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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.
  1. Choose the subjunctive form. If she ___ taller, she could reach the shelf. (were / is / was / be) → werePrompt: Is the sentence about something imagined (if…, I wish…) or a demand (insist that…, it is vital that…)?
  2. What is the mood of the verb in this sentence? I wish I were on holiday. (subjunctive / imperative / interrogative / indicative) → subjunctivePrompt: Is it a statement, a command, a question, a hypothetical, or a wish/demand?
  3. Maria baked the bread, and then the soup was made by her. Which revision avoids the shift in voice? (The bread was baked by Maria, and then she made the soup. / Maria baked the bread, and then the soup had been made. / Maria baked the bread, and the soup then was made by her. / Maria baked the bread, and then she made the soup.) → Maria baked the bread, and then she made the soup.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.
  1. Choose the correct verb form for formal English. It is vital that the door ___ locked at night. (being / is / was / be) → bePrompt: Is it imaginary (if, wish, as if)? Or a demand/suggestion (insist, suggest, essential that…)?
  2. Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly? • She looked as if she be about to cry. • She looked as if she are about to cry. • She looked as if she is about to cried. • She looked as if she were about to cry. (She looked as if she be about to cry. / She looked as if she are about to cry. / She looked as if she is about to cried. / She looked as if she were about to cry.) → She looked as if she were about to cry.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.
  1. Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly? • She looked as if she be about to cry. • She looked as if she were about to cry. • She looked as if she is about to cried. • She looked as if she are about to cry. (She looked as if she be about to cry. / She looked as if she were about to cry. / She looked as if she is about to cried. / She looked as if she are about to cry.) → She looked as if she were about to cry.Prompt: Look for if, wish, as if, or a verb like ask/insist/suggest + that.
  2. Choose the correct verb form for formal English. The rules require that a parent ___ the form. (sign / signing / signs / signed) → signPrompt: Is it imaginary (if, wish, as if)? Or a demand/suggestion (insist, suggest, essential 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

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The subjunctive: if I were, I wish it were, I suggest she be

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Choose the correct verb form for formal English. We suggest that each student ___ a short summary.

    • A. writes
    • B. writing
    • C. wrote
    • D. write

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly? • She looked as if she is about to cried. • She looked as if she be about to cry. • She looked as if she were about to cry. • She looked as if she are about to cry.

    • A. She looked as if she is about to cried.
    • B. She looked as if she be about to cry.
    • C. She looked as if she were about to cry.
    • D. She looked as if she are about to cry.

  3. Question 3

    Choose the correct verb form for formal English. If I ___ you, I would apologise.

    • A. am
    • B. were
    • C. was
    • D. be

  4. Question 4

    Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly? • It is important that he arriving early. • It is important that he arrives early tomorrow will. • It is important that he arrive early. • It is important that he arrived early tomorrow.

    • A. It is important that he arriving early.
    • B. It is important that he arrives early tomorrow will.
    • C. It is important that he arrive early.
    • D. It is important that he arrived early tomorrow.

  5. Question 5

    Choose the correct verb form for formal English. The rules require that a parent ___ the form.

    • A. sign
    • B. signed
    • C. signing
    • D. signs

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly? • I wish my phone is waterproof. • I wish my phone be waterproof. • I wish my phone will be waterproof. • I wish my phone were waterproof.

    • A. I wish my phone is waterproof.
    • B. I wish my phone be waterproof.
    • C. I wish my phone will be waterproof.
    • D. I wish my phone were waterproof.

  7. Question 7

    Which sentence uses the subjunctive correctly? • I wish my phone is waterproof. • I wish my phone will be waterproof. • I wish my phone be waterproof. • I wish my phone were waterproof.

    • A. I wish my phone is waterproof.
    • B. I wish my phone will be waterproof.
    • C. I wish my phone be waterproof.
    • D. I wish my phone were waterproof.

  8. Question 8

    Choose the correct verb form for formal English. It is essential that she ___ her passport.

    • A. will bring
    • B. bring
    • C. brought
    • D. brings

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Answer key: The subjunctive: if I were, I wish it were, I suggest she be

  1. 1. D. write

  2. 2. C. She looked as if she were about to cry.

  3. 3. B. were

  4. 4. C. It is important that he arrive early.

  5. 5. A. sign

  6. 6. D. I wish my phone were waterproof.

  7. 7. D. I wish my phone were waterproof.

  8. 8. B. bring