English lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 30 minutes
Misplaced and dangling modifiers
Grammar
CCSS L.7.1.CEngland: KS3 GrammarEngland: GCSE English Language (clarity)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Misplaced and dangling modifiers.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Phrases, main clauses and subordinate clauses
Leads to: Modifier placement in complex sentences; Placing only, just, almost and nearly; Fixing dangling participle phrases
Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Phrases, main clauses and subordinate clauses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? because the bus was late (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → subordinate clausePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
- Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? across the frozen lake (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → phrasePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
- Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? if you finish early (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → subordinate clausePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
- Share the objective: Misplaced and dangling modifiers. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • Nadia ate only one biscuit. • Nadia ate one only biscuit. • Only Nadia ate one biscuit and nothing else. • Nadia only ate one biscuit only.
- Step 1: A modifier must sit next to the word it describes; otherwise the sentence says something silly (like keys running for a bus).
- Step 2: So the answer is: Nadia ate only one biscuit.
- Answer: Nadia ate only one biscuit.
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • Nadia only ate one biscuit only. • Only Nadia ate one biscuit and nothing else. • Nadia ate one only biscuit. • Nadia ate only one biscuit. (Nadia only ate one biscuit only. / Only Nadia ate one biscuit and nothing else. / Nadia ate one only biscuit. / Nadia ate only one biscuit.) → Nadia ate only one biscuit.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?
- Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • Running for the bus, Tom dropped his keys. • Running for the bus, the keys fell out of Tom's pocket. • Tom's keys, running for the bus, dropped. • Running for the bus, Tom's keys were dropped. (Running for the bus, Tom dropped his keys. / Running for the bus, the keys fell out of Tom's pocket. / Tom's keys, running for the bus, dropped. / Running for the bus, Tom's keys were dropped.) → Running for the bus, Tom dropped his keys.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • We saw a deer on our walk with huge antlers. • We saw a deer with huge antlers on our walk. • With huge antlers, we saw a deer on our walk. • On our walk with huge antlers, we saw a deer. (We saw a deer on our walk with huge antlers. / We saw a deer with huge antlers on our walk. / With huge antlers, we saw a deer on our walk. / On our walk with huge antlers, we saw a deer.) → We saw a deer with huge antlers on our walk.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?
- Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on. • After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film. • The TV, after finishing her homework, was on. • After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV. (After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on. / After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film. / The TV, after finishing her homework, was on. / After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV.) → After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?
Watch out for
- Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
- Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Phrases, main clauses and subordinate clauses.
- Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Modifier placement in complex sentences; Placing only, just, almost and nearly; Fixing dangling participle phrases.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-7.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder