English lesson plan · 8th grade (Year 9 in England) · 60 minutes
The subjunctive: if I were, I wish it were, I suggest she be
Grammar
CCSS L.8.1.CCCSS L.8.1.DEngland: KS3 English (grammar)England: Y6 GPS (subjunctive)England: SAT/ACT English
Objective and success criteria
Students will: The subjunctive: if I were, I wish it were, I suggest she be.
- 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: The subjunctive mood; Verb moods and shifts in voice or mood
Leads to: Mixed conditionals: past cause, present result (and vice versa); Advanced subjunctive: were it not for, lest, that she not be
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 (The subjunctive mood; Verb moods and shifts in voice or mood). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Choose the subjunctive form. The doctor recommended that she ___ in bed. (staying / stayed / stay / stays) → stayPrompt: Is the sentence about something imagined (if…, I wish…) or a demand (insist that…, it is vital that…)?
- What is the mood of the verb in this sentence? Close the door quietly. (indicative / interrogative / imperative / subjunctive) → imperativePrompt: Is it a statement, a command, a question, a hypothetical, or a wish/demand?
- The team trained hard all winter, and the trophy was won in May. Which revision avoids the shift in voice? (The team trained hard all winter, and in May the trophy is won. / The team trained hard all winter, and the trophy had been won in May. / The team trained hard all winter and won the trophy in May. / Training was done hard all winter, and the team won the trophy in May.) → The team trained hard all winter and won the trophy in May.Prompt: Look at the first verb. Is it active or passive? A command or a statement?
Hook · 6 min
- Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
- Share the objective: The subjunctive: if I were, I wish it were, I suggest she be. 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: Choose the correct verb form for formal English. We suggest that each student ___ a short summary.
- Step 1: The subjunctive uses 'were' for unreal situations and the base form after verbs of demanding or suggesting.
- Step 2: After 'suggest that', use the base form.
- Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "We suggest that each student write a short summary."
- Step 4: So the answer is: write
- Answer: write
- 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.
- Choose the correct verb form for formal English. She talks as if she ___ the boss. (was / were / be / is) → werePrompt: Is it imaginary (if, wish, as if)? Or a demand/suggestion (insist, suggest, essential that…)?
- Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly? • The teacher asked that the class be quiet. • The teacher asked that the class are quiet. • The teacher asked that the class was quiet. • The teacher asked that the class is quiet. (The teacher asked that the class be quiet. / The teacher asked that the class are quiet. / The teacher asked that the class was quiet. / The teacher asked that the class is quiet.) → The teacher asked that the class be quiet.Prompt: Look for if, wish, as if, or a verb like ask/insist/suggest + that.
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.
- Choose the correct verb form for formal English. It is vital that the door ___ locked at night. (being / be / is / was) → bePrompt: Is it imaginary (if, wish, as if)? Or a demand/suggestion (insist, suggest, essential that…)?
- Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly? • I wish my phone is waterproof. • I wish my phone were waterproof. • I wish my phone be waterproof. • I wish my phone will be waterproof. (I wish my phone is waterproof. / I wish my phone were waterproof. / I wish my phone be waterproof. / I wish my phone will be waterproof.) → I wish my phone were waterproof.Prompt: Look for if, wish, as if, or a verb like ask/insist/suggest + that.
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: The subjunctive mood.
- 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: Mixed conditionals: past cause, present result (and vice versa); Advanced subjunctive: were it not for, lest, that she not be.
- 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