• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (The subjunctive: if I were, I wish it were, I suggest she be; Mixed conditionals: past cause, present result (and vice versa)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? If she wouldn't miss the train, she would be here by now. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: Look for time words: now, today, yesterday, last week. Which half is past and which is present?
2. Choose the correct verb form for formal English. If he ___ taller, he could reach the shelf. (is / was / were / be) → werePrompt: Is it imaginary (if, wish, as if)? Or a demand/suggestion (insist, suggest, essential that…)?
3. 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.

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: Advanced subjunctive: were it not for, lest, that she not be. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Choose the form that is correct in formal written English. ___ I known about the storm, I would have stayed at home.
• Step 1: Formal English keeps the subjunctive after verbs of demanding and suggesting, in inverted conditions (Were it not, Had I known, Should you need) and in fixed phrases.
• Step 2: Inverted third conditional: 'Had I known' = 'If I had known'.
• Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "Had I known about the storm, I would have stayed at home."
• Step 4: So the answer is: Had
• Answer: Had
• 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. Choose the form that is correct in formal written English. ___ for the volunteers, the festival could not take place. (Were not it / Was it not / Were it not / If it was not) → Were it notPrompt: Is this a demand or recommendation (that + base form), an unreal condition (were/had/should), or a fixed expression?
2. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? It is crucial that she not be late for the interview. (correct / incorrect) → correctPrompt: Is this a demand or recommendation (that + base form), an unreal condition (were/had/should), or a fixed expression?

• 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. Is this sentence correct in formal written English? Be that as it can, we still need a plan. (correct / incorrect) → incorrectPrompt: Is this a demand or recommendation (that + base form), an unreal condition (were/had/should), or a fixed expression?
2. Choose the form that is correct in formal written English. The committee proposed that every member ___ a short report. (submits / to submit / submitted / submit) → submitPrompt: Is this a demand or recommendation (that + base form), an unreal condition (were/had/should), or a fixed expression?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-12.