• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Independent clause, dependent clause or phrase?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. Is the group of words in brackets an independent clause, a dependent clause, or a phrase? [under the old bridge] (independent clause / dependent clause / phrase (not a clause)) → phrase (not a clause)Prompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it's a phrase.
2. Read the question and choose. Which part of this sentence is the dependent clause? "The girl who won the race is my sister." (The girl is my sister / the race / who won the race / is my sister) → who won the racePrompt: Look for a subordinating word (when, because, although, if, until, who).
3. Is the group of words in brackets an independent clause, a dependent clause, or a phrase? [my cousin plays the drums] (independent clause / dependent clause / phrase (not a clause)) → independent clausePrompt: Does it have a subject AND a verb? If not, it's a phrase.

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: What job does the clause do? Adjective, adverb or noun clauses. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: What job does the clause in brackets do? The problem is [that we have no money].
• Step 1: Adjective clauses describe nouns (who, which, that, whose, where); adverb clauses modify verbs (when, because, if, until, as if); noun clauses act as subjects or objects (what, that, whoever, why).
• Step 2: It completes 'is' and renames 'the problem'.
• Step 3: So the answer is: noun clause
• Answer: noun clause
• 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. What job does the clause in brackets do? She sings [as if nobody is listening]. (adjective (relative) clause / adverb clause / noun clause) → adverb clausePrompt: Does it describe a noun (which one?), tell how/when/where/why about a verb, or act as a 'thing' (subject or object)?
2. In which sentence is the part in brackets this kind of clause: adjective (relative) clause? (We left early [because the roads were icy]. / They played [until it got dark]. / The man [who fixed our boiler] was very kind.) → The man [who fixed our boiler] was very kind.Prompt: Does it describe a noun (which one?), tell how/when/where/why about a verb, or act as a 'thing' (subject or object)?

• 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. In which sentence is the part in brackets this kind of clause: adverb clause? (We left early [because the roads were icy]. / I know [that you are right]. / The book [that you lent me] was brilliant.) → We left early [because the roads were icy].Prompt: Does it describe a noun (which one?), tell how/when/where/why about a verb, or act as a 'thing' (subject or object)?
2. What job does the clause in brackets do? Our dog, [which is very old], sleeps all day. (adjective (relative) clause / adverb clause / noun clause) → adjective (relative) clausePrompt: Does it describe a noun (which one?), tell how/when/where/why about a verb, or act as a 'thing' (subject or object)?

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