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English lesson plan · 8th grade (Year 9 in England) · 30 minutes

Verb moods and shifts in voice or mood

Grammar

CCSS L.8.1.CCCSS L.8.1.DEngland: KS3 Grammar

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Verb moods and shifts in voice or mood.

  • 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: Active and passive voice; The subjunctive mood

Leads to: Conditionals (zero, first, second, third); The subjunctive: if I were, I wish it were, I suggest she be

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 (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 council will build a new library. • The council will be built by a new library. • A new library will be built by the council. • A new library is built by the council. • A new library will build the council. (The council will be built by a new library. / A new library will be built by the council. / A new library is built by the council. / A new library will build the council.) → A new library will be built by the council.Prompt: In a passive sentence, the thing the action is done TO becomes the subject.
  2. Choose the subjunctive form. I wish it ___ the weekend already. (be / was / were / is) → 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? The mayor opened the new bridge. (active / passive) → activePrompt: Who or what is the subject? Is the subject DOING the action or RECEIVING it?

Hook · 3 min

  • 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.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • 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.

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. What is the mood of the verb in this sentence? Owls can turn their heads a long way. (subjunctive / imperative / interrogative / indicative) → indicativePrompt: Is it a statement, a command, a question, a hypothetical, or a wish/demand?
  2. First, preheat the oven. Then the flour should be sifted. Which revision avoids the needless shift? (First, the oven is preheated. Then sift the flour. / First, preheat the oven. Then you should be sifting the flour. / First, preheat the oven. Then sift the flour. / First, preheat the oven. Then the flour is sifted by you.) → First, preheat the oven. Then sift the flour.Prompt: Look at the first verb. Is it active or passive? A command or a statement?

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. If I were taller, I can reach the top shelf. Which revision is consistent? (If I were taller, I will reach the top shelf. / If I am taller, I could reach the top shelf. / If I was taller, I can reach the top shelf. / If I were taller, I could reach the top shelf.) → If I were taller, I could reach the top shelf.Prompt: Look at the first verb. Is it active or passive? A command or a statement?
  2. What is the mood of the verb in this sentence? She would help if she had time. (conditional / indicative / interrogative / imperative) → conditionalPrompt: Is it a statement, a command, a question, a hypothetical, or a wish/demand?

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: Active and passive voice.
  • 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: Conditionals (zero, first, second, third); The subjunctive: if I were, I wish it were, I suggest she be.
  • 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-8.

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

eurekami

Verb moods and shifts in voice or mood

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Maria baked the bread, and then the soup was made by her. Which revision avoids the shift in voice?

    • A. Maria baked the bread, and then the soup had been made.
    • B. Maria baked the bread, and then she made the soup.
    • C. The bread was baked by Maria, and then she made the soup.
    • D. Maria baked the bread, and the soup then was made by her.

  2. Question 2

    What is the mood of the verb in this sentence? Have you seen my keys?

    • A. interrogative
    • B. indicative
    • C. imperative
    • D. subjunctive

  3. Question 3

    Read the instructions carefully, and you should then answer every question. Which revision avoids the shift in mood?

    • A. Read the instructions carefully, and every question is answered.
    • B. Read the instructions carefully, and then answer every question.
    • C. You read the instructions carefully, and answer every question!
    • D. The instructions should be read, and answer every question.

  4. Question 4

    What is the mood of the verb in this sentence? The train leaves at noon.

    • A. imperative
    • B. conditional
    • C. subjunctive
    • D. indicative

  5. Question 5

    First, preheat the oven. Then the flour should be sifted. Which revision avoids the needless shift?

    • A. First, preheat the oven. Then the flour is sifted by you.
    • B. First, preheat the oven. Then sift the flour.
    • C. First, the oven is preheated. Then sift the flour.
    • D. First, preheat the oven. Then you should be sifting the flour.

  6. Question 6

    What is the mood of the verb in this sentence? Did anyone feed the cat?

    • A. imperative
    • B. conditional
    • C. indicative
    • D. interrogative

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Answer key: Verb moods and shifts in voice or mood

  1. 1. B. Maria baked the bread, and then she made the soup.

  2. 2. A. interrogative

  3. 3. B. Read the instructions carefully, and then answer every question.

  4. 4. D. indicative

  5. 5. B. First, preheat the oven. Then sift the flour.

  6. 6. D. interrogative