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English lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 30 minutes

Comma before and/but: compound sentence or compound verb?

Punctuation

CCSS L.7.2CCSS L.4.2.CEngland: KS3 English (punctuation)England: SAT Standard English Conventions (Boundaries)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Comma before and/but: compound sentence or compound verb?.

  • 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: Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses

Leads to: Spotting and fixing comma splices

Materials: Punctuation cards, A short unpunctuated text, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which version is punctuated correctly? • If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. • If it rains, tomorrow the match will be cancelled. • If, it rains tomorrow the match will be cancelled. • If it rains tomorrow the match, will be cancelled. (If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled. / If it rains, tomorrow the match will be cancelled. / If, it rains tomorrow the match will be cancelled. / If it rains tomorrow the match, will be cancelled.) → If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.Prompt: Find where the opening part ends and the main clause (subject + verb) begins.
  2. Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. Surprisingly the tiny team won the cup. → SurprisinglyPrompt: Does the sentence START with something before the subject and verb?
  3. Which version is punctuated correctly? • Yes I would, love to come. • Yes, I would love to come. • Yes I, would love to come. • Yes I would love, to come. (Yes I would, love to come. / Yes, I would love to come. / Yes I, would love to come. / Yes I would love, to come.) → Yes, I would love to come.Prompt: Find where the opening part ends and the main clause (subject + verb) begins.

Hook · 3 min

  • Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
  • Share the objective: Comma before and/but: compound sentence or compound verb?. 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: Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • I wanted pizza but, my sister wanted pasta. • I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta. • I wanted, pizza but my sister wanted pasta. • I wanted pizza but my sister, wanted pasta.
  • Step 1: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) that joins two independent clauses, but not before one that joins two verbs with the same subject.
  • Step 2: Two independent clauses with 'but': comma before 'but'.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta.
  • Answer: I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta.
  • 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. Does this sentence need a comma before the conjunction? I like swimming but don't enjoy cold water. (yes / no) → noPrompt: Cover everything before the conjunction. Is what's left a full sentence?
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The cat stretched and, curled up by the fire. • The cat stretched, and curled up by the fire. • The cat stretched and curled up by the fire. • The cat, stretched and curled up by the fire. (The cat stretched and, curled up by the fire. / The cat stretched, and curled up by the fire. / The cat stretched and curled up by the fire. / The cat, stretched and curled up by the fire.) → The cat stretched and curled up by the fire.Prompt: Is there a subject AFTER the and/but/so/or?

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. Does this sentence need a comma before the conjunction? Sam washed the dishes and dried them. (yes / no) → noPrompt: Cover everything before the conjunction. Is what's left a full sentence?
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • I wanted pizza but my sister, wanted pasta. • I wanted, pizza but my sister wanted pasta. • I wanted pizza but, my sister wanted pasta. • I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta. (I wanted pizza but my sister, wanted pasta. / I wanted, pizza but my sister wanted pasta. / I wanted pizza but, my sister wanted pasta. / I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta.) → I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta.Prompt: Is there a subject AFTER the and/but/so/or?

Watch out for

  • Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
  • Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses.
  • Use concrete materials: punctuation cards.
  • 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: Spotting and fixing comma splices.
  • 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-7.

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

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Comma before and/but: compound sentence or compound verb?

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • Leo practised every day but still felt nervous. • Leo practised every day but, still felt nervous. • Leo practised every day, but still felt nervous. • Leo, practised every day but still felt nervous.

    • A. Leo practised every day but still felt nervous.
    • B. Leo practised every day but, still felt nervous.
    • C. Leo practised every day, but still felt nervous.
    • D. Leo, practised every day but still felt nervous.

  2. Question 2

    Does this sentence need a comma before the conjunction? I like swimming but my brother prefers tennis.

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The storm knocked down trees and, the river burst its banks. • The storm knocked down trees and the river, burst its banks. • The storm knocked down trees, and the river burst its banks. • The storm, knocked down trees and the river burst its banks.

    • A. The storm knocked down trees and, the river burst its banks.
    • B. The storm knocked down trees and the river, burst its banks.
    • C. The storm knocked down trees, and the river burst its banks.
    • D. The storm, knocked down trees and the river burst its banks.

  4. Question 4

    Does this sentence need a comma before the conjunction? Sam washed the dishes and dried them.

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The volunteers, collected litter and planted trees. • The volunteers collected litter and, planted trees. • The volunteers collected litter and planted trees. • The volunteers collected litter, and planted trees.

    • A. The volunteers, collected litter and planted trees.
    • B. The volunteers collected litter and, planted trees.
    • C. The volunteers collected litter and planted trees.
    • D. The volunteers collected litter, and planted trees.

  6. Question 6

    Does this sentence need a comma before the conjunction? We could watch a film or we could play a board game.

    • A. yes
    • B. no

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Answer key: Comma before and/but: compound sentence or compound verb?

  1. 1. A. Leo practised every day but still felt nervous.

  2. 2. A. yes

  3. 3. C. The storm knocked down trees, and the river burst its banks.

  4. 4. B. no

  5. 5. C. The volunteers collected litter and planted trees.

  6. 6. A. yes