Y6 Hyphens to Avoid Ambiguity Make a Match - KS2 Grammar Games

This ‘Make a Match’ game is a fun way for pupils in Y6 to learn how hyphens can be used to avoid ambiguity.

The game can be played as a class or in small groups and is perfect for adult led interventions to revisit key knowledge and skills.

This resource pack includes:

• 14 Make a Match word/phrase cards
• 14 Make a Match image cards

What is a hyphen?
A hyphen is used to join words or separate syllables of a single word. They are important for making meaning clear.

When to hyphenate words
Hyphenate two or more words when they:
come before a noun they modify.
act as a single idea.

Hyphens can be used to avoid ambiguity (eg ‘man eating shark’ versus ‘man-eating shark’, or ‘recover’ versus ‘re-cover’).

Hyphenated words - examples
check-in
empty-handed
get-together
in-depth
know-it-all
one-sided
runner-up
warm-up

National Curriculum English programme of study links
Using hyphens to avoid ambiguity

This resource is part of the Grammar Games collection.
View more from this collection

• Teacher notes
• Word/phrase cards
• image cards