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English lesson plan · 8th grade (Year 9 in England) · 60 minutes

Fixing dangling participle phrases

Grammar

CCSS L.7.1.CCCSS L.8.1.AEngland: KS3 English (grammar: clarity)England: SAT Standard English ConventionsEngland: ACT English

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Fixing dangling participle phrases.

  • 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; -ing words: gerund, participle or main verb?

Leads to: After an opening modifier, choose the right subject (SAT)

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; -ing words: gerund, participle or main verb?). 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? • Nadia ate only one biscuit. • Nadia ate one only biscuit. • Nadia only ate one biscuit only. • Only Nadia ate one biscuit and nothing else. (Nadia ate only one biscuit. / Nadia ate one only biscuit. / Nadia only ate one biscuit only. / Only Nadia ate one biscuit and nothing else.) → Nadia ate only one biscuit.Prompt: Look at the opening phrase. Who or what is doing that action?
  2. What is the word in capitals doing in this sentence? Thanks for HELPING me. (gerund (works as a noun) / participle (works as an adjective) / part of the main verb (is/was …ing)) → gerund (works as a noun)Prompt: Is there a helping verb (is, was, were, are) right before it? Then it's part of the main verb.
  3. In which sentence is the word in capitals used like this: participle (works as an adjective)? (The dog was BARKING all night. / The BROKEN window let in the cold. / READING before bed helps me relax.) → The BROKEN window let in the cold.Prompt: Is there a helping verb (is, was, were, are) right before it? Then it's part of the main verb.

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Fixing dangling participle phrases. 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: Is the opening phrase correctly attached, or is it a dangling modifier? Covered in mud, the dog was washed by its owner.
  • Step 1: An opening participle phrase describes the subject that comes right after it. If that subject can't do the action, the modifier dangles.
  • Step 2: The dog was covered in mud.
  • Step 3: So the answer is: correct
  • Answer: correct
  • 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. Is the opening phrase correctly attached, or is it a dangling modifier? Covered in mud, the dog's owner washed him. (correct / dangling modifier) → dangling modifierPrompt: Ask: who or what is doing the action in the opening phrase?
  2. This sentence has a dangling modifier. Which choice fixes it? Burnt to a crisp, I threw the toast away. • I, burnt to a crisp, threw the toast away. • I threw away the toast, which was burnt to a crisp. • Burnt to a crisp I threw the toast away. • Burnt to a crisp, I threw away the toast. (I, burnt to a crisp, threw the toast away. / I threw away the toast, which was burnt to a crisp. / Burnt to a crisp I threw the toast away. / Burnt to a crisp, I threw away the toast.) → I threw away the toast, which was burnt to a crisp.Prompt: Who is really doing the action in the opening phrase?

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. Is the opening phrase correctly attached, or is it a dangling modifier? Tired after the race, a long nap seemed perfect. (correct / dangling modifier) → dangling modifierPrompt: Ask: who or what is doing the action in the opening phrase?
  2. This sentence has a dangling modifier. Which choice fixes it? After practising for hours, the song finally sounded right. • After practising for hours, the song was finally right. • The song, after practising for hours, sounded right. • After practising for hours the song sounded right. • After practising for hours, Mia finally got the song right. (After practising for hours, the song was finally right. / The song, after practising for hours, sounded right. / After practising for hours the song sounded right. / After practising for hours, Mia finally got the song right.) → After practising for hours, Mia finally got the song right.Prompt: Who is really doing the action in the opening phrase?

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

  • Move on to: After an opening modifier, choose the right subject (SAT).
  • 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

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Fixing dangling participle phrases

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Is the opening phrase correctly attached, or is it a dangling modifier? Covered in mud, the dog was washed by its owner.

    • A. correct
    • B. dangling modifier

  2. Question 2

    This sentence has a dangling modifier. Which choice fixes it? Burnt to a crisp, I threw the toast away. • I threw away the toast, which was burnt to a crisp. • I, burnt to a crisp, threw the toast away. • Burnt to a crisp, I threw away the toast. • Burnt to a crisp I threw the toast away.

    • A. I threw away the toast, which was burnt to a crisp.
    • B. I, burnt to a crisp, threw the toast away.
    • C. Burnt to a crisp, I threw away the toast.
    • D. Burnt to a crisp I threw the toast away.

  3. Question 3

    Is the opening phrase correctly attached, or is it a dangling modifier? Tired after the race, a long nap seemed perfect.

    • A. correct
    • B. dangling modifier

  4. Question 4

    This sentence has a dangling modifier. Which choice fixes it? Opening the box, a puppy jumped out. • When I opened the box, a puppy jumped out. • Opening the box, a puppy suddenly jumped out. • Opening the box a puppy jumped out. • A puppy, opening the box, jumped out.

    • A. When I opened the box, a puppy jumped out.
    • B. Opening the box, a puppy suddenly jumped out.
    • C. Opening the box a puppy jumped out.
    • D. A puppy, opening the box, jumped out.

  5. Question 5

    This sentence has a dangling modifier. Which choice fixes it? Burnt to a crisp, I threw the toast away. • I, burnt to a crisp, threw the toast away. • Burnt to a crisp I threw the toast away. • Burnt to a crisp, I threw away the toast. • I threw away the toast, which was burnt to a crisp.

    • A. I, burnt to a crisp, threw the toast away.
    • B. Burnt to a crisp I threw the toast away.
    • C. Burnt to a crisp, I threw away the toast.
    • D. I threw away the toast, which was burnt to a crisp.

  6. Question 6

    This sentence has a dangling modifier. Which choice fixes it? Hungry and cold, the hut was a welcome sight. • Hungry and cold, the hikers were glad to see the hut. • Hungry and cold the hut was welcome. • The hut, hungry and cold, was a welcome sight. • Hungry and cold, the hut looked welcoming.

    • A. Hungry and cold, the hikers were glad to see the hut.
    • B. Hungry and cold the hut was welcome.
    • C. The hut, hungry and cold, was a welcome sight.
    • D. Hungry and cold, the hut looked welcoming.

  7. Question 7

    This sentence has a dangling modifier. Which choice fixes it? Running for the bus, my phone fell out of my pocket. • Running for the bus my phone fell out of my pocket. • Running for the bus, my phone dropped from my pocket quickly. • My phone, running for the bus, fell out. • Running for the bus, I dropped my phone out of my pocket.

    • A. Running for the bus my phone fell out of my pocket.
    • B. Running for the bus, my phone dropped from my pocket quickly.
    • C. My phone, running for the bus, fell out.
    • D. Running for the bus, I dropped my phone out of my pocket.

  8. Question 8

    Is the opening phrase correctly attached, or is it a dangling modifier? Tired after the race, Ana took a long nap.

    • A. correct
    • B. dangling modifier

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Answer key: Fixing dangling participle phrases

  1. 1. A. correct

  2. 2. A. I threw away the toast, which was burnt to a crisp.

  3. 3. B. dangling modifier

  4. 4. A. When I opened the box, a puppy jumped out.

  5. 5. D. I threw away the toast, which was burnt to a crisp.

  6. 6. A. Hungry and cold, the hikers were glad to see the hut.

  7. 7. D. Running for the bus, I dropped my phone out of my pocket.

  8. 8. A. correct