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English lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 60 minutes

before, after, since: preposition, conjunction or adverb?

Grammar

CCSS L.5.1.AEngland: Y5/6 GPS (word classes in context)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: before, after, since: preposition, conjunction or adverb?.

  • 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: Same word, different job: noun, verb, adjective or adverb?; Prepositions of time, place and cause

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 (Same word, different job: noun, verb, adjective or adverb?; Prepositions of time, place and cause). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. We need a plan. What word class is "plan" in this sentence? (noun / verb / adjective / adverb) → nounPrompt: Look at the job the word does in THIS sentence.
  2. Choose the preposition that fits. My birthday is ___ July. (in / at / by / on) → inPrompt: Does the gap tell us when, where or how long?
  3. Read the question. In which sentence is "fast" an adverb? (A cheetah is a fast animal. / We broke our fast at sunset. / The cheetah ran fast. / That was a fast train.) → The cheetah ran fast.Prompt: Find the word in each sentence and ask what job it does.

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: before, after, since: preposition, conjunction or adverb?. 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: We went home after the match ended. What word class is "after" here?
  • Step 1: Words like before, after and since can be prepositions, conjunctions or adverbs, depending on what follows them.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: conjunction
  • Answer: conjunction
  • 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. I have been happy since I joined the club. What word class is "since" here? (preposition / conjunction / adverb) → conjunctionPrompt: Look at what comes straight after the word.
  2. Read the question. In which sentence is "before" an adverb? (Call me before you leave. / Stretch before the race. / Have you tried sushi before? / Finish this before Friday.) → Have you tried sushi before?Prompt: Look at what follows the word in each sentence.

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. They moved away, and I have not seen them since. What word class is "since" here? (preposition / conjunction / adverb) → adverbPrompt: Look at what comes straight after the word.
  2. Read the question. In which sentence is "before" an adverb? (Stretch before the race. / Call me before you leave. / Finish this before Friday. / Have you tried sushi before?) → Have you tried sushi before?Prompt: Look at what follows the word in each sentence.

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: Same word, different job: noun, verb, adjective or adverb?.
  • 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-5.

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

eurekami

before, after, since: preposition, conjunction or adverb?

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  1. Question 1

    Look at the picture below. What word class is "below" here?

    • A. preposition
    • B. conjunction
    • C. adverb
  2. Question 2

    Read the question. In which sentence is "after" a preposition?

    • A. We left soon after.
    • B. They lived happily ever after.
    • C. We played after school.
    • D. We played after the rain stopped.
  3. Question 3

    I have lived here since 2019. What word class is "since" here?

    • A. preposition
    • B. conjunction
    • C. adverb
  4. Question 4

    Read the question. In which sentence is "before" a conjunction?

    • A. We met the week before.
    • B. I have been here before.
    • C. Wash your hands before you eat.
    • D. Wash your hands before lunch.
  5. Question 5

    We ate before the film. What word class is "before" here?

    • A. preposition
    • B. conjunction
    • C. adverb
  6. Question 6

    Read the question. In which sentence is "since" a conjunction?

    • A. We haven't met since.
    • B. I've been awake since six.
    • C. It's been sunny since Monday.
    • D. Since you asked, I'll tell you.
  7. Question 7

    They moved away, and I have not seen them since. What word class is "since" here?

    • A. preposition
    • B. conjunction
    • C. adverb
  8. Question 8

    Read the question. In which sentence is "outside" an adverb?

    • A. The bike is outside the door.
    • B. The car is outside the house.
    • C. Let's eat outside.
    • D. Meet me outside the library.

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Answer key: before, after, since: preposition, conjunction or adverb?

  1. 1. C. adverb

  2. 2. C. We played after school.

  3. 3. A. preposition

  4. 4. C. Wash your hands before you eat.

  5. 5. A. preposition

  6. 6. D. Since you asked, I'll tell you.

  7. 7. C. adverb

  8. 8. C. Let's eat outside.