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English lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 30 minutes

Inversion for emphasis: Never have I…, Not only did she…

Grammar

CCSS L.11-12.3.ACCSS L.11-12.1.AEngland: A-level English LanguageEngland: AP LanguageEngland: Cambridge-style advanced grammar

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Inversion for emphasis: Never have I…, Not only did she….

  • 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: Advanced subjunctive: were it not for, lest, that she not be; Simple, compound, complex and compound-complex sentences

Leads to: Cleft sentences for focus: It was… who…, What… is…

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 (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. ___ I known about the storm, I would have stayed at home. (Have / Would / Had / Did) → HadPrompt: 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? The committee proposed that every member submits a short report. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: 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? I like the book that you recommended, and I'll read the sequel. (simple / compound / complex / compound-complex) → compound-complexPrompt: Count the independent clauses, then count the dependent clauses.

Hook · 3 min

  • 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.

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 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.

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 correct form to complete the emphatic sentence. Not only ___ the race, but she also broke the record. (she did win / she won / won she / did she win) → did she winPrompt: 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? Hardly got I home when the phone rang. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: Does the sentence start with a negative or limiting word (never, rarely, not only, only then, little, hardly)?

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 correct form to complete the emphatic sentence. In no way ___ responsible for the delay. (we were being / are we / we are / we be) → are wePrompt: 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? Hardly had I got home when the phone rang. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Does the sentence start with a negative or limiting word (never, rarely, not only, only then, little, hardly)?

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: Advanced subjunctive: were it not for, lest, that she not be.
  • 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: Cleft sentences for focus: It was… who…, What… is….
  • 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-12.

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

eurekami

Inversion for emphasis: Never have I…, Not only did she…

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Choose the correct form to complete the emphatic sentence. Hardly ___ home when the phone rang.

    • A. I got
    • B. got I
    • C. I had got
    • D. had I got
  2. Question 2

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English? Little did they know that the house was haunted.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect
  3. Question 3

    Choose the correct form to complete the emphatic sentence. Little ___ that the house was haunted.

    • A. they knew
    • B. they did know
    • C. knew they
    • D. did they know
  4. Question 4

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English? No sooner she had stepped onto the stage than the lights went out.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect
  5. Question 5

    Choose the correct form to complete the emphatic sentence. Not only ___ the race, but she also broke the record.

    • A. did she win
    • B. she won
    • C. won she
    • D. she did win
  6. Question 6

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English? Under no circumstances should the door be opened.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

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Answer key: Inversion for emphasis: Never have I…, Not only did she…

  1. 1. D. had I got

  2. 2. A. correct

  3. 3. D. did they know

  4. 4. B. incorrect

  5. 5. A. did she win

  6. 6. A. correct