• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Advanced subjunctive: were it not for, lest, that she not be; Simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Choose the form that is correct in formal written English. ___ the rain stop, the match will continue. (Shall / Should / Will / Would) → ShouldPrompt: Is this a demand or recommendation (that + base form), an unreal condition (were/had/should), or a fixed expression?
2. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? It's high time we made a decision. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Is this a demand or recommendation (that + base form), an unreal condition (were/had/should), or a fixed expression?
3. What type of sentence is this? Although it rained, we played the match, but nobody enjoyed it. (simple / compound / complex / compound-complex) → compound-complexPrompt: Count the independent clauses, then count the dependent clauses.

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: Inversion for emphasis: Never have I…, Not only did she…. 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 correct form to complete the emphatic sentence. Rarely ___ snow in this part of Spain.
• Step 1: When a negative or restrictive expression begins a sentence for emphasis, the auxiliary comes before the subject (Never have I…).
• Step 2: 'Rarely' at the start: does + subject + base verb.
• Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "Rarely does it snow in this part of Spain."
• Step 4: So the answer is: does it
• Answer: does it
• 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. Choose the correct form to complete the emphatic sentence. No sooner ___ the stage than the lights went out. (stepped she onto / had she stepped onto / she had stepped onto / she stepped onto) → had she stepped ontoPrompt: Does the sentence start with a negative or limiting word (never, rarely, not only, only then, little, hardly)?
2. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? Under no circumstances should it be the door be opened. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: Does the sentence start with a negative or limiting word (never, rarely, not only, only then, little, hardly)?

• 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. Choose the correct form to complete the emphatic sentence. Never ___ such a beautiful sunset. (seen I have / I saw / have I seen / I have seen) → have I seenPrompt: Does the sentence start with a negative or limiting word (never, rarely, not only, only then, little, hardly)?
2. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? Only then did we realise how serious the problem was. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Does the sentence start with a negative or limiting word (never, rarely, not only, only then, little, hardly)?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-12.