• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Active and passive voice; The subjunctive mood). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which sentence is the passive version of this sentence? The storm destroyed the old barn. • The storm was destroyed by the old barn. • The old barn destroyed the storm. • The old barn was destroyed by the storm. • The old barn is destroying by the storm. (The storm was destroyed by the old barn. / The old barn destroyed the storm. / The old barn was destroyed by the storm. / The old barn is destroying by the storm.) → The old barn was destroyed by the storm.Prompt: In a passive sentence, the thing the action is done TO becomes the subject.
2. Choose the subjunctive form. If she ___ taller, she could reach the shelf. (was / were / is / be) → werePrompt: Is the sentence about something imagined (if…, I wish…) or a demand (insist that…, it is vital that…)?
3. Is this sentence active or passive? Heavy rain flooded the main road. (active / passive) → activePrompt: Who or what is the subject? Is the subject DOING the action or RECEIVING it?

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: Verb moods and shifts in voice or mood. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: What is the mood of the verb in this sentence? The committee demands that he resign.
• Step 1: Indicative = facts and statements; imperative = commands; interrogative = questions; conditional = what would happen; subjunctive = wishes, demands, hypotheticals.
• Step 2: So the answer is: subjunctive
• Answer: subjunctive
• 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. What is the mood of the verb in this sentence? If it snowed, we would build a snowman. (indicative / interrogative / imperative / conditional) → conditionalPrompt: Is it a statement, a command, a question, a hypothetical, or a wish/demand?
2. Maria baked the bread, and then the soup was made by her. Which revision avoids the shift in voice? (Maria baked the bread, and then the soup had been made. / The bread was baked by Maria, and then she made the soup. / Maria baked the bread, and the soup then was made by her. / Maria baked the bread, and then she made the soup.) → Maria baked the bread, and then she made the soup.Prompt: Look at the first verb. Is it active or passive? A command or a statement?

• 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. What is the mood of the verb in this sentence? Did anyone feed the cat? (indicative / conditional / imperative / interrogative) → interrogativePrompt: Is it a statement, a command, a question, a hypothetical, or a wish/demand?
2. Read the instructions carefully, and you should then answer every question. Which revision avoids the shift in mood? (You read the instructions carefully, and answer every question! / Read the instructions carefully, and every question is answered. / The instructions should be read, and answer every question. / Read the instructions carefully, and then answer every question.) → Read the instructions carefully, and then answer every question.Prompt: Look at the first verb. Is it active or passive? A command or a statement?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-8.