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English lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 45 minutes

Parallel structure with not only…but also, either…or, both…and

Grammar

CCSS L.9-10.1.AEngland: SAT Standard English ConventionsEngland: ACT EnglishEngland: GCSE English Language (AO6)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Parallel structure with not only…but also, either…or, both…and.

  • 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: Correlative conjunctions and interjections; Parallel structure

Leads to: Logical comparisons: comparing like with like

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 (Correlative conjunctions and interjections; Parallel structure). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the word that completes the pair. He ___ cleaned his room but also washed the dishes. (not only / either / both / neither) → not onlyPrompt: Correlative conjunctions come in pairs.
  2. Which word is the interjection? Wow, that rollercoaster is fast! (fast / that / rollercoaster / Wow) → WowPrompt: An interjection is a word that shows a sudden feeling.
  3. Choose the option that keeps the sentence parallel. The museum is famous not only for its paintings but also ___. (the gardens / it has gardens / its gardens / for its gardens) → for its gardensPrompt: Look at the other items in the list or pair. What grammatical form are they?

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Parallel structure with not only…but also, either…or, both…and. 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 uses parallel structure correctly? • The volunteers not only cleaned the beach but also the dune grass was planted. • The volunteers cleaned not only the beach but also planted dune grass. • The volunteers not only cleaned the beach but also planted dune grass. • Not only the volunteers cleaned the beach but also planted dune grass.
  • Step 1: Correlative conjunctions must be followed by grammatically parallel elements.
  • Step 2: Each correlative is followed by a verb phrase: cleaned… / planted…
  • Step 3: So the answer is: The volunteers not only cleaned the beach but also planted dune grass.
  • Answer: The volunteers not only cleaned the beach but also planted dune grass.
  • 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. Is this sentence correct? You can either take the bus or walk. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → yes, it is correctPrompt: Look at the word straight after each half of the pair (not only / but also, either / or, both / and).
  2. Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly? • He not only wants to win but also to enjoy the game. • He wants not only to win but enjoy also the game. • He wants not only to win but also to enjoy the game. • He wants not only to win but also enjoying the game. (He not only wants to win but also to enjoy the game. / He wants not only to win but enjoy also the game. / He wants not only to win but also to enjoy the game. / He wants not only to win but also enjoying the game.) → He wants not only to win but also to enjoy the game.Prompt: Look at the word straight after each half of the pair (not only / but also, either / or, both / and).

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 uses parallel structure correctly? • She both enjoys painting and sculpts. • She enjoys both painting and to sculpt. • She enjoys both painting and sculpting. • She enjoys both to paint and sculpting. (She both enjoys painting and sculpts. / She enjoys both painting and to sculpt. / She enjoys both painting and sculpting. / She enjoys both to paint and sculpting.) → She enjoys both painting and sculpting.Prompt: Look at the word straight after each half of the pair (not only / but also, either / or, both / and).
  2. Is this sentence correct? The plan neither was practical nor affordable. (yes, it is correct / no, it is not correct) → no, it is not correctPrompt: Look at the word straight after each half of the pair (not only / but also, either / or, both / and).

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: Correlative conjunctions and interjections.
  • 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: Logical comparisons: comparing like with like.
  • 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-9.

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

eurekami

Parallel structure with not only…but also, either…or, both…and

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Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly? • Not only the volunteers cleaned the beach but also planted dune grass. • The volunteers not only cleaned the beach but also planted dune grass. • The volunteers not only cleaned the beach but also the dune grass was planted. • The volunteers cleaned not only the beach but also planted dune grass.

    • A. Not only the volunteers cleaned the beach but also planted dune grass.
    • B. The volunteers not only cleaned the beach but also planted dune grass.
    • C. The volunteers not only cleaned the beach but also the dune grass was planted.
    • D. The volunteers cleaned not only the beach but also planted dune grass.

  2. Question 2

    Is this sentence correct? The plan neither was practical nor affordable.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly? • The speech was both moving and it informed us. • The speech was both moving and to inform. • The speech was both moving and informative. • The speech both was moving and informative.

    • A. The speech was both moving and it informed us.
    • B. The speech was both moving and to inform.
    • C. The speech was both moving and informative.
    • D. The speech both was moving and informative.

  4. Question 4

    Is this sentence correct? The volunteers cleaned not only the beach but also planted dune grass.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly? • He wants not only to win but also enjoying the game. • He wants not only to win but enjoy also the game. • He not only wants to win but also to enjoy the game. • He wants not only to win but also to enjoy the game.

    • A. He wants not only to win but also enjoying the game.
    • B. He wants not only to win but enjoy also the game.
    • C. He not only wants to win but also to enjoy the game.
    • D. He wants not only to win but also to enjoy the game.

  6. Question 6

    Is this sentence correct? The speech was both moving and to inform.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

  7. Question 7

    Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly? • Either we will meet at the library or the café. • We will either meet at the library or the café. • We will meet either at the library or the café is fine. • We will meet either at the library or at the café.

    • A. Either we will meet at the library or the cafĂ©.
    • B. We will either meet at the library or the cafĂ©.
    • C. We will meet either at the library or the cafĂ© is fine.
    • D. We will meet either at the library or at the cafĂ©.

  8. Question 8

    Is this sentence correct? She enjoys both to paint and sculpting.

    • A. yes, it is correct
    • B. no, it is not correct

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Answer key: Parallel structure with not only…but also, either…or, both…and

  1. 1. B. The volunteers not only cleaned the beach but also planted dune grass.

  2. 2. B. no, it is not correct

  3. 3. C. The speech was both moving and informative.

  4. 4. B. no, it is not correct

  5. 5. D. He wants not only to win but also to enjoy the game.

  6. 6. B. no, it is not correct

  7. 7. D. We will meet either at the library or at the café.

  8. 8. B. no, it is not correct