Eileen Eileen

Expressions of Existence

Description

This lesson introduces expressions of existence in the present and past using there is / there are / there was / there were. Students learn how to describe the presence, absence, and quantity of objects, places, and resources in both current and past contexts. The lesson moves from controlled accuracy work to meaningful spoken production using realistic scenarios.

Materials

Abc Board
Abc Exercises
Abc Printed materials
Abc Projector

Main Aims

  • To talk successfully about the existence and descriptions of things in English.

Subsidiary Aims

  • To distinguish between singular/plural and present/past forms.
  • To improve sentence accuracy when describing environments and situations.
  • To integrate new grammar with topic-related vocabulary.
  • To increase fluency when talking about availability and conditions.

Procedure

Activation (25-30 minutes) • Encourage spontaneous speaking and lower affective filter.

Write 8-10 "Would you rather...?" questions on the board (unrelated to existence grammar), e.g.: Would you rather work at night or early in the morning? Would you rather live in the city or the countryside? Students work in pairs. They must: Choose an option Give a reason Ask their partner a follow-up question Monitor for fluency only; no correction at this stage. Brief whole-class sharing (2-3 answers).

Vocabulary (12-15 minutes) • Build lexical support for talking about quantity, care, and routines.

Vocabulary: quantity, portion size, container, bottle, can, diet type, feeding schedule, water intake, hydration level, litter box. Present each word with: Clear definition One example sentence from the teacher After each word, nominate one student to produce a sentence aloud. Reformulate gently if needed, without long explanations. Students write the words and one example sentence in their notebooks.

Presentation (30-35 minutes) • Clarify structure, meaning, and time reference.

On the board, write four model sentences: There is a bottle on the table. There are two containers in the fridge. There was a problem yesterday. There were many students absent. Elicit: Singular vs. plural Present vs. past Highlight forms: There is / There was - singular & uncountable There are / There were - plural Show negatives: There isn't / There wasn't There aren't / There weren't Show questions: Is there...? / Are there...? Was there...? / Were there...?

Exercises (25-30 minutes) • Develop grammatical accuracy through controlled practice of there is / there are / there was / there were.

The teacher asks students to work individually. The teacher explains that the goal of this activity is accuracy, not speed. Students complete Exercise A first: They read each sentence carefully. They choose the correct option (e.g. is/are, was/were), paying attention to: Singular vs. plural nouns Present vs. past time references When students finish Exercise A, they compare answers in pairs. The teacher checks Exercise A as a whole class, eliciting answers from students and writing the correct form on the board Students then move on to Exercise B. The teacher explains that students must: Rewrite each sentence as either a negative or a question, following the instructions. Students complete Exercise B individually. Students compare their rewritten sentences with a partner, checking form and word order. The teacher conducts whole-class feedback: Students read their sentences aloud. The teacher confirms or reformulates answers on the board. The teacher draws attention to: Correct auxiliary use (is / are / was / were) Correct word order in questions Use of any in negatives and questions when relevant.

Controlled Practice (8-10 minutes) • Reinforce present vs. past distinction.

Say a time expression aloud (e.g. now, yesterday, last week, today). Students orally produce one sentence using there + correct tense. Correct only tense/form errors briefly.

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