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English lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 30 minutes

Idiomatic prepositions (consistent with, capable of, prefer…to)

Grammar

CCSS L.9-10.1CCSS L.11-12.1.AEngland: SAT Standard English ConventionsEngland: ACT English (idioms)England: GCSE English Language (AO6)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Idiomatic prepositions (consistent with, capable of, prefer…to).

  • 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: Prepositions of time, place and cause; Usage: fewer/less, lay/lie, who/that, between/among

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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 (Prepositions of time, place and cause; Usage: fewer/less, lay/lie, who/that, between/among). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the preposition that fits. She has played the violin ___ three years. (for / during / at / since) → forPrompt: Does the gap tell us when, where or how long?
  2. Choose the word that is correct in formal English. The race was won by the runner ___ trained hardest. (which / who) → whoPrompt: Can you count it? Is something being placed, or reclining by itself?
  3. Which word is the preposition? The keys are under the cushion. (cushion / under / are / keys) → underPrompt: A preposition comes before a noun or noun phrase.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Idiomatic prepositions (consistent with, capable of, prefer…to). 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 preposition that is correct in standard English. I prefer reading ___ watching TV.
  • Step 1: Many verbs, adjectives and nouns take a particular preposition (an idiom). Learn them as pairs.
  • Step 2: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "I prefer reading to watching TV."
  • Step 3: So the answer is: to
  • Answer: to
  • 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. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? The new law prohibits drivers from using phones. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: These pairings are fixed by usage, not logic. Say each option aloud with the word before the gap.
  2. Choose the preposition that is correct in standard English. The plan is in keeping ___ the town's history. (of / with / at / to) → withPrompt: These pairings are fixed by usage, not logic. Say each option aloud with the word before the gap.

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. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? I prefer reading to watching TV. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: These pairings are fixed by usage, not logic. Say each option aloud with the word before the gap.
  2. Type the preposition that completes the phrase. They succeeded ___ raising the money. → inPrompt: These pairings are fixed by usage, not logic. Say each option aloud with the word before the gap.

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: Prepositions of time, place and cause.
  • 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

  • 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-10.

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

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Idiomatic prepositions (consistent with, capable of, prefer…to)

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English? I prefer reading from watching TV.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

  2. Question 2

    Type the preposition that completes the phrase. She is an authority ___ ancient Egypt.

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    Choose the preposition that is correct in standard English. The survey was focused ___ young voters.

    • A. at
    • B. on
    • C. in
    • D. to

  4. Question 4

    Is this sentence correct in formal written English? The survey was focused at young voters.

    • A. correct
    • B. incorrect

  5. Question 5

    Type the preposition that completes the phrase. The outcome depends ___ the weather.

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Choose the preposition that is correct in standard English. Who is responsible ___ the budget?

    • A. of
    • B. for
    • C. at
    • D. to

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Answer key: Idiomatic prepositions (consistent with, capable of, prefer…to)

  1. 1. B. incorrect

  2. 2. on

  3. 3. B. on

  4. 4. B. incorrect

  5. 5. on

  6. 6. B. for