Monster Verbs

1. Each player (Player A and Player B) is given 24 cards depicting a friendly monster undertaking various small activities (verbs).
2. The cards are numbered M1 to M24 but can be laid out in any order.
3. Each player is given a mini card, which they must keep secret.
4. The object of the game is to discover your opponent’s secret card.

One of the cards laid out in front of you is a match of your opponent’s secret card.

1. Randomly determine which player is to go first. This can be done by rolling a die, flipping a coin, or playing rock-paper-scissors.
2. The first player (Player A) looks over the 24 cards laid out in front of them. One of these cards is the secret card held by Player B.
3. Player A asks Player B a question using a correct language form. For example, “Is your monster running?” or “Has your monster ever run?”
4. Player B answers yes or no by looking at their secret card.
5. Player A then turns over cards that do not match Player B’s answer.
6. This goes back and forth until one player has only one card left.
7. At this time, the player who has more than one card face up is allowed to make a random guess. For example, “Is your monster M10?” If the guess is correct, the player wins. If the guess is incorrect, the player with only one card face up, that matches the secret card of their opponent, wins.

Determining the Winner:

The game continues until one player has only one face up card in front of them and discovers their opponent’s secret card. If the player with more than one card face up makes a correct guess, they steal the game and win. If they make an incorrect guess, the player with only one card face up, that matches the secret card of their opponent, wins.

Advanced Play:

For advanced students, the game can be played with a six-sided die and a chart made by you or your teacher for verb tenses. In each player’s turn, they roll a die and use the correct verb tense to determine the clue from their opposing player. For example, if player A rolls a 2 and looks at number two on the chart, it says past simple. Using the word “yesterday” as a prompt, player A will say, “Yesterday your monster ran.” If player A uses the correct form of the verb, the game continues as normal. However, if they use the wrong form of the verb, play can pass to player B.