• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (What job does the clause do? Adjective, adverb or noun clauses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. 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)?
2. In which sentence is the part in brackets this kind of clause: adverb clause? (We left early [because the roads were icy]. / The teacher [whose class won] gave a speech. / Can you tell me [where the station is]?) → 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)?
3. What job does the clause in brackets do? [What she said] surprised everyone. (adjective (relative) clause / adverb clause / noun clause) → noun clausePrompt: Does it describe a noun (which one?), tell how/when/where/why about a verb, or act as a 'thing' (subject or object)?

• Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
• Share the objective: Noun clauses: subject, object or complement?. Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: What role does the noun clause in brackets play? She is worried about [what people will think].
• Step 1: A noun clause can do any job a noun can: subject, object, complement or object of a preposition.
• Step 2: It follows the preposition 'about'.
• Step 3: So the answer is: object of a preposition
• Answer: object of a preposition
• 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 role does the noun clause in brackets play? I wonder [whether it will rain]. (subject / direct object / subject complement (after be) / object of a preposition) → direct objectPrompt: Replace the clause with 'it' or 'something'. Where does it sit in the sentence?
2. In which sentence is the noun clause in brackets this: object of a preposition? ([That the river had flooded] was obvious. / She is worried about [what people will think]. / I wonder [whether it will rain].) → She is worried about [what people will think].Prompt: Replace the clause with 'it' or 'something'. Where does it sit in the sentence?

• 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. In which sentence is the noun clause in brackets this: subject complement (after be)? (The problem is [that nobody booked a room]. / [Whoever wins] will receive a trophy. / Nobody understood [why the lights went out].) → The problem is [that nobody booked a room].Prompt: Replace the clause with 'it' or 'something'. Where does it sit in the sentence?
2. What role does the noun clause in brackets play? I wonder [whether it will rain]. (subject / direct object / subject complement (after be) / object of a preposition) → direct objectPrompt: Replace the clause with 'it' or 'something'. Where does it sit in the sentence?

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-9.