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English lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 minutes

Placing only, just, almost and nearly

Grammar

CCSS L.7.1.CEngland: KS3 English (grammar: clarity)England: SAT Standard English Conventions

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Placing only, just, almost and nearly.

  • 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: Misplaced and dangling modifiers

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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 (Misplaced and dangling modifiers). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • Nadia ate one only biscuit. • Nadia ate only one biscuit. • Only Nadia ate one biscuit and nothing else. • Nadia only ate one biscuit only. (Nadia ate one only biscuit. / Nadia ate only one biscuit. / Only Nadia ate one biscuit and nothing else. / Nadia only ate one biscuit only.) → Nadia ate only one biscuit.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?
  2. Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • While I was walking home, a dog followed me. • A dog followed me walking home, while. • Walking home, a dog followed me. • While walking home, a dog followed me. (While I was walking home, a dog followed me. / A dog followed me walking home, while. / Walking home, a dog followed me. / While walking home, a dog followed me.) → While I was walking home, a dog followed me.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?
  3. Which sentence is written correctly, with the describing words next to what they describe? • Barking loudly, the postman was chased by the dog. • The postman, barking loudly, was chased by the dog. • Barking loudly, the postman ran from the dog. • Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman. (Barking loudly, the postman was chased by the dog. / The postman, barking loudly, was chased by the dog. / Barking loudly, the postman ran from the dog. / Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman.) → Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Placing only, just, almost and nearly. 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: Read the question and choose. Which sentence means that you came close to eating but did NOT eat any? • You ate the almost cake. • You almost ate the cake. • Almost the cake you ate. • You ate almost the cake.
  • Step 1: Place limiting words directly before the word they limit: 'only Maya' (no one else), 'almost all' (not quite all).
  • Step 2: So the answer is: You almost ate the cake.
  • Answer: You almost ate the cake.
  • 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. Read the question and choose. Which sentence says nobody but teachers may use the lift? • Only teachers may use the lift. • Teachers may use only the lift. • Teachers may only use the lift. • Teachers only may use the only lift. (Only teachers may use the lift. / Teachers may use only the lift. / Teachers may only use the lift. / Teachers only may use the only lift.) → Only teachers may use the lift.Prompt: Only, just, almost and nearly limit the word that comes right after them.
  2. Read the question and choose. "Just Sam knew the answer." What does this mean? (Sam fairly knew it. / Sam knew it a moment ago. / Sam knew part of the answer. / Sam was the only one who knew.) → Sam was the only one who knew.Prompt: Which word comes straight after the limiting word?

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. Read the question and choose. "I failed almost every test." What does this mean? (I came close to failing but passed. / I failed most of the tests. / I failed only one test. / I passed every test.) → I failed most of the tests.Prompt: Which word comes straight after the limiting word?
  2. Read the question and choose. Which sentence says the class has exactly one rule? • Our class just has one rule only. • Our just class has one rule. • Just our class has one rule. • Our class has just one rule. (Our class just has one rule only. / Our just class has one rule. / Just our class has one rule. / Our class has just one rule.) → Our class has just one rule.Prompt: Only, just, almost and nearly limit the word that comes right after them.

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: Misplaced and dangling modifiers.
  • 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

  • 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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Placing only, just, almost and nearly

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Read the question and choose. "We only have ten minutes." What does this mean?

    • A. We have exactly ten clocks.
    • B. We have no more than ten minutes.
    • C. We have ten minutes and nothing else to do.
    • D. Only we have ten minutes; others don't.

  2. Question 2

    Read the question and choose. Which sentence says that the runner came close to every record but broke none? • The runner broke every nearly record. • Nearly the runner broke every record. • The runner nearly broke every record. • The runner broke nearly every record.

    • A. The runner broke every nearly record.
    • B. Nearly the runner broke every record.
    • C. The runner nearly broke every record.
    • D. The runner broke nearly every record.

  3. Question 3

    Read the question and choose. "I failed almost every test." What does this mean?

    • A. I failed most of the tests.
    • B. I came close to failing but passed.
    • C. I failed only one test.
    • D. I passed every test.

  4. Question 4

    Read the question and choose. Which sentence says that a few minutes ago she arrived? • She has just arrived. • She just has arrives. • Just she has arrived. • She has arrived just.

    • A. She has just arrived.
    • B. She just has arrives.
    • C. Just she has arrived.
    • D. She has arrived just.

  5. Question 5

    Read the question and choose. "I almost failed every test." What does this mean?

    • A. I failed all of the tests.
    • B. I failed most of the tests.
    • C. I didn't take the tests.
    • D. I came close to failing, but I passed every test.

  6. Question 6

    Read the question and choose. Which sentence means that you came close to eating but did NOT eat any? • You ate almost the cake. • Almost the cake you ate. • You almost ate the cake. • You ate the almost cake.

    • A. You ate almost the cake.
    • B. Almost the cake you ate.
    • C. You almost ate the cake.
    • D. You ate the almost cake.

  7. Question 7

    Read the question and choose. Which sentence means that you came close to eating but did NOT eat any? • Almost the cake you ate. • You ate almost the cake. • You ate the almost cake. • You almost ate the cake.

    • A. Almost the cake you ate.
    • B. You ate almost the cake.
    • C. You ate the almost cake.
    • D. You almost ate the cake.

  8. Question 8

    Read the question and choose. Which sentence means that you came close to eating but did NOT eat any? • You almost ate the cake. • Almost the cake you ate. • You ate almost the cake. • You ate the almost cake.

    • A. You almost ate the cake.
    • B. Almost the cake you ate.
    • C. You ate almost the cake.
    • D. You ate the almost cake.

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Answer key: Placing only, just, almost and nearly

  1. 1. B. We have no more than ten minutes.

  2. 2. C. The runner nearly broke every record.

  3. 3. A. I failed most of the tests.

  4. 4. A. She has just arrived.

  5. 5. D. I came close to failing, but I passed every test.

  6. 6. C. You almost ate the cake.

  7. 7. D. You almost ate the cake.

  8. 8. A. You almost ate the cake.