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English lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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? • After, the long journey we fell asleep. • After the long journey, we fell asleep. • After the long journey we, fell asleep. • After the, long journey we fell asleep. (After, the long journey we fell asleep. / After the long journey, we fell asleep. / After the long journey we, fell asleep. / After the, long journey we fell asleep.) → After the long journey, we fell asleep.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. Holding her breath Ana opened the letter. → breathPrompt: Does the sentence START with something before the subject and verb?
  3. Which version is punctuated correctly? • Unfortunately, the shop had closed. • Unfortunately the shop had, closed. • Unfortunately the shop, had closed. • Unfortunately the, shop had closed. (Unfortunately, the shop had closed. / Unfortunately the shop had, closed. / Unfortunately the shop, had closed. / Unfortunately the, shop had closed.) → Unfortunately, the shop had closed.Prompt: Find where the opening part ends and the main clause (subject + verb) begins.

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 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? • 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. (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.) → Leo practised every day but still felt nervous.Prompt: Is there a subject AFTER the and/but/so/or?

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. 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?
  2. 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?

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/ 8

  1. Question 1

    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.

  2. Question 2

    Does this sentence need a comma before the conjunction? The fox sniffed the air and vanished into the hedge.

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  3. Question 3

    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.

    • A. She opened the letter, and smiled.
    • B. She, opened the letter and smiled.
    • C. She opened, the letter and smiled.
    • D. She opened the letter and smiled.

  4. Question 4

    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

  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? The kettle boiled so I made some tea.

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  7. Question 7

    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.

  8. Question 8

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

    • A. yes
    • B. no

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

  1. 1. B. The storm knocked down trees, and the river burst its banks.

  2. 2. B. no

  3. 3. D. She opened the letter and smiled.

  4. 4. A. yes

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

  6. 6. A. yes

  7. 7. A. Mia loves rock music, yet she rarely goes to concerts.

  8. 8. B. no