• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Conditionals (zero, first, second, third); The subjunctive: if I were, I wish it were, I suggest she be). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Choose the verb form that completes the conditional sentence. If they ___ earlier, they would have caught the train. (would leave / leave / had left / left) → had leftPrompt: Is it always true, likely in the future, imagined now, or imagined about the past?
2. Choose the correct verb form for formal English. The rules require that a parent ___ the form. (signs / sign / signed / signing) → signPrompt: Is it imaginary (if, wish, as if)? Or a demand/suggestion (insist, suggest, essential that…)?
3. Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly? • The teacher asked that the class are quiet. • The teacher asked that the class be quiet. • The teacher asked that the class is quiet. • The teacher asked that the class was quiet. (The teacher asked that the class are quiet. / The teacher asked that the class be quiet. / The teacher asked that the class is quiet. / The teacher asked that the class was quiet.) → The teacher asked that the class be quiet.Prompt: Look for if, wish, as if, or a verb like ask/insist/suggest + that.

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: Mixed conditionals: past cause, present result (and vice versa). Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Choose the verb form that completes this mixed conditional. If I had gone to bed earlier, I ___ so tired now.
• Step 1: Mixed conditionals combine a past condition with a present result, or a present condition with a past result.
• Step 2: Past action → present feeling.
• Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "If I had gone to bed earlier, I wouldn't be so tired now."
• Step 4: So the answer is: wouldn't be
• Answer: wouldn't be
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? If I had saved my money, I would have a new bike now. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Look for time words: now, today, yesterday, last week. Which half is past and which is present?
2. Choose the verb form that completes this mixed conditional. If she weren't afraid of heights, she ___ the climbing trip last summer. (would have joined / would join / joined / will join) → would have joinedPrompt: Look for time words: now, today, yesterday, last week. Which half is past and which is present?

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? If I had gone to bed earlier, I wouldn't be so tired now. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Look for time words: now, today, yesterday, last week. Which half is past and which is present?
2. Choose the verb form that completes this mixed conditional. If I had saved my money, I ___ a new bike now. (would have had / would have / had / will have) → would havePrompt: Look for time words: now, today, yesterday, last week. Which half is past and which is present?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-10.