Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number

Grammar

CCSS L.6.1.CEngland: KS3 English (grammar: Standard English)England: GCSE English Language (AO6 accuracy)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number.

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: Pronoun case (I/me, who/whom)

Leads to: its or their? Pronouns for organisations and groups (SAT/ACT)

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

Warm-up · 5 min

Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Pronoun case (I/me, who/whom)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

Choose the correct pronoun. Dad and ___ built a treehouse. (I / me / myself) → IPrompt: Take away the other person. Would you say 'me went' or 'I went'?
Choose the correct pronoun. It was ___ who rang the bell. (her / she / herself) → shePrompt: Take away the other person. Would you say 'me went' or 'I went'?
Choose the correct pronoun. Jordan and ___ went to the cinema. (myself / me / I) → IPrompt: Take away the other person. Would you say 'me went' or 'I went'?

Hook · 5 min

Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
Share the objective: Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number. 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: Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. The museum asks visitors to leave ___ bags in the lockers.
Step 1: A pronoun should match its antecedent in person and number; don't switch from 'they' to 'you' or from singular to plural mid-sentence.
Step 2: 'Visitors' is third person plural: 'their'.
Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "The museum asks visitors to leave their bags in the lockers."
Step 4: So the answer is: their
Answer: their
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.

Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. My friends and I bought tickets early because ___ didn't want to miss the show. (I / they / you / we) → wePrompt: Find the noun or pronoun the gap refers back to.
Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • I enjoy cooking because it lets me be creative. • I enjoy cooking because it lets one be creative. • I enjoy cooking because it lets you be creative. • I enjoy cooking because it lets us be creative. (I enjoy cooking because it lets me be creative. / I enjoy cooking because it lets one be creative. / I enjoy cooking because it lets you be creative. / I enjoy cooking because it lets us be creative.) → I enjoy cooking because it lets me be creative.Prompt: Underline every pronoun in each sentence.

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.

Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • Runners should stretch before they race. • Runners should stretch before we race. • A runner should stretch before you race. • Runners should stretch before you race. (Runners should stretch before they race. / Runners should stretch before we race. / A runner should stretch before you race. / Runners should stretch before you race.) → Runners should stretch before they race.Prompt: Underline every pronoun in each sentence.
Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. Our class planted trees so that ___ could improve the playground. (we / they / it / you) → wePrompt: Find the noun or pronoun the gap refers back to.

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: Pronoun case (I/me, who/whom).
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

Move on to: its or their? Pronouns for organisations and groups (SAT/ACT).
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-6.

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

eurekami

Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number

Name

Date

Score/ 8

1
Question 1
Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. If students want to join the club, ___ should sign up by Friday.
- A. you
- B. we
- C. he
- D. they
2
Question 2
Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • The students handed in his essay. • The student handed in their essays, and he left. • The students handed in their essays. • The students handed in its essays.
- A. The students handed in his essay.
- B. The student handed in their essays, and he left.
- C. The students handed in their essays.
- D. The students handed in its essays.
3
Question 3
Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. The company announced that ___ would open a new store.
- A. it
- B. you
- C. we
- D. they
4
Question 4
Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • When I read late at night, we find it hard to wake up. • When I read late at night, I find it hard to wake up. • When you read late at night, I find it hard to wake up. • When I read late at night, you find it hard to wake up.
- A. When I read late at night, we find it hard to wake up.
- B. When I read late at night, I find it hard to wake up.
- C. When you read late at night, I find it hard to wake up.
- D. When I read late at night, you find it hard to wake up.
5
Question 5
Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. Ben and Ruby finished ___ project a day early.
- A. her
- B. their
- C. its
- D. his
6
Question 6
Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • If a player arrives late, you will miss the warm-up. • If players arrive late, they will miss the warm-up. • If players arrive late, we will miss the warm-up. • If players arrive late, you will miss the warm-up.
- A. If a player arrives late, you will miss the warm-up.
- B. If players arrive late, they will miss the warm-up.
- C. If players arrive late, we will miss the warm-up.
- D. If players arrive late, you will miss the warm-up.
7
Question 7
Choose the pronoun that stays consistent with the rest of the sentence. The museum asks visitors to leave ___ bags in the lockers.
- A. our
- B. your
- C. its
- D. their
8
Question 8
Which sentence keeps its pronouns consistent (no shift in person or number)? • I enjoy cooking because it lets one be creative. • I enjoy cooking because it lets me be creative. • I enjoy cooking because it lets you be creative. • I enjoy cooking because it lets us be creative.
- A. I enjoy cooking because it lets one be creative.
- B. I enjoy cooking because it lets me be creative.
- C. I enjoy cooking because it lets you be creative.
- D. I enjoy cooking because it lets us be creative.

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Answer key: Avoiding shifts in pronoun person and number

1. D. they
2. C. The students handed in their essays.
3. A. it
4. B. When I read late at night, I find it hard to wake up.
5. B. their
6. B. If players arrive late, they will miss the warm-up.
7. D. their
8. B. I enjoy cooking because it lets me be creative.