Hibiscus Teach · Picture vocabulary
Stationery essentials
Learn the names of twelve useful stationery items. Practise describing what they do and asking to borrow something.
Created by Denis M., British English teacher.
Look, name, use
By the end, you can name the items, use their common singular and plural forms, and make a polite request.
Start with both unlabelled posters. Say what you recognise. Then choose Numbered practice on each poster.
Invite a short spoken response about both posters before starting the matching tasks. Follow up: which items are in your bag?
Use Enlarge poster for a closer look. You can scroll an enlarged poster sideways with touch, a mouse or the arrow keys.
Your route: name the pictures, listen and repeat, use the words, then try final recall. Start with one picture set and take a break whenever you need.
On a small screen, revealed labels use a wider poster so you can read them. Scroll sideways, or choose Numbered practice to fit the whole picture again.
British English master recording
Libby reads all twelve vocabulary items, two dialogues, two requests and the scissors grammar models in one recording. Item buttons play parts of this same track.
Full recording transcript
A pen.
A pencil.
A rubber.
A ruler.
A sharpener. A pencil sharpener.
Scissors. A pair of scissors.
A notebook.
A stapler.
A paper clip. Paper clips.
A folder.
An envelope.
A highlighter.
Could I borrow your stapler, please? Of course. Here you are. Thanks. I need to keep these pages together. You're welcome.
Have you got a pair of scissors? Yes. What do you need them for? I need to cut this paper. Here you are.
Could I borrow your highlighter, please? I need to mark the important words.
Have you got a ruler? I need to measure this line.
These scissors are sharp. This pair of scissors is sharp.
Choose a Listen button for a model. Press it again to stop.
A. Stationery essentials
Look first. What can you name already? Which items do you have?
1pen2pencil3rubber4ruler5sharpener6scissorsText alternative: describe the pictures
- You write with ink using this.
- You write with this and can rub out your mistakes.
- You use this to remove pencil marks.
- You use this to measure a short distance or draw a straight line.
- You use this to make the point of a pencil sharp again.
- You use these to cut paper.
Match each word to a picture. Use each word once.
Word bank: sharpener · scissors · pencil · ruler · pen · rubber
Vocabulary and pronunciation support
Read the forms aloud. Listen and repeat when audio is available.
- 1. a pen
- 2. a pencil
- 3. a rubber
- 4. a ruler
- 5. a sharpener / a pencil sharpener
- 6. scissors / a pair of scissors
Eraser is also correct. Rubber is the main British-English word here.
Name these six pictures aloud, or type your answers. The banks and support are hidden until you choose a reveal.
B. Desk essentials
Look first. What can you name already? Which items do you have?
7notebook8stapler9paper clip10folder11envelope12highlighterText alternative: describe the pictures
- You write notes on the pages of this small book.
- You press this tool to put a staple through sheets of paper.
- You slide this small bent piece of wire over papers to hold them together without making holes.
- You put loose documents inside this to keep them together.
- You put a letter inside this before posting it.
- You use this bright-coloured pen to mark important words.
Match each word to a picture. Use each word once.
Word bank: folder · highlighter · notebook · paper clip · envelope · stapler
Vocabulary and pronunciation support
Read the forms aloud. Listen and repeat when audio is available.
- 7. a notebook
- 8. a stapler
- 9. a paper clip / paper clips
- 10. a folder
- 11. an envelope
- 12. a highlighter
Picture 9 shows several paper clips. One paper clip; two paper clips. Notebook is one word.
Name these six pictures aloud, or type your answers. The banks and support are hidden until you choose a reveal.
Speak for 20–45 seconds: Name two things on your desk.
On my own: say your answer aloud, then compare with the model.
With my tutor: What do you use them for?
Possible model response
I have a pen and a notebook on my desk.
What do you need?
Read each description. Say or type the item. Use each target noun once.
Help with the clue words
Ink: the coloured liquid in a pen. A staple: a small metal fastener pushed through paper. Wire: thin metal. Loose documents: separate sheets of paper. Posting: sending by post.
Open the twelve function clues
Small words, useful grammar
Use a with a pen, a pencil, a rubber, a ruler, a sharpener, a notebook, a stapler, a paper clip, a folder and a highlighter. Use an envelope.
Paper clip names one object: one paper clip; two paper clips. Notebook is written as one word.
These scissors are sharp. This pair of scissors is sharp.
Speak for 20–45 seconds: Say one sentence about scissors and one about an envelope.
On my own: say your answer aloud, then compare with the model.
With my tutor: Can you say it with a pair of scissors?
Possible model response
These scissors are sharp. I need an envelope.
Grammar check: six questions
Ask to borrow something
Listen first and try the two questions. Open the transcript to check, then practise both roles alone or with your tutor.
Dialogue A: keeping pages together
Check listening: two questions
Read the dialogue transcript
A: Could I borrow your stapler, please?
B: Of course. Here you are.
A: Thanks. I need to keep these pages together.
B: You’re welcome.
Dialogue B: cutting paper
Check listening: two questions
Read the dialogue transcript
A: Have you got a pair of scissors?
B: Yes. What do you need them for?
A: I need to cut this paper.
B: Here you are.
Useful patterns
Could I borrow your ___, please?
Have you got a/an ___?
Have you got a pair of scissors?
I need to ___.
Of course. Here you are.
Thanks. / You’re welcome.
You say: You need to mark the important words in an article. Ask to borrow the right item.
Possible model response
Could I borrow your highlighter, please? I need to mark the important words.
You say: You want to measure a line. Ask for the right item and explain why.
Possible model response
Have you got a ruler? I need to measure this line.
Other natural polite requests using the correct item are also good answers.
Make it personal
Which items do you use most often? Which do you hardly ever use? Do you prefer taking notes in a notebook or on a computer? Why?
On my own: say two or three sentences aloud.
With my tutor: choose three items and explain what you use each one for. Follow up: why is that useful for you?
Possible model response
I keep a notebook and a pen on my desk. I use my notebook to plan my day. I hardly ever use a ruler.
Choose five for your desk
You are organising a small desk for studying. There is only enough space for five of the twelve items. Choose five and explain your choices.
I would choose … because …
I don’t need … because …
There is no single correct answer.
On my own: say your choices aloud, then explain two of them.
With my tutor: compare your choices. Which item could you share?
Possible model response
I would choose a pen, a pencil, a rubber, a notebook and a highlighter. I need the notebook for my notes. I don’t need a stapler because I keep everything in one notebook.
Final recall
Hide the word banks, labels and support. Return to the same posters and name all twelve items, aloud or in the optional answer boxes. Reveal the labels when you are ready to check.
Which three words would you like to practise again?
Mastery check
Final check: use the words and grammar
Check four useful things you can now say.