Adapted task – note for teachers
The original book task (writing instructions) has been changed to a descriptive task. This is a better match for A1+ writing objectives. All other lesson activities from the book continue as normal.
Learning aim: Students write a short description of a food they like. They practise full stops, commas, and colons.
Before writing: Explain the three rules simply: (1) Full stop → end of a sentence. (2) Comma → between items in a list (e.g. tomatoes, cheese and bread). (3) Colon → before a list, after a complete sentence (e.g. ‘The ingredients are simple: …’). Show one example of each on the board.
During writing: Ask students to write at least one comma list (for example, ingredients). Encourage them to try a colon if they feel confident. Remind them: every sentence ends with a full stop.
Common errors: (1) Two sentences joined with only a comma: ‘I love pizza, it is delicious.’ → should be two sentences. (2) Forgetting full stops at the end of sentences. (3) Using a colon in the wrong place (‘My favourite colours are: red…’).
After writing: Students swap texts and mark every full stop, comma, and colon. Are the full stops in the right place? Do the commas separate list items?
Model paragraph
Read and analyseNote on this unit
This unit uses a descriptive task instead of the writing-instructions task in the course book. All other lesson activities continue as normal.
(a) Two lists with commas
Read the model. Click every comma that is in a list, then check.
My favourite breakfast is a full English. It is a big plate with eggs, sausages, bacon, mushrooms and toast. The ingredients are simple: fresh eggs, good sausages and thick bread. It smells amazing. I eat it on Sunday with my friends. It is not healthy, but it is absolutely delicious.
(b) One colon
Click the colon.
My favourite breakfast is a full English. It is a big plate with eggs, sausages, bacon, mushrooms and toast. The ingredients are simple: fresh eggs, good sausages and thick bread. It smells amazing. I eat it on Sunday with my friends. It is not healthy, but it is absolutely delicious.
(c) All the full stops
Click every full stop.
My favourite breakfast is a full English. It is a big plate with eggs, sausages, bacon, mushrooms and toast. The ingredients are simple: fresh eggs, good sausages and thick bread. It smells amazing. I eat it on Sunday with my friends. It is not healthy, but it is absolutely delicious.
Full stop ( . ) = end of a sentence. Comma ( , ) = between items in a list (and before and / but when they join two sentences — Unit 1). Colon ( : ) = before a list, after a complete sentence: The ingredients are simple: … / I have three pets: …
Extra practice
Build the skillAdd the punctuation
Add the correct punctuation. Use: . (full stop) , (comma) : (colon). Full stop = end of a sentence. Comma = items in a list. Colon = before a list.
two sentences: full stop + capital I
Also accepted: I love pizza. It's delicious.
comma in the list; no comma before and
colon before the list
comma in the list
Assignment A
Minimum 50 wordsWrite a short description of a traditional food from your country or a meal you often eat at home. What is in it? What does it taste like? When do you eat it? Use full stops, commas in lists, and at least one colon.
Minimum 50 words.
Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your text before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.
Sample answer · 57 words
My favourite food is jollof rice. It is a warm and colourful dish with rice, tomatoes, peppers and spices. The key ingredients are simple: long-grain rice, tomato paste and chicken stock. It smells wonderful. We eat it at family celebrations and on Sundays. It is filling, spicy and delicious. Every family has a different recipe!
— Adaeze Obi
Assignment B
Minimum 50 wordsWrite a short review for a food blog. Write about a restaurant or café you visit. What do you eat? What does it taste like? Do you recommend it? Use commas and full stops correctly.
Minimum 50 words.
Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your text before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.
Sample answer · 50 words
I visit a small sushi restaurant near my university every week. I order salmon rolls, miso soup and edamame. The ingredients are fresh: soft salmon, perfect rice and rich soup. The restaurant is quiet, clean and very cheap. I recommend it. It is the best Japanese food near my university.
Answer key at a glance
Prints with the page| Step 1 — Marks | 4 commas in lists |
| Step 2 — Marks | 1 colon |
| Step 3 — Marks | 6 full stops |
| Exercise 1 — 1 | I love pizza. It is delicious. |
| Exercise 1 — 2 | My favourite colours are red, blue and green. |
| Exercise 1 — 3 | I have three pets: a cat, a dog and a fish. |
| Exercise 1 — 4 | The market is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. |