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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? • 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.
  2. Type the word that a comma should come AFTER. If the sentence needs no comma, type none. If you hear the alarm leave the building at once. → alarmPrompt: Does the sentence START with something before the subject and verb?
  3. Which version is punctuated correctly? • Because, the road was icy we drove slowly. • Because the road, was icy we drove slowly. • Because the road was icy we, drove slowly. • Because the road was icy, we drove slowly. (Because, the road was icy we drove slowly. / Because the road, was icy we drove slowly. / Because the road was icy we, drove slowly. / Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.) → Because the road was icy, we drove slowly.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 my brother prefers tennis. (yes / no) → yesPrompt: 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?

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? • The volunteers collected litter, and planted trees. • The volunteers collected litter and, planted trees. • The volunteers, collected litter and planted trees. • The volunteers collected litter and planted trees. (The volunteers collected litter, and planted trees. / The volunteers collected litter and, planted trees. / The volunteers, collected litter and planted trees. / The volunteers collected litter and planted trees.) → The volunteers collected litter and planted trees.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

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

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Does this sentence need a comma before the conjunction? The bus arrived and stopped outside the school.

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  2. Question 2

    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.

    • A. I wanted pizza but my sister, wanted pasta.
    • B. I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta.
    • C. I wanted pizza but, my sister wanted pasta.
    • D. I wanted, pizza but my sister wanted pasta.

  3. Question 3

    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.

    • A. Leo practised every day, but still felt nervous.
    • B. Leo, practised every day but still felt nervous.
    • C. Leo practised every day but still felt nervous.
    • D. Leo practised every day but, still felt nervous.

  4. Question 4

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

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  5. Question 5

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

    • A. yes
    • B. no

  6. Question 6

    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.

    • A. I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta.
    • B. I wanted pizza but, my sister wanted pasta.
    • C. I wanted pizza but my sister, wanted pasta.
    • D. I wanted, pizza but my sister wanted pasta.

  7. Question 7

    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

  8. Question 8

    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.

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

  1. 1. B. no

  2. 2. B. I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta.

  3. 3. C. Leo practised every day but still felt nervous.

  4. 4. B. no

  5. 5. A. yes

  6. 6. A. I wanted pizza, but my sister wanted pasta.

  7. 7. A. yes

  8. 8. A. The cat stretched and curled up by the fire.