1. Relative clauses
and
Parentheses

2. Identifying parentheses1
Identifying parentheses
Parentheses are words, phrases or clauses separated from the main part of the sentence by commas, dashes or brackets. When it is removed, the original sentence MUST make sense by itself.
Can you spot the parentheses in the sentences below?
The runners – all 24 of them – lined up at the starting position.
Lions, which live in packs, are dangerous creatures.
We phoned her mum (Sandra) and told her the bad news.
Top tip
The easiest way to spot parentheses is by find a pair of commas, dashes or brackets being used as parentheses.
Did you know? Relative clauses are classed as parentheses. That’s because when you remove the relative clause, the original structure still makes sense.
Physically create the sentences above in three strips of paper e.g. The runners (strip 1) –all 24 of them – (strip 2) and ‘lined up at the starting position (strip 3). Once this is done, remove the second strip and put 1 and 3 together to demonstrate that the original sentence makes sense when we remove the parenthesis.
-all 24 of them- ,which live in packs, (Sandra)
What do you notice about the rest of the sentence when you remove the parenthesis?

3. 2
Why bother using them?
Parentheses provide extra detail to your ideas and this is particularly important when clarifying technical vocabulary or detailing vital extra information.
Read the first passage below and discuss with your partner which words needs extra information so that we can understand the passage. Then, reveal passage 2 and see if it now makes more sense!
Passage 1
Zurbos live in Grumtl Bay and are often found searching for the trumtl of a trubo.
Passage 2
Zurbos – a rare, silver-beaked bird – live in Grumtl Bay and are often found searching for the trumtl – a hard-wearing shell – of a trubo – a common reptile found in Grumtl bay.
Before you reveal passage 2, the pupils could think themselves what the terms might be. You might want to get the children to create their own before they see the passage to see how close they were.

4. Creating relative clauses3
Creating relative clauses
Follow this step-by-step guide to easily create relative clauses!
5. Put the sentences together so that the parenthesis/relative clause you’ve chosen goes in the middle.
1. On strips of paper, create a selection of independent clauses with the same subject.
3. Choose the independent clause you’d like to be the parenthesis/relative clause.
Lions live in packs.
Lions live in packs.
Lions are carnivores.
Lions
Lions are carnivores
live in packs.
Lions are carnivores.
Lions live in groups of 10 or 15.
4. Place the sentence you’ve chosen in the middle and then take the other sentence and cut it up so that the subject and verb are separate.
6. Because we don’t want to say ‘lions lions,’ replace the second ‘lions’ with a relative pronoun.
Lions hunt for food from dusk until dawn.
This step-by-step guide is the easiest way to teach children how to make relative clauses.
which – a thing
who – a person
where – a place
2. Choose two of the facts from your list and put them next to each other.
Lions
live in packs.
Lions live in packs.
Lions are carnivores.
Lions are carnivores
Lions
which are carnivores
live in packs.

5. Creating relative clauses4
Creating relative clauses
Follow this step-by-step guide to easily create relative clauses!
Lions
which are carnivores
live in packs.
Where could we put commas, dashes or brackets for parentheses?
Use masking tape to tape the sentences back together. Where the masking tape joins the lions and which and carnivores and live is where the commas/brackets/dashes go. Before this, ask the children to prove to
Prove to your teacher which part of the sentence is parenthesis. Remember to check that the rest of the sentence makes sense without the parenthesis!

6. Creating relative clauses5
Creating relative clauses
Jeepers! Look at that! This hybrid creature has just been discovered somewhere in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest!
Apparently, you are now parentheses experts and we most certainly need to use some parentheses to let people know the facts about this magnificent beast!
Your task is to write a factual report about this creature using relative clauses. Don’t forget you’ll need to clarify technical terms, too!
Last but not least, make sure you have included punctuation for parentheses – commas, dashes or brackets!
Introduce the task and get the children to make a variety of wacky facts about this creature just like they did with the lions. The great thing about using an undiscovered creature is that it can do anything you want!

7. Creating relative clauses6
Creating relative clauses
Here are the technical terms you’ll need to clarify for the reader.
callasks
trumbo
mertyl
garsalk
This part of the lesson reflects the ‘why bother using them?’ section earlier. Once the children have got lots of facts about its diet, habitat etc., use this information to help write the section on its appearance.
e.g. Giraffobozzoms use theirs callasks – two small, brown horns on their head – to track their prey!
Don’t forget to clarify these technical words! Some of the readers at home won’t know what you’re on about otherwise.
lubber