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Using Film
Posters in the Classroom
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"Without grammar
very little can be conveyed; without vocabulary nothing can be
conveyed." (Wilkins 1972:III)
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Until very recently the teaching of vocabulary
has lagged behind other advances in ELT; even communicative approaches still ignore the
preoccupation that students show when trying to express their feelings, ideas, or needs.
The following activity is an attempt to combat this "lack" of lexical content.
The objective is to help students to understand new vocabulary and to raise their
awareness of both the position of words in the structure of the sentence and their
grammatical patterns and combinations.
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The activity is based upon the assumption that
vocabulary learning should be integrated with grammar. The issue of the relationship
between grammar and vocabulary has been discussed in depth, and there is a growing
interest in a lexicogrammatical approach as an important part of the language learning
syllabus (Willis 1990, Hoey 1991, Owen 1993, Lewis 1993), yet very little has actually
been put into practice. Such an approach will produce an important improvement in
vocabulary learning.
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The pedagogical process towards this end should
take into account the following points:
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- Finding a suitable context and text. Learners need to be presented with an
adequate text type which depicts the specific features of the language which we want to
analyse. This "genre-based" approach should make students aware of the
linguistic and contextual aspects of the text.
Presenting and learning words in context is a vital factor for mastery. It should be noted
that in recent years discourse analysis has been concerned both with the features that
connect language with context and with how bits of text fit together coherently and form
patterns (McCarthy 1990). These patterns are organised through lexical cohesion, words
which form chains within a particular topic in a certain context.
- Making vocabulary learning enjoyable and stimulating. Learning vocabulary
will increase with activities that appeal to learners' personal interests. For this
reason, an activity related to films has been chosen, as we assume that most teenagers are
"movie-goers" and like to read about films before going to the cinema. Producing
film reviews in a posterlike format to arouse students' interest in the type of film,
plot, and characters could be a good way to introduce discourse.
- Using activities to involve learners and to develop a real sensitivity towardsthe
language. To raise learners' awareness of the lexical items of a language, their
meanings, and their lexical relations, content schemata (i.e., background knowledge) has
to be activated since this serves to relate and match old and new knowledge. Associating
words in semantic fields can also help to facilitate recall. Furthermore, by using texts
as our basic format, these activities may provide wide exposure to appropriate models of
the written language.
- Helping students to understand words and use them in real situations.
Learners should be able to use the lexical items actively to improve communication.
Vocabulary cannot be taught in isolation. The skills of reading, writing, speaking, and
listening should be integrated if we are to aim at real vocabulary acquisition.
- Sensitizing learners to grammatical structures. Grammar is part of a
larger interrelated whole which includes discourse, semantics, and
"grammatization" (the process of achieving linguistic expressions through
recourse to grammatical rules). Thus, our approach to grammar is meaning-focused,
contextualized, and text-based. Grammar is best learnt through activities that encourage
students to discover a particular grammar point. Learners thus become analysts and
inductively discover rules or make their own generalisations (R. Ellis 1993).
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The poster-based activity should deal with the
acquisition of specific vocabulary to be used in certain situations, taking into
consideration the semantic field and the position of words in the structure of the
sentence. Poster-like film reviews are particularly suitable to develop discourse
activities since this type of discourse is rich in grammatical structures such as noun
phrases. It is hoped that this will help learners to recognise them and to clarify their
meaning.
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This activity has been designed for intermediate
students who have covered most of the basic grammatical structures. Although they are
acquainted with noun phrases in a very general way, they are not fully aware of the
different combinations in complex and specific texts. From a grammatical point of view,
the goal of the activity is to sensitize learners to the problematic area of compound
nouns. There is some conclusive evidence that L2 learners often have particular problems
with word constructions, even at fairly advanced levels, since this grammatical structure
is quite different from that of their mother tongue. Consequently, L2 learners either need
further exposure to English or additional grammatical instruction.
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Here we propose an activity which progresses
from discourse to semantics and to grammar awareness. The film activity follows this
article.
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Carmen
Perez Basanta teaches ELT methodology at the University of Granada. She is also
the editor of GRETA, a journal for teachers of English in Andalusia, Spain. |
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Return
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- Cook, G. 1992. Discourse. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Ellis, R. 1993. The structural syllabus and second language acquisition. TESOL
Quarterly, 27, 1, pp. 91- 113.
- Hoey, M. 1991. Patterns of lexis in text. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Lewis, M. 1993. The lexical approach. London: LTP.
- McCarthy, M. 1990. Vocabulary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Owen, C. 1993. Corpus-based grammar and the Heineken effect: Lexico-grammatical
description for language learners. Applied Linguistics, 10, 2, pp. 167-480.
- Sharwood-Smith, M. 1982. Consciousness-raising and the second language learner. Applied
Linguistics, 11, 2. pp. 159-169.
- Willis, D. 1990. The lexical syllabus. London and Glasgow: Collins Co-build.
- Wilkins, P. 1972. Linguistics and language teaching. London: Edward Arnold.
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"THELMA & LOUISE"
a perceptive, amusing, provocative film.
A hugely enjoyable film that manages to make its leading ladies more than appendages of
their leading men. Here Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon give stunning performances as two
wise- cracking, fast-living ladies escaping from a life of sheer drudgery onto the open
roads of beautifully photographed America.
Director: Ridley Scott
An Unmissable February Treat |
Hamlet
Mel Gibson in the English language's most exacting role, gives an excellent performance
as the tortured Dane.
Glenn Close as the Queen.
Franco Zefirelli, probably the greatest director of the bard's works on the screen.
With solid support from a host of British greats: Paul Scoffield, Alan Bates, Ian Holm,
et al.
A good adaptation of Shakespeare with an intelligently
pruned-down screenplay |
The Silence of the Lambs
(A Blockbuster)
A multi-Oscar winning thriller featuring a truly spine-tingling performance by Anthony
Hopkins as Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter.
Jodie Foster stars as FBI apprentice Clarice Starling, who, in attempting to track down a brutal
serial killer, turns to imprisoned psychiatrist Lecter for a unique insight into
the workings of the psychotic mind.
Director: Jonathan Demme
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GREEN CARD
Romatic comedy with the hulking Gerard Depardieu
as a bohemian Frenchman who enters into a business marriage with a green-thumbed New York
career girl, Andie McDowell, so that he can obtain
the green card, and she can hang onto her apartment. They go their separate ways, but an
investigation by the government forces them together.
Dead Poet's Society Director: Peter
Weir |
Gawain and the
Green Knight
When King Arthur kept his Christmas Court with the Round Table at Camelot:
Jufted ful jolile gentnle fniztef, fsthen fayred to the court carolef to mate.
Gawain is challenged by the
Green Knight
An interesting interpretation of the mysterious Arthurian legend about the gallant
knight and his supernatural opponent. The jewel of medieval romance is the story of
Gawain's victory in a trial of his chastity and trustworthiness. |
Jayne Eyre
(C. Bronte's gothic novel)
"It is a very strange sensation to inexperienced youth to feel itself quite
alone in the world."
A young orphan girl takes the position of a governess to the daughter of a mysterious
Mr. Rochester, master of a large and eerie mansion on the Yorkshire moors. Will she
receive the same harsh treatment she had as a child, or will she find the love she has
longed for? And what dark secret is hidden at the top of the house?
A wonderfully stylish and
atmospheric production
Cast: Orson Welles and Jane Fontaine |
Agatha Christie's
Suspense Thriller
"The Mirror Crack'd"
"She looked down to Camelot. Out flew the
web and floated web. The mirror crack'd from side to side: The curse is upon me, cried the
lady of Shalott"
A. Tennyson
The typical Agatha Christie whodunnit game begins when an American actress is murdered
on a movie set in the English countryside. The deceptively ladylike detective, Miss
Marples, solves the mystery.
All-Star Cast:
Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Geraldine Chaplin, Kim Novak, Angela Landsbury, Tony
Curtis, Edward Fox
Directed by Guy Hamilton |
Pride and Prejudice
"It is a truth universally acknowledged,
that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want
of a wife"
BBC production of Jane Austen's classic novel. Highly acclaimed for
the strength of characterization and
beauty of location.
Eternally fascinating Elizabeth Bennet and proud aristocrat Mr. Darcy in a drama which
evolves into a strong clash of personalities.
A wonderfully-acted comedy
Directed by C. Cook |
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Compilation of a set of eight poster-like film
reviews. The texts have been adapted from authentic film reviews.
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1. Pre-text. (Strategy: Activating
schemata, guiding students to understand discourse)
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Think of different films which could be
classified as:
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| love story |
tear-jerker |
| whodunnit |
thriller |
| yarn |
remake |
| chiller |
historical |
| drama |
swashbuckler |
| blockbuster |
side-splitter |
| animated version |
screwball comedy |
| romantic comedy |
western |
| melodrama |
epic |
| musical |
spoof |
| blood and gore |
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(Use your dictionary if necessary.)
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2. What do the titles of the posters tell
you about the films?
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(Strategy: predicting from titles).
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3. Group the posters according to:
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Write down as many words and expressions as you
can find to justify your opinions.
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(Strategy: Identifying important information in
discourse)
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4. Put these words or phrases in the right
column in the box:
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| eerie house |
adaptation |
| whodunnit |
classic novel |
| manuscript |
psychotic mind |
| mainstream movie |
murder |
| business marriage |
gothic novel |
| supernatural opponent |
gallant knight |
| serial killer |
Yorkshire moors |
Hamlet |
Jane Eyre |
Thelma & Louise |
The Mirror Crack'd |
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Gawain & The
Green Knight |
The Silence of
the Lambs |
Pride & Prejudice |
Green Card |
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(Strategy: Scanning to locate specific information in the texts)
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5. Match these words or phrases with their
definitions:
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| 1. sheer drudgery |
a. good with plants |
| 2. bard |
b. high-flying professional |
| 3. pruned-down screenplay |
c. shortened |
| 4. career girl |
d. terrifying |
| 5. spine-tingling |
e. boredom |
| 6. green-thumbed |
f. poet |
(Strategy: Dealing with unfamiliar words and phrases)
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6. To which films do these characters
belong? Make predictions about theirroles in the films:
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| a psychiatrist |
a detective |
| Mr. Darcy |
an apprentice |
| the Dane |
a knight |
| an American actress |
two housewives |
(Strategy: Understanding explicit information, making predictions)
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7. Find the relationship between these
words and phrases:
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Peter Weir >> Dead Poets' Society
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Gawain >> The Green Knight
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Anthony Hopkins >> Hannibal Lecter
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Miss Marple >> Agatha Christie
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Andie McDowell >> Gerard Depardieu
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8. Do you think these sentences fit
anywhere in the posters? If possible, try toplace them in the most appropriate place in
the texts.
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Marrying marriageable daughters has been the
pastime of mothers since the beginning of time.
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The grief of the Prince is for the death of a
father: He feels aversion towards an incestuous uncle and indignation at the ingratitude
and guilt of a mother.
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After a wretched childhood spent in an
orphanage, she goes as a governess to a distant and romantic mansion.
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(Strategy: Understanding discourse parts:
coherence and cohesion)
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9. There are four texts inserted into the
posters which were taken from literaryworks.
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1) In which posters can you find them and
what is their communicative value?
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2) Do you think there are any expressions
no longer in current use?
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(Strategy: Going outside discourse in order to
interpret it)
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- What dark secret lies at the top of Mr Rochester's house?
- Why does Clarise Starling go to Hannibal for help?
- Why do the two ladies start their strange journey?
- Who killed the American actress?
- Who stands for "Pride" and who for "Prejudice"?
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(Strategy: guessing and inferring information)
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11. In all these texts there is a contrast
between characters or ideas. Can youfind them?
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e.g., Bohemian Frenchman >> careerist
American
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(Strategy: Understanding contrasts)
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1. Read the posters and grade these
adjectives from least to most:
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Staggering, interesting, stunning.
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Mysterious, supernatural, eerie, strange.
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Excellent, good, wonderful, greatest
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Enjoyable, watchable, amusing.
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2. Find a headword for these words:
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Thriller, whodunnit, mystery
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Legend, novel, screenplay.
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Movie, production, showing.
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3. Find synonyms or similar words for the
following: acclaimed, long for, wisecracking, exacting.
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4. Collocations. Classify these films
combining words from the three columns:
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| Star Wars |
Gone with the Wind |
Schindler's List |
| Home Alone |
The House of Spirits |
Mrs. Doubtfire |
| Aladdin |
Rio Bravo |
Philadelphia |
| The Marx Brothers |
The Beauty and the Beast |
Gandhi |
| at the Opera |
Jurassic Park |
The Exorcist |
| Tarzan and his Mate |
The Pink Panther |
Police Academy |
Deeply entertaining
Intense
Enjoyable
Stunning
Amusing
Moving
Pleasant
Multi-Oscar
Timeless
Sentimental
Biggest
Brilliant
Riveting
Very interesting
Gripping |
family
classic
winning
box-office
anti-war
classic
political
action-adventure
Christmassy
supernatural
animated
special effects
intergalactic
touching
hilarious
screwball |
epic
hit
adventure
thriller
story
yarn
campaign
comedy
tale
blockbuster
western
flick
action film
chiller
musical |
5. Find these words in the texts and try to deduce their meaning. What clues didyou
find in the text to help you make the deduction?
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trial, insight, stormy, hulking, deceptively,
wisecracking.
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1. Word formation: Scan the posters and
find adjectives with these endings: al, ent, ous, ic, y, ive, ed, ble, an, ing, like,
shire, ish.
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(Answers on the end of this article)
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English has a great many examples of noun
phrases (compounds) which, although used as single words, are made up of two or more
elements. The discourse of film posters usually develops a content packed-sentence, very
often crammed with compound words.
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In these texts there are many examples of such
combinations. Sort the noun phrases according to grammatical categories, e.g.
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Bohemian Frenchman Noun + Noun
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King Arthur Note that in some
cases the first element of the compound is a compound itself, e.g., A multi-Oscar winning
film.
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1. Language Functions (speaking)
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Entertainment
In pairs, suggest a film and invite your friend.
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A |
B |
| Suggest going to a film |
See a film |
| Ask B what film |
Name a film |
| Ask B opinion |
Give opinion |
| Ask B what film/about? |
Tell A type of film/plot |
| Ask B actor/actress |
Give names |
| Invite B to come with you |
Accept/Refuse |
Recommending:
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| 1. It's (really) worth seeing/ |
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going to see it. |
| 2. You (really) should |
go to see it/ |
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see it. |
| 3. You (really) must.. |
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Agreeing and persuading:
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In groups, discuss current films and try to
reach a decision on the best one. Give convincing reasons to persuade your peers.
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2. Grammar production. Make compounds
to describe eight differenttypes of films . (writing or speaking)
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3. Design a poster for one of these films or
any one of your favourite films. You may want to use some of the words in exercise
4 (Semantic focus). (writing)
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Shadowlands Jurassic Park The Piano The Remains
of the Day
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4. Write a composition about an actress or
actor mentioned in the posters. Make a description and mention any facts you know
about her/his life. (writing).
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5. Game. In groups of four, decide
which films these stories correspond to and write downyour answers on a piece of paper.
Organize a class competition.
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- Romantic comedy in which a hooker makes a business arrangement with a millionaire.
- A high-class Victorian gentleman falls for a dishonoured woman.
- Enterprising young Dubliner gathers a gang of friends to form a "soul" band.
- When the McCallister family rush off to Paris for Christmas, they forget their youngest
son.
- Union soldier sent to a deserted outpost in the Western Frontier, comes into contact
with a tribe of Sioux and gradually assimilates their culture.
- Maverick English teacher who shakes up the traditional American system, inspiring
creativity and self-worth in his pupils.
- Vietnam veteran sadly returns home and ultimately dedicates himself to the anti- war
campaign.
- Doctor dedicated to finding a cure for "sleeping sickness."
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(Strategy: Arousing students' interest/Reaching
consensus/Application of schemata).
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6. Assignment: Write a composition
about your favourite film. Prepare an introduction, the development of the story
(event/crisis) and the end. (writing).
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7. If possible, show them one of the
(aforementioned) films. (listening).
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Answers to Grammar Awareness
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1. al: typical, medieval, supernatural, brutal
/ent: excellent/ ous: mysterious/ ic: classic, romantic, gothic, atmospheric/ y: stormy/
ive: alliterative, perceptive, provocative/ ed: green-thumbed, imprisoned, inexperienced,
orphaned/ ble: watchable, enjoyable, unmissable/ shire: Yorkshire/an: American, bohemian,
Arthurian/ ing: fascinating, hulking, interesting, staggering, amusing, exacting, leading/
like: ladylike/ ish: stylish.
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Alliterative verse, Bohemian Frenchman,
Supernatural opponent, Gallant Knight.
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Hulking Gerard Depardieu, Leading ladies
stunning performances.
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Tortured Dane, Imprisoned Psychiatrist.
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Adverb + Adjective + Noun
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Hugely enjoyable film, Deceptively ladylike
detective.
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Adjective + ed (Adjective) +
Noun
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Adjective + ed (Adjective) +
Noun + Noun
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Green-thumbed New York career girl.
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Adjective + ing (Adjective) +
Noun
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Wisecracking ladies, fast-living ladies.
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Noun + ing (Adjective) + Noun
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Life-changing vacation, Oscar-winning film.
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Adverb + ing (Adjective) +
Noun
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Truly spine-tingling performance, Eternally
fascinating Elizabeth Bennett, Most exciting role.
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Unmissable February treat, Brutal serial killer.
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Adverb + ed (Adjective) + Noun
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Intelligently pruned-down screenplay,
Beautifully photographed America.
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Jane Austen's classic novel, Christie's suspense
thriller.
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N.B. These categories can be simplified or made
under other criteria.
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Answers to Grammar Awareness
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- Pretty Woman
- The French Lieutenant's Woman
- The Commitments
- Home Alone
- Dances with Wolves
- Dead Poet's Society
- Born on the Fourth of July
- Braveheart
- Awakenings
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