• 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? • Tom's keys, running for the bus, dropped. • Running for the bus, the keys fell out of Tom's pocket. • Running for the bus, Tom dropped his keys. • Running for the bus, Tom's keys were dropped. (Tom's keys, running for the bus, dropped. / Running for the bus, the keys fell out of Tom's pocket. / Running for the bus, Tom dropped his keys. / Running for the bus, Tom's keys were dropped.) → Running for the bus, Tom dropped his keys.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? • On our walk with huge antlers, we saw a deer. • We saw a deer with huge antlers on our walk. • We saw a deer on our walk with huge antlers. • With huge antlers, we saw a deer on our walk. (On our walk with huge antlers, we saw a deer. / We saw a deer with huge antlers on our walk. / We saw a deer on our walk with huge antlers. / With huge antlers, we saw a deer on our walk.) → We saw a deer with huge antlers on our walk.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, the directions were asked for. • Having lost the map, directions were needed. • Having lost the map, a farmer gave the hikers directions. • Having lost the map, the hikers asked for directions. (Having lost the map, the directions were asked for. / Having lost the map, directions were needed. / Having lost the map, a farmer gave the hikers directions. / Having lost the map, the hikers asked for directions.) → 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: Placing only, just, almost and nearly. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Read the question and choose. Which sentence means that you came close to eating but did NOT eat any? • You ate the almost cake. • You almost ate the cake. • Almost the cake you ate. • You ate almost the cake.
• Step 1: Place limiting words directly before the word they limit: 'only Maya' (no one else), 'almost all' (not quite all).
• Step 2: So the answer is: You almost ate the cake.
• Answer: You almost ate the cake.
• 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. Read the question and choose. Which sentence means that Maya passed the test but did nothing else? • Maya passed the only test. • Maya only passed the test. • The only test Maya passed. • Only Maya passed the test. (Maya passed the only test. / Maya only passed the test. / The only test Maya passed. / Only Maya passed the test.) → Maya only passed the test.Prompt: Only, just, almost and nearly limit the word that comes right after them.
2. Read the question and choose. "I almost failed every test." What does this mean? (I didn't take the tests. / I came close to failing, but I passed every test. / I failed all of the tests. / I failed most of the tests.) → I came close to failing, but I passed every test.Prompt: Which word comes straight after the limiting word?

• 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.

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

1. Read the question and choose. Which sentence says the shop sells shoes and nothing else? • Only the shop sells shoes. • The only shop sells shoes. • The shop only sells shoes to only people. • The shop sells only shoes. (Only the shop sells shoes. / The only shop sells shoes. / The shop only sells shoes to only people. / The shop sells only shoes.) → The shop sells only shoes.Prompt: Only, just, almost and nearly limit the word that comes right after them.
2. Read the question and choose. "Just Sam knew the answer." What does this mean? (Sam was the only one who knew. / Sam knew part of the answer. / Sam fairly knew it. / Sam knew it a moment ago.) → Sam was the only one who knew.Prompt: Which word comes straight after the limiting word?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-7.