• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Misplaced and dangling modifiers; -ing words: gerund, participle or main verb?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • Barking loudly, the postman ran from the dog. • The postman, barking loudly, was chased by the dog. • Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman. • Barking loudly, the postman was chased by the dog. (Barking loudly, the postman ran from the dog. / The postman, barking loudly, was chased by the dog. / Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman. / Barking loudly, the postman was chased by the dog.) → Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?
2. What is the word in capitals doing in this sentence? The BARKING dog woke the baby. (gerund (works as a noun) / participle (works as an adjective) / part of the main verb (is/was …ing)) → participle (works as an adjective)Prompt: Is there a helping verb (is, was, were, are) right before it? Then it's part of the main verb.
3. In which sentence is the word in capitals used like this: gerund (works as a noun)? (SMILING broadly, Ana opened the door. / The SWIMMING pool is closed. / We enjoy CAMPING in the summer.) → We enjoy CAMPING in the summer.Prompt: Is there a helping verb (is, was, were, are) right before it? Then it's part of the main verb.

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: Fixing dangling participle phrases. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Is the opening phrase correctly attached, or is it a dangling modifier? Covered in mud, the dog was washed by its owner.
• Step 1: An opening participle phrase describes the subject that comes right after it. If that subject can't do the action, the modifier dangles.
• Step 2: The dog was covered in mud.
• Step 3: So the answer is: correct
• Answer: correct
• 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 the opening phrase correctly attached, or is it a dangling modifier? Walking to school, I got caught in the rain. (correct / dangling modifier) → correctPrompt: Ask: who or what is doing the action in the opening phrase?
2. This sentence has a dangling modifier. Which choice fixes it? Running for the bus, my phone fell out of my pocket. • Running for the bus, my phone dropped from my pocket quickly. • Running for the bus my phone fell out of my pocket. • My phone, running for the bus, fell out. • Running for the bus, I dropped my phone out of my pocket. (Running for the bus, my phone dropped from my pocket quickly. / Running for the bus my phone fell out of my pocket. / My phone, running for the bus, fell out. / Running for the bus, I dropped my phone out of my pocket.) → Running for the bus, I dropped my phone out of my pocket.Prompt: Who is really doing the action in the opening phrase?

• 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 the opening phrase correctly attached, or is it a dangling modifier? Looking out of the window, we admired the mountains. (correct / dangling modifier) → correctPrompt: Ask: who or what is doing the action in the opening phrase?
2. This sentence has a dangling modifier. Which choice fixes it? After practising for hours, the song finally sounded right. • The song, after practising for hours, sounded right. • After practising for hours, Mia finally got the song right. • After practising for hours, the song was finally right. • After practising for hours the song sounded right. (The song, after practising for hours, sounded right. / After practising for hours, Mia finally got the song right. / After practising for hours, the song was finally right. / After practising for hours the song sounded right.) → After practising for hours, Mia finally got the song right.Prompt: Who is really doing the action in the opening phrase?

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