Hot Potato Grammar Write time expressions on the board: yesterday, now, already, since Monday, at 10 p.m., last year, before I arrived Pass a soft ball or object around while music plays. When the music stops, the student holding the object must: Pick a word or expression from the board and say a sentence with it.

Vocabulary: timeframe, ongoing, to fluctuate, to coincide, to resolve, differential diagnosis, rule out, workup, follow-up, response to treatment -Teacher presents each word in context. -Explains the meaning of the word. -Each student creates one sentence. -Teacher reformulates only when meaning is unclear.

A) Past Simple vs Past Continuous Draw a scene timeline on the board. Write and compare: -"I was examining the dog when the owner called." -"They were waiting while we prepared the room." Elicit: Which is the background action? Which is the interrupting/short event? Rule on board: -Past Continuous = background/in progress -Past Simple = completed event / interruption B) Past Simple vs Present Perfect Write time marker contrasts: -"I treated the case yesterday." -"I have treated three cases today." Elicit: finished time vs unfinished time (today/this week). Rule on board: -Past Simple = finished past time -Present Perfect = unfinished time / experience / result now C) Past Simple vs Past Perfect Draw a two-event timeline (A before B). Write: -"By the time we arrived, the symptoms had worsened." -"We arrived at 9." Rule on board: -Past Perfect = earlier past action -Past Simple = later past action (story time)

Students work individually. Teacher provides 30 items total, split into 3 mini sets: -Set 1 (10 items): Past Simple vs Past Continuous -Set 2 (10 items): Past Simple vs Present Perfect -Set 3 (10 items): Past Simple vs Past Perfect After choosing the tense, students label each item: (SCENE / TIME / ORDER) to show which rule they used. Whole-class feedback: teacher confirms and briefly explains 3 tricky ones.