The Big Game

Eight words for the big game, and every way to make them yours.

Meet each word one at a time, then take the quiz to lock them in.

1. 1 stadium noun
2. 2 rival noun
3. 3 sprint verb
4. 4 match verb
5. 5 determined adjective
6. 6 nimble adjective
7. 7 fiercely adverb
8. 8 triumphantly adverb

Nelson's word

noun

Stadium. A noun. I file it under the large arena where games are played. Rows and rows of seats climb up all around the field, and thousands of fans pack in to watch. A ballpark is a stadium. A big soccer ground is a stadium. It is not the team and it is not the game; it is the place, the building, that holds them both. State it precisely: a stadium is where the crowd gathers to watch the game.

The stadium filled with fans an hour before the game.

Nelson's word

noun

Rival. A noun. I file it under the person or the team you compete against, the one on the other side who wants to win just as badly as you do. Your rival is not your enemy; a rival can shake your hand after the game. But while the game is on, a rival is the one you are trying to beat. File it near opponent, the one you play against. A good rival makes you play your best.

Our team lost to its biggest rival last year.

Vinny's word

verb

Sprint! To run at full speed, as fast as your legs will carry you, for a short burst! When the ball breaks loose, I sprint! You do not sprint for miles; a sprint is short and it is fast, everything you have for a few seconds. When the runners sprint the last steps to the line, they leave nothing behind them. That is the verb, that is mine, and it is over in a flash. Save it for the moment that counts!

The runners sprint the last few steps to the finish line.

Vinny's word

verb

Match! As a verb, to match is to be equal to, to line up the same as something else! When their new uniforms match, the blue and gold on one player is the blue and gold on the next, the same all down the line. That action is mine. But watch out, because this word wears a second hat. Say the big match on Saturday, and suddenly match is a naming word, a noun for the game itself, and that hat belongs to Nelson. Same spelling, two jobs. We sort the hats in Practice.

Their new uniforms match perfectly, blue and gold from head to toe.

Jake's word

adjective

Determined. Oh, this is a strong one, and it is mine. As an adjective, determined describes someone who has firmly made up their mind and will not give up: a determined goalie who blocks every shot to the very end. Its Frown is unsure, the one who wavers and gives in. Could we be more specific than saying a player tried hard? We could say the player was determined, which tells the reader she had decided, deep down, that she would not quit. Magnifique.

The determined goalie blocked every shot until the very end.

Jake's word

adjective

Nimble. What a light and lovely word, and it is mine. As an adjective, nimble describes someone quick and light on their feet, someone who moves fast and easy without stumbling: a nimble dancer, a nimble little forward who slips past every defender. Its Frown is clumsy, the one who trips and fumbles. Could we be more specific than saying a player moved well? We could say the player was nimble, and let the reader feel how quick and light those feet were. Magnifique.

The nimble dancer leaped over the puddle without a splash.

Benny's word

adverb

Fiercely. An adverb, and I own it the way Nelson owns his nouns. It tells you how an action is done: in a strong, intense way, with everything you have. When the two teams compete fiercely, they compete with fire, not halfway. Look how it is built: take fierce, the adjective, add the tail -ly, and you get fiercely, the adverb. Here is the coach in me talking: do not just say they played. Tell me how they played. They played fiercely. Now I can feel it. You can always sharpen an action with the right adverb, and this is a sharp one.

The two teams competed fiercely for every single point.

Benny's word

adverb

Triumphantly. An adverb, and a proud one, and it is mine. It tells you how an action is done: in a way that shows you won, full of victory. When she raises the trophy triumphantly, you can see the win in the way she lifts it. It comes from triumph, a great win, with that -ly tail that turns it into an adverb. Here is your coach again: it is not enough to say she raised the trophy. Tell me how. She raised it triumphantly, and now the whole crowd can feel the victory with her. The right adverb puts the reader right there in the moment.

She raised the trophy triumphantly over her head.