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looking at each other, for example, 'We are both tall.' They must
discover them through talking. After two or three minutes, invite
pairs to tell the class some of their results. Sentences will tend to
be of the form: 'We both . . . ' or 'Neither of us . . . '

Note: The grammar of sentences using We both ... is a little tricky.
Normally the two words go together: We both play the piano.
But if there is an auxiliary verb like is or can, then the word both
is normally after it and before the main verb. We can both play the
piano.
The phrase neither of us should be followed by a singular
verb, except in very informal style.
What are they talking about?

Composing sentences in the present.

Procedure: Write a sentence on the board in inverted commas; this
represents a bit of conversation that has been overheard (there are
some examples in the box). The students guess what the person is
talking about and anything else they can infer about the situation - for
example, what sort of person the speaker is, what the relationship is
between the speaker and the person addressed, and so on.
You might decide in advance what the 'right' answer is; or try
to come to a class consensus; or find as many possible 'solutions'
as possible.

Variation: The students' solutions can be presented through
dramatisation: the students act through the situation in which the
utterance occurred.

BOX: What are they talking about?
1. 'You idiot! We'll never get it back now!'
2. 'It's awful! Let's ask for our money back!'
3. 'You can't? Well, we'll just have to manage without.'
4. 'She's far too big, we'll never get her in.'
5. 'It's stuck - could you give me a hand7'
6. 'I don't approve, but if you must, you must.'

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