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English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes

Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number

Grammar

CCSS L.6.1.CEngland: KS3 English (grammar: Standard English)England: GCSE English Language (AO6 accuracy)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number.

  • 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: Pronoun case (I/me, who/whom)

Leads to: its or their? Pronouns for organisations and groups (SAT/ACT)

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 (Pronoun case (I/me, who/whom)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the correct pronoun. Between you and ___, I think the film was boring. (I / me / myself) → mePrompt: Take away the other person. Would you say 'me went' or 'I went'?
  2. Choose the correct pronoun. ___ is coming to the meeting? (Whom / Whose / Who) → WhoPrompt: Take away the other person. Would you say 'me went' or 'I went'?
  3. Choose the correct pronoun. The teacher gave the prize to Ella and ___. (myself / me / I) → mePrompt: Take away the other person. Would you say 'me went' or 'I went'?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number. 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: Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. The museum asks visitors to leave ___ bags in the lockers.
  • Step 1: A pronoun should match its antecedent in person and number; don't switch from 'they' to 'you' or from singular to plural mid-sentence.
  • Step 2: 'Visitors' is third person plural: 'their'.
  • Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The museum asks visitors to leave their bags in the lockers."
  • Step 4: So the answer is: their
  • Answer: their
  • 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.
  1. Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. Our class planted trees so that ___ could improve the playground. (we / you / they / it) → wePrompt: Find the noun or pronoun the gap refers back to.
  2. Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • If a player arrives late, you will miss the warm-up. • If players arrive late, we will miss the warm-up. • If players arrive late, you will miss the warm-up. • If players arrive late, they will miss the warm-up. (If a player arrives late, you will miss the warm-up. / If players arrive late, we will miss the warm-up. / If players arrive late, you will miss the warm-up. / If players arrive late, they will miss the warm-up.) → If players arrive late, they will miss the warm-up.Prompt: Underline every pronoun in each sentence.

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.
  1. Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. If we leave now, ___ will catch the early train. (one / they / we / you) → wePrompt: Find the noun or pronoun the gap refers back to.
  2. Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • We knew that one had to hurry, so you ran. • We knew that we had to hurry, so we ran. • We knew that you had to hurry, so we ran. • You knew that we had to hurry, so they ran. (We knew that one had to hurry, so you ran. / We knew that we had to hurry, so we ran. / We knew that you had to hurry, so we ran. / You knew that we had to hurry, so they ran.) → We knew that we had to hurry, so we ran.Prompt: Underline every pronoun in each sentence.

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: Pronoun case (I/me, who/whom).
  • 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: its or their? Pronouns for organisations and groups (SAT/ACT).
  • 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-6.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. I love swimming because it helps ___ relax.

    • A. them
    • B. us
    • C. me
    • D. you

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • If players arrive late, we will miss the warm-up. • If players arrive late, you will miss the warm-up. • If a player arrives late, you will miss the warm-up. • If players arrive late, they will miss the warm-up.

    • A. If players arrive late, we will miss the warm-up.
    • B. If players arrive late, you will miss the warm-up.
    • C. If a player arrives late, you will miss the warm-up.
    • D. If players arrive late, they will miss the warm-up.

  3. Question 3

    Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. My friends and I bought tickets early because ___ didn't want to miss the show.

    • A. you
    • B. I
    • C. they
    • D. we

  4. Question 4

    Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • The students handed in their essays. • The students handed in its essays. • The student handed in their essays, and he left. • The students handed in his essay.

    • A. The students handed in their essays.
    • B. The students handed in its essays.
    • C. The student handed in their essays, and he left.
    • D. The students handed in his essay.

  5. Question 5

    Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. Ben and Ruby finished ___ project a day early.

    • A. her
    • B. his
    • C. their
    • D. its

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • The team celebrated its first win. • The team celebrated their first win, and it went home. • The team celebrated its first win, and they went home happy. • The team celebrated it's first win.

    • A. The team celebrated its first win.
    • B. The team celebrated their first win, and it went home.
    • C. The team celebrated its first win, and they went home happy.
    • D. The team celebrated it's first win.

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Answer key: Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number

  1. 1. C. me

  2. 2. D. If players arrive late, they will miss the warm-up.

  3. 3. D. we

  4. 4. A. The students handed in their essays.

  5. 5. C. their

  6. 6. A. The team celebrated its first win.