Shades of meaning — ready-made English lesson, C2

Lesson goal: Precise adjectives and near-synonyms: choosing exactly the right word.

Add the lesson to get your own copies of the word set and exercises; the lesson opens in the builder, where you can adjust the steps and teach it.

Lesson plan

1
Warm-up
Questions to get the student talking and lead into the topic.
- Describe the last book or film you enjoyed in three precise adjectives.
- Which English word do you find impossible to translate?
2
New words
Meet the words and practise them in games.
FlashcardsFill the gap
meticulous · ubiquitous · ambiguous · candid · pragmatic · resilient · tenacious · frugal · eloquent · complacent · elusive · conspicuous
All words in the set
3
Exercises
The lesson's words in context. Only you see the answers.
1. Multiple choice
  He is so ___ about hygiene that he won't eat food anyone else has touched.
  fastidiousmeticulousthoroughpainstaking
2. Multiple choice
  The minister was ___ about his private life and refused to answer personal questions.
  reticentreluctantunwillinghesitant
3. Multiple choice
  I was ___ to lend him money again after what happened last time.
  reluctantreticentaverseadverse
4. Multiple choice
  The drug can have ___ effects on patients with heart problems.
  adverseaversereversediverse
5. Fill the gap
  A judge must remain completely ___ and treat both sides equally.
  Answer: impartial / disinterested / unbiased
6. Fill the gap
  His ___ remarks at the funeral offended many of the guests.
  Answer: flippant / facetious
7. Fill the gap
  The company was accused of a ___ disregard for safety rules.
  Answer: flagrant / blatant
8. Fill the gap
  What exactly are you ___ (implying / inferring)? That I was lying?
  Answer: implying
9. Fill the gap
  The rain was ___ (continual / continuous) for three days: it never stopped once.
  Answer: continuous
10. True / false
  'Meticulous' is usually positive, while 'fastidious' can suggest that someone is hard to please.
  Answer: True
11. True / false
  This sentence is correct: 'The new policy will effect everyone who works part-time.'
  Answer: False
12. Discussion question
  Explain the difference between 'reluctant' and 'reticent' or between 'meticulous' and 'fastidious', and give an example from your own life for each word.
  Sample answer: 'Reluctant' is about not wanting to do something, while 'reticent' is about not wanting to talk. I was reluctant to change jobs last year, and I'm quite reticent about my salary, even with friends.
4
Speaking
The student answers using the new words.
- Give a short critical review of a place, a book or a product.
- Every adjective must be more precise than 'good', 'bad' or 'interesting'.
5
Review
A quiz on the lesson's words. With a student, it's homework on their link.
Quiz

Lesson plan

Warm-up

Questions to get the student talking and lead into the topic.

Describe the last book or film you enjoyed in three precise adjectives.
Which English word do you find impossible to translate?

New words

Meet the words and practise them in games.

FlashcardsFill the gap

meticulous · ubiquitous · ambiguous · candid · pragmatic · resilient · tenacious · frugal · eloquent · complacent · elusive · conspicuous

All words in the set

Exercises

The lesson's words in context. Only you see the answers.

Multiple choice
He is so ___ about hygiene that he won't eat food anyone else has touched.
fastidiousmeticulousthoroughpainstaking
Multiple choice
The minister was ___ about his private life and refused to answer personal questions.
reticentreluctantunwillinghesitant
Multiple choice
I was ___ to lend him money again after what happened last time.
reluctantreticentaverseadverse
Multiple choice
The drug can have ___ effects on patients with heart problems.
adverseaversereversediverse
Fill the gap
A judge must remain completely ___ and treat both sides equally.
Answer: impartial / disinterested / unbiased
Fill the gap
His ___ remarks at the funeral offended many of the guests.
Answer: flippant / facetious
Fill the gap
The company was accused of a ___ disregard for safety rules.
Answer: flagrant / blatant
Fill the gap
What exactly are you ___ (implying / inferring)? That I was lying?
Answer: implying
Fill the gap
The rain was ___ (continual / continuous) for three days: it never stopped once.
Answer: continuous
True / false
'Meticulous' is usually positive, while 'fastidious' can suggest that someone is hard to please.
Answer: True
True / false
This sentence is correct: 'The new policy will effect everyone who works part-time.'
Answer: False
Discussion question
Explain the difference between 'reluctant' and 'reticent' or between 'meticulous' and 'fastidious', and give an example from your own life for each word.
Sample answer: 'Reluctant' is about not wanting to do something, while 'reticent' is about not wanting to talk. I was reluctant to change jobs last year, and I'm quite reticent about my salary, even with friends.

Speaking

The student answers using the new words.

Give a short critical review of a place, a book or a product.
Every adjective must be more precise than 'good', 'bad' or 'interesting'.

Review

A quiz on the lesson's words. With a student, it's homework on their link.

Quiz