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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? • Running for the bus Leo, dropped his phone. • Running for the bus, Leo dropped his phone. • Running for the, bus Leo dropped his phone. • Running, for the bus Leo dropped his phone. (Running for the bus Leo, dropped his phone. / Running for the bus, Leo dropped his phone. / Running for the, bus Leo dropped his phone. / Running, for the bus Leo dropped his phone.) → Running for the bus, Leo dropped his phone.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. When the bell rang everyone rushed outside. → rangPrompt: Does the sentence START with something before the subject and verb?
  3. Which version is punctuated correctly? • Finally the results, were announced. • Finally the, results were announced. • Finally the results were, announced. • Finally, the results were announced. (Finally the results, were announced. / Finally the, results were announced. / Finally the results were, announced. / Finally, the results were announced.) → Finally, the results were announced.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? The bus arrived and we got on. (yes / no) → yesPrompt: Cover everything before the conjunction. Is what's left a full sentence?
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • We can catch, the train or we can wait for the bus. • We can catch the train, or we can wait for the bus. • We can catch the train or we can, wait for the bus. • We can catch the train or, we can wait for the bus. (We can catch, the train or we can wait for the bus. / We can catch the train, or we can wait for the bus. / We can catch the train or we can, wait for the bus. / We can catch the train or, we can wait for the bus.) → We can catch the train, or we can wait for the bus.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? The bus arrived and stopped outside the school. (yes / no) → noPrompt: Cover everything before the conjunction. Is what's left a full sentence?
  2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • She opened the letter, and smiled. • She opened the letter and smiled. • She, opened the letter and smiled. • She opened, the letter and smiled. (She opened the letter, and smiled. / She opened the letter and smiled. / She, opened the letter and smiled. / She opened, the letter and smiled.) → She opened the letter and smiled.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

eurekami

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

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Does this sentence need a comma before the conjunction? I like swimming but don't enjoy cold water.

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  2. Question 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.

    • A. The cat stretched and, curled up by the fire.
    • B. The cat stretched and curled up by the fire.
    • C. The cat stretched, and curled up by the fire.
    • D. The cat, stretched and curled up by the fire.

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • Mia loves, rock music yet she rarely goes to concerts. • Mia loves rock music, yet she rarely goes to concerts. • Mia, loves rock music yet she rarely goes to concerts. • Mia loves rock music yet, she rarely goes to concerts.

    • A. Mia loves, rock music yet she rarely goes to concerts.
    • B. Mia loves rock music, yet she rarely goes to concerts.
    • C. Mia, loves rock music yet she rarely goes to concerts.
    • D. Mia loves rock music yet, she rarely goes to concerts.

  4. Question 4

    Does this sentence need a comma before the conjunction? The kettle boiled so I made some tea.

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • We can catch the train or, we can wait for the bus. • We can catch the train or we can, wait for the bus. • We can catch the train, or we can wait for the bus. • We can catch, the train or we can wait for the bus.

    • A. We can catch the train or, we can wait for the bus.
    • B. We can catch the train or we can, wait for the bus.
    • C. We can catch the train, or we can wait for the bus.
    • D. We can catch, the train or we can wait for the bus.

  6. Question 6

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

    • A. yes
    • B. no

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

  1. 1. B. no

  2. 2. B. The cat stretched and curled up by the fire.

  3. 3. B. Mia loves rock music, yet she rarely goes to concerts.

  4. 4. A. yes

  5. 5. C. We can catch the train, or we can wait for the bus.

  6. 6. A. yes