English lesson plan · 8th grade (Year 9 in England) · 60 minutes
Gerunds, participles and infinitives
Grammar
CCSS L.8.1.AEngland: KS3 Grammar
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Gerunds, participles and infinitives.
- 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: Phrases, main clauses and subordinate clauses
Leads to: Finite and non-finite verbs (SAT Form, Structure, and Sense); -ing words: gerund, participle or main verb?
Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Phrases, main clauses and subordinate clauses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? if you finish early (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → subordinate clausePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
- Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? across the frozen lake (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → phrasePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
- Is this a phrase, a main clause or a subordinate clause? because the bus was late (phrase / main clause / subordinate clause) → subordinate clausePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it is a phrase.
Hook · 6 min
- Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
- Share the objective: Gerunds, participles and infinitives. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: What is the word in brackets doing in this sentence? She enjoys reading mystery novels. (reading)
- Step 1: Verbals are verb forms doing other jobs: gerund = noun (-ing), participle = adjective (-ing/-ed), infinitive = to + verb.
- Step 2: So the answer is: gerund
- Answer: gerund
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- What is the word in brackets doing in this sentence? Swimming is the sport I love most. (Swimming) (gerund / participle / infinitive) → gerundPrompt: Is it acting as a noun (a thing), an adjective (describing a noun), or is it 'to' + verb?
- What is the word in brackets doing in this sentence? She enjoys reading mystery novels. (reading) (gerund / participle / infinitive) → gerundPrompt: Is it acting as a noun (a thing), an adjective (describing a noun), or is it 'to' + verb?
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- What is the word in brackets doing in this sentence? The broken vase lay on the floor. (broken) (gerund / participle / infinitive) → participlePrompt: Is it acting as a noun (a thing), an adjective (describing a noun), or is it 'to' + verb?
- What is the word in brackets doing in this sentence? The crying baby woke everyone up. (crying) (gerund / participle / infinitive) → participlePrompt: Is it acting as a noun (a thing), an adjective (describing a noun), or is it 'to' + verb?
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: Phrases, main clauses and subordinate clauses.
- 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: Finite and non-finite verbs (SAT Form, Structure, and Sense); -ing words: gerund, participle or main verb?.
- 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-8.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder