• 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? • Only Nadia ate one biscuit and nothing else. • Nadia only ate one biscuit only. • Nadia ate only one biscuit. • Nadia ate one only biscuit. (Only Nadia ate one biscuit and nothing else. / Nadia only ate one biscuit only. / Nadia ate only one biscuit. / Nadia ate one only biscuit.) → 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. • While walking home, a dog followed me. • Walking home, a dog followed me. • A dog followed me walking home, while. (While I was walking home, a dog followed me. / While walking home, a dog followed me. / Walking home, a dog followed me. / A dog followed me walking home, while.) → 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? • Having lost the map, a farmer gave the hikers directions. • Having lost the map, directions were needed. • Having lost the map, the hikers asked for directions. • Having lost the map, the directions were asked for. (Having lost the map, a farmer gave the hikers directions. / Having lost the map, directions were needed. / Having lost the map, the hikers asked for directions. / Having lost the map, the directions were asked for.) → Having lost the map, the hikers asked for directions.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: Modifier placement in complex sentences. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Known for her bold colours, ___ Which choice completes the sentence correctly?
• Step 1: An introductory modifier describes the noun that comes straight after the comma.
• Step 2: The painter is known for bold colours, so 'the painter' follows the comma.
• Step 3: So the answer is: the painter filled the gallery with bright canvases.
• Answer: the painter filled the gallery with bright canvases.
• Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Unlike most reptiles, ___ Which choice completes the sentence correctly? (giving birth to live young is common in some lizards. / live young are born to some lizards. / the young of some lizards are born live. / some lizards give birth to live young.) → some lizards give birth to live young.Prompt: Who or what does the opening phrase describe?
2. Having studied the river for a decade, ___ Which choice completes the sentence correctly? (the biologist noticed that the salmon were returning. / the return of the salmon was noticed. / it became clear that the salmon were returning. / the salmon were seen returning by the biologist.) → the biologist noticed that the salmon were returning.Prompt: Who or what does the opening phrase describe?

• 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 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Known for her bold colours, ___ Which choice completes the sentence correctly? (bright canvases filled the gallery. / critics praised the painter's canvases. / the gallery was filled with bright canvases. / the painter filled the gallery with bright canvases.) → the painter filled the gallery with bright canvases.Prompt: Who or what does the opening phrase describe?
2. A pioneer of early computing, ___ Which choice completes the sentence correctly? (the notes of Ada Lovelace contain the first program. / the first computer program was written by Ada Lovelace. / many people consider Ada Lovelace's notes the first program. / Ada Lovelace wrote what many consider the first computer program.) → Ada Lovelace wrote what many consider the first computer program.Prompt: Who or what does the opening phrase describe?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-10.