UFPB/ CCHLA/ DLEM

ENGLISH IV- 2021.2

PROFESSOR: ELIZABETH SOUTO MAIOR
STUDENT: _______________________________

MODULE 2: DEFINING THINGS, PLACES AND PEOPLE

AMBROSE BIERCE
was a nineteenth-century American writer and journalist. His most popular book is probably
The Devil’s Dictionary, a different kind of reference book because in it the definitions are
witty and satirical. For example, in a normal dictionary, the definition of a dentist is “a kind of
doctor who looks after people’s teeth”. For Bierce, a dentist is someone who puts metal in
your metal and takes coins out of your pocket.

Here are some definitions by Ambrose Bierce. Read and then decide what are the missing
words:

EXAMPLE: A …………. is a person who puts metal in your mouth and takes coins out of
your pocket.
1- A …...........………. is a person who works all her life to become famous and then wears
glasses so that no one recognizes them.
2- A …………............ is something you only tell one person.
3- A …............. .........………. is somebody who talks about him/herself when you want to
talk about yourself.
4- A ……….........… is somebody who dislikes the same people as you.
5- A ………...…… is a place where you can borrow money only if you can show that you
don’t need it.
6- A ……..........…. is something that starts working when you wake up in the morning and
stops working when you get to work or school.

DEFINING AND NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

In English, there are three ways to define words. In these cases, you have DEFINING
RELATIVE CLAUSES because you are giving essential information about the person/ thing
or place:

a) If you define a person, use WHO or THAT: A professor is a teacher who works at
university.
b) If you define an object, use WHICH or THAT: A calculator is something which/ that
you use to make calculations.
c) If you define a place, use WHERE: A canteen is a place in a school or at a university
where you go to eat a snack or have a meal.
You can also define words by giving additional information. In this case, you have to use
commas because the information you are giving is not essential. The clause which comes
between commas is called a NON-DEFINING relative clause:

a) Thomas, the student who comes from England, lives next door to me.
b) The square, which is going to be demolished, was an important part of my life when I
was a child.
c) Lourdinas, the school where I studied all my life, is going to shut its doors.

How do you define these words?

a boss …………………………………………
a museum ……………………………………
hungry ……………..……………………….
a tourist ………………………………………
a waiter ………………………………………
a shopping centre……………………………
a microphone ………………………………..
thin ……………………………………………
turn on ……………………………………….
a notebook ………………………………….

It is possible to define words by using synonyms or antonyms:

It’s an adjective which means the same as attractive. It’s more commonly used for men
………………………
It’s like fat but less offensive. ………………….
It’s the opposite of rich. ……………………

You can also define a word by giving an example:

For example, it’s what you do to the lights before going to bed: …………………………..
It’s how you feel the day before an important test: ………………………..
You do this when you are feeling sad. …………………..

NOW LET’S PLAY A GAME. THE PROFESSOR IS GOING TO DEFINE 5 WORDS. WRITE
THEM DOWN BUT DO NOT REVEAL THEM TO ANYONE.

PAIRWORK TIME!
TEST YOUR PARTNER. GIVE THEM 6 DEFINITIONS. HE/SHE MUST GUESS WHAT
WORD YOU HAVE DEFINED TO HIM/HER:
STUDENT A: STUDENT B:
FREEZING BOILING
PROFESSOR PUPIL
RELAXED ORGANIZED
TO SUNBATHE TO TIDY UP
SUNSCREEN SUNGLASSES
MOBILE PHONE REMOTE CONTROL
MICROWAVE OVEN WASHING MACHINE

STUDENT A: STUDENT B:
FREEZING BOILING
PROFESSOR PUPIL
RELAXED ORGANIZED
TO SUNBATHE TO TIDY UP
SUNSCREEN SUNGLASSES
MOBILE PHONE REMOTE CONTROL
MICROWAVE OVEN WASHING MACHINE

STUDENT A: STUDENT B:
FREEZING BOILING
PROFESSOR PUPIL
RELAXED ORGANIZED
TO SUNBATHE TO TIDY UP
SUNSCREEN SUNGLASSES
MOBILE PHONE REMOTE CONTROL
MICROWAVE OVEN WASHING MACHINE

STUDENT A: STUDENT B:
FREEZING BOILING
PROFESSOR PUPIL
RELAXED ORGANIZED
TO SUNBATHE TO TIDY UP
SUNSCREEN SUNGLASSES
MOBILE PHONE REMOTE CONTROL
MICROWAVE OVEN WASHING MACHINE

STUDENT A: STUDENT B:
FREEZING BOILING
PROFESSOR PUPIL
RELAXED ORGANIZED
TO SUNBATHE TO TIDY UP
SUNSCREEN SUNGLASSES
MOBILE PHONE REMOTE CONTROL
MICROWAVE OVEN WASHING MACHINE
WORDS FOR THE PROFESSOR TO DEFINE:

TO LAUGH
ONION
KEYS
KIND
BUSY
GUITAR