Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Menino80]

I'm wondering if anybody knows any good thematic units that match well with certain grammar points.

For example, present perfect can be used in conjunction with the superlative to talk about vacations or geography: "The largest volcano I have ever seen" "The most beautiful sunset" etc

Also, the third conditional often goes well with describing a bad day (which can be paired with transportation), etc.

Any other ideas? Azar grammar has some good ideas too

http://www.azargrammar.com/teachersGuides/index.html

but it always good to try to bounce ideas off one another

[edwardcatflap]

Not sure why you want to ideas on this and also how far you might be straying into the area of function. E.g. Third conditional is often used to express the function of regret so that would obviously fit ito the theme of having a bad day. Present perfect in the examples you described is used to express the function of life experiences happening at a non specific time, whereas the theme is superlatives which is separate from the function but I agree goes quite well with it.

So when you talk about a theme do mean one that is directly connected to the function in the following ways?

E.g. 'should' can be used to give advice to people and when taught fits in naturally with a unit on going to the doctor's. Most course books combine the two. Modals of obligation are nearly always combined with vocabulary to do with crime and punishment. The function of 'Used to' is to describe past habits and is quite often combined with vocabulary connected to education.

Other grammar structures like the example you mentioned with the present perfect might fit in with other structures that are not directly connected to the function. E.g. past simple can be used to tell stories and is sometimes combined with linking words such as 'after that', 'suddenly', 'eventually' etc.. Sometimes it's used in conjunction with time adverbials such as 'last year' '3 days ago', etc.. The vocabulary theme of the unit could be ghosts and there might also be a section on 'ed' and 'ing' adjectives. I was frightened because the ghost was frightening etc... Anyway if you need any more ideas pick up any adult course book and see how they combine grammar and vocab. Again, not sure exactly why you want to know this unless you're thinking of writing a course book yourself

[Menino80]

I have read a fair bit of adult textbooks but they seem to be pretty haphazard in the way they throw vocab together. I guess what I'm suggesting is authentic real life pairings.

Third conditional can be used for regrets (minor or major), or for blame.
For example, blaming somebody at work for not doing a part of a project (If she had finished the charts, I would have made the powerpoint).