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

1. Choose the subjunctive form. We insist that the dog ___ kept on a lead. (was / is / are / be) → bePrompt: Is the sentence about something imagined (if…, I wish…) or a demand (insist that…, it is vital that…)?
2. What is the mood of the verb in this sentence? She would help if she had time. (conditional / interrogative / imperative / indicative) → conditionalPrompt: Is it a statement, a command, a question, a hypothetical, or a wish/demand?
3. 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. / Maria baked the bread, and the soup then was made by her. / The bread was baked by Maria, and then she made the soup. / 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?

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: The subjunctive: if I were, I wish it were, I suggest she be. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Choose the correct verb form for formal English. We suggest that each student ___ a short summary.
• Step 1: The subjunctive uses 'were' for unreal situations and the base form after verbs of demanding or suggesting.
• Step 2: After 'suggest that', use the base form.
• Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "We suggest that each student write a short summary."
• Step 4: So the answer is: write
• Answer: write
• 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. Choose the correct verb form for formal English. The coach insists that every player ___ on time. (is / was / being / be) → bePrompt: Is it imaginary (if, wish, as if)? Or a demand/suggestion (insist, suggest, essential that…)?
2. Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly? • She looked as if she be about to cry. • She looked as if she were about to cry. • She looked as if she is about to cried. • She looked as if she are about to cry. (She looked as if she be about to cry. / She looked as if she were about to cry. / She looked as if she is about to cried. / She looked as if she are about to cry.) → She looked as if she were about to cry.Prompt: Look for if, wish, as if, or a verb like ask/insist/suggest + that.

• 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. Choose the correct verb form for formal English. We suggest that each student ___ a short summary. (writes / wrote / write / writing) → writePrompt: Is it imaginary (if, wish, as if)? Or a demand/suggestion (insist, suggest, essential that…)?
2. Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly? • She looked as if she be about to cry. • She looked as if she is about to cried. • She looked as if she are about to cry. • She looked as if she were about to cry. (She looked as if she be about to cry. / She looked as if she is about to cried. / She looked as if she are about to cry. / She looked as if she were about to cry.) → She looked as if she were about to cry.Prompt: Look for if, wish, as if, or a verb like ask/insist/suggest + that.

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