless you!”
“God save the Queen!”
“(May) Peace be with you!”,

then ask them to write wishes cards/ birthday cards etc. in which to use certain
grammatical input.
2a. Computer- induced errors:
• labelling> labeling
• programme> program
• travelling> traveling
• realise> realize
• contextualise> contextualize
• honour> honor
• colour> color
• neighbour( ing)> neighbor(ing).

2b. Media/ Context(!well, socio- cultural context) – induced errors:

* “Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone”( Bill Withers track)

* “I don’t have nothing”/ “I don’t know nobody”.

3. Argue whether mistakes of any kind can prove valuable for the learning/ teaching
process ; sometimes, coining new terms or changing words, apart from constituting a
very useful and rewarding creative process have stylistic effect as well. An effect – and a
context- that the author (student) alone is allowed to take pride in.

Task

Skills involved: writing, speaking

Suggest antonyms for the following: rich-___________________

join-___________________
up- ____________________,
then use them to fill the gaps:

Excess is _______________(1) in effect.

_____________(2) the harmony of beliefs, climb_______________(3) your depth and
see what lies there, hidden from mind and reason.

Ask them to read what they obtain, put down the most effective combinations and use
them in a paragraph of their own.