seek ideas for teaching this

While I was teaching today I found the following sentence:

The steady stream of fossils discovered during the late 60s dazzled the scientific world.

I asked my students to ask a question to which "the steady stream of fossils" would be the
answer.

They asked the following questions which are grammatically incorrect.

1 - What was dazzled the scientific world?
2 - what made the scientific world to be dazzled?
3 - What did dazzle the scientific world?

What i want is ideas to teach them how to explain why these were wrong.
I don't want to teach them about grammar terms like 'object, subject, or passive voice. Not at this stage.

Can any one give me ideas how i can explain to them why these above sentences were incorrect?

[izabela]

Hi,

If you ask your students to ask such complex questions, why not explain to them the grammar terms, as well. Do not be afraid of it, since they probably know these terms in their own language anyway (I am speaking from my own experience as a student of English), so they will catch up with you sooner than you think. I would definitely give your students the scheme of the object question form (i.e., question word + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb) and start from there.

If you really do not want to start using grammar terms, I would suggest asking easier questions, which are also easier to explain. Then practice asking questions using as many examples as you can, so they figure it out on their own.

I know that it is not what you asked, but I really believe that this is the right way to go.

Iza

Originally Posted by EMAIL REMOVED - Send PM to This User Instead

While I was teaching today I found the following sentence:

The steady stream of fossils discovered during the late 60s dazzled the scientific world.

I asked my students to ask a question to which "the steady stream of fossils" would be the
answer.

They asked the following questions which are grammatically incorrect.

1 - What was dazzled the scientific world?
2 - what made the scientific world to be dazzled?
3 - What did dazzle the scientific world?

What i want is ideas to teach them how to explain why these were wrong.
I don't want to teach them about grammar terms like 'object, subject, or passive voice. Not at this stage.

Can any one give me ideas how i can explain to them why these above sentences were incorrect?

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by EMAIL REMOVED - Send PM to This User Instead

While I was teaching today I found the following sentence:

The steady stream of fossils discovered during the late 60s dazzled the scientific world.

I asked my students to ask a question to which "the steady stream of fossils" would be the
answer.

They asked the following questions which are grammatically incorrect.

1 - What was dazzled the scientific world?
2 - what made the scientific world to be dazzled?
3 - What did dazzle the scientific world?

What i want is ideas to teach them how to explain why these were wrong.
I don't want to teach them about grammar terms like 'object, subject, or passive voice. Not at this stage.

Can any one give me ideas how i can explain to them why these above sentences were incorrect?

I don't know how old your students are, but it is difficult to correct verb tenses without explaining verb tenses. You could teach them to parrot correct questions at the beginning, but they will have to learn to differentiate one from the other. :wink: