Infinitive to Instant Past: Dominoes Get Grammatical!

 

Dominoes meet grammar! Forget boring flashcards, we're playing a game that makes learning verb tenses addictive. Ready to match, learn, and win? Let's play!

Domino Verb Game Instructions

Objective: To match infinitive verbs with their past tense forms, creating a continuous chain of dominoes.

Materials:

• Dominoes with one infinitive verb written on one half and one past tense verb written on the other half.
• 8 sets of verbs with a mix of regular and irregular verbs.

Verb Sets:

1. Walk (Infinitive) - Walked (Past)
2. Eat (Infinitive) - Ate (Past)
3. Play (Infinitive) - Played (Past)
4. Go (Infinitive) - Went (Past)
5. Jump (Infinitive) - Jumped (Past)
6. See (Infinitive) - Saw (Past)
7. Cook (Infinitive) - Cooked (Past)
8. Write (Infinitive) - Wrote (Past)

How to Play:

1. Preparation:

   • Ensure all dominoes are face down and shuffled.
   • Each player draws a set number of dominoes (e.g., 5-7 dominoes). The remaining dominoes form the "boneyard."

2. Starting the Game:

   • One player starts by placing any domino face up on the table.
   • The game continues clockwise.

3. Matching:

   • The next player must match either the infinitive or past tense verb on one end of the domino chain with a corresponding verb on one of their dominoes.
   • For example, if the domino on the table has "Walked" on one end, the next player must place a domino with "Walk" on one of its halves.
   • The dominoes are placed end to end, creating a chain.

4. Drawing from the Boneyard:

   • If a player cannot match a verb, they must draw a domino from the boneyard.
   • If the drawn domino can be played, they may play it immediately.
   • If not, they add it to their hand, and play passes to the next player.

5. Passing:

   • If a player cannot play a domino and the boneyard is empty, they must pass their turn.

6. Winning:

   • The first player to use all of their dominoes wins the game.
   • If all players pass consecutively and no one can play, the player with the fewest remaining dominoes wins.

Example Gameplay:

1. Player 1 places "Eat - Ate" domino.
2. Player 2 places "Walk - Walked" domino, matching "Ate" with a new Domino containing "Walk".
3. Player 3 places "Walked - Play" domino, matching "Walked" with the new domino.
4. And so on...

Variations:

• Advanced Play: Include more verb sets and a wider variety of tenses (e.g., present continuous, future).
• Team Play: Play in teams, with teammates collaborating on their turns.
• Scoring: Award points for each domino played, with bonus points for ending the game.

Tips:

• Pay close attention to the verbs on each end of the domino chain.
• Plan your moves strategically to use your dominoes efficiently.
• Have fun!