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English lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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? • Barking loudly, the postman was chased by the dog. • The postman, barking loudly, was chased by the dog. • Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman. • Barking loudly, the postman ran from the dog. (Barking loudly, the postman was chased by the dog. / The postman, barking loudly, was chased by the dog. / Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman. / Barking loudly, the postman ran from the dog.) → Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman.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? • The postman, barking loudly, was chased by the dog. • Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman. • Barking loudly, the postman was chased by the dog. • Barking loudly, the postman ran from the dog. (The postman, barking loudly, was chased by the dog. / Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman. / Barking loudly, the postman was chased by the dog. / Barking loudly, the postman ran from the dog.) → Barking loudly, the dog chased the postman.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? • After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on. • The TV, after finishing her homework, was on. • After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV. • After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film. (After finishing her homework, the TV was switched on. / The TV, after finishing her homework, was on. / After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV. / After finishing her homework, the TV showed a film.) → After finishing her homework, Lina watched TV.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?

Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 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.
  1. Read the question and choose. Which sentence says the shop sells shoes and nothing else? • The shop sells only shoes. • Only the shop sells shoes. • The only shop sells shoes. • The shop only sells shoes to only people. (The shop sells only shoes. / Only the shop sells shoes. / The only shop sells shoes. / The shop only sells shoes to only people.) → The shop sells only shoes.Prompt: Only, just, almost and nearly limit the word that comes right after them.
  2. Read the question and choose. "I almost failed every test." What does this mean? (I came close to failing, but I passed every test. / I failed all of the tests. / I didn't take the tests. / I failed most of the tests.) → I came close to failing, but I passed every test.Prompt: Which word comes straight after the limiting word?

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.
  1. Read the question and choose. "I almost failed every test." What does this mean? (I failed most of the tests. / I failed all of the tests. / I came close to failing, but I passed every test. / I didn't take the tests.) → I came close to failing, but I passed every test.Prompt: Which word comes straight after the limiting word?
  2. Read the question and choose. Which sentence says the shop sells shoes and nothing else? • The only shop sells shoes. • The shop sells only shoes. • Only the shop sells shoes. • The shop only sells shoes to only people. (The only shop sells shoes. / The shop sells only shoes. / Only the shop sells shoes. / The shop only sells shoes to only people.) → The shop sells only shoes.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 ten minutes and nothing else to do.
    • B. Only we have ten minutes; others don't.
    • C. We have no more than ten minutes.
    • D. We have exactly ten clocks.

  2. Question 2

    Read the question and choose. Which sentence says that the runner broke most of the records? • Nearly the runner broke every record. • The runner nearly broke every record. • The runner broke nearly every record. • The runner broke every nearly record.

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

  3. Question 3

    Read the question and choose. "She just told me." What does 'just' mean here?

    • A. fairly
    • B. only
    • C. exactly
    • D. very recently

  4. Question 4

    Read the question and choose. Which sentence means that Maya passed the test but did nothing else? • Maya only passed the test. • Only Maya passed the test. • Maya passed the only test. • The only test Maya passed.

    • A. Maya only passed the test.
    • B. Only Maya passed the test.
    • C. Maya passed the only test.
    • D. The only test Maya passed.

  5. Question 5

    Read the question and choose. Which sentence means that NO ONE ELSE passed the test? • Maya passed only the test. • Maya only passed the test. • Only Maya passed the test. • Maya passed the only test.

    • A. Maya passed only the test.
    • B. Maya only passed the test.
    • C. Only Maya passed the test.
    • D. Maya passed the only test.

  6. Question 6

    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 the almost cake. • You ate almost the cake.

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

  7. Question 7

    Read the question and choose. Which sentence says nobody but teachers may use the lift? • Teachers may only use the lift. • Teachers may use only the lift. • Only teachers may use the lift. • Teachers only may use the only lift.

    • A. Teachers may only use the lift.
    • B. Teachers may use only the lift.
    • C. Only teachers may use the lift.
    • D. Teachers only may use the only lift.

  8. Question 8

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

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

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Answer key: Placing only, just, almost and nearly

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

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

  3. 3. D. very recently

  4. 4. A. Maya only passed the test.

  5. 5. C. Only Maya passed the test.

  6. 6. A. You almost ate the cake.

  7. 7. C. Only teachers may use the lift.

  8. 8. C. I failed most of the tests.