--- title: "Grammar Terms: Modal Verbs and Clauses" description: "Know and use Year 5 grammar terminology accurately when discussing reading and writing: modal verb, relative pronoun, relative clause, parenthesis, bracket, dash, cohesion, ambiguity" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/grammar-terms-modal-verbs-and-clauses-mt_-tcJeAhK5k source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/grammar-terms-modal-verbs-and-clauses-mt_-tcJeAhK5k.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Grammar Terms: Modal Verbs and Clauses Know and use Year 5 grammar terminology accurately when discussing reading and writing: modal verb, relative pronoun, relative clause, parenthesis, bracket, dash, cohesion, ambiguity Subject: English · Area: Grammar & Punctuation · Ages 9 to 10 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/grammar-terms-modal-verbs-and-clauses-mt_-tcJeAhK5k ## Ready when they can - Label a relative clause in a sentence and identify the relative pronoun that introduces it, using correct terminology - Explain why a pair of brackets or dashes creates a parenthesis and describe its function using the term 'parenthesis' - Use the terms 'modal verb', 'cohesion', and 'ambiguity' when discussing how a writer has achieved particular effects in a text ## Lesson: Modal Verbs and Relative Clauses You've used these words for years without a name for them. You already know that a pronoun can stand in for a noun. A relative pronoun does that too, but it also starts a relative clause: a group of words that adds extra information about a noun. The relative pronouns are who, which, that, and whose. The word where is a relative adverb: it can also start a relative clause, about a place. **Example.** In 'The teacher who marked our tests is kind,' the relative clause is 'who marked our tests.' It starts with the relative pronoun 'who' and tells us more about 'the teacher.' Writers can drop extra information into the middle of a sentence using a parenthesis. A parenthesis sits inside a pair of brackets ( ) or a pair of dashes, like this: 'The trophy -- dusty after years in the attic -- gleamed in the light.' Take the parenthesis out and the sentence still makes complete sense. **Example.** In 'My uncle (who lives in Leeds) is visiting today,' the brackets mark the parenthesis 'who lives in Leeds.' Remove it and 'My uncle is visiting today' still works. *(drawing: The bracketed words are the parenthesis. Lift them out and 'My uncle is visiting today' still works.)* A modal verb is a helper verb that sits before the main verb. It shows how certain or how necessary the action is. 'Might' and 'could' mean something is only possible. 'Should' means it is a good idea. 'Must' means it has to happen, and 'will' means the writer is sure. Add 'not' and the meaning flips: 'cannot' means something is not possible or not allowed. 'Can' has one more job: in 'Can I sit here?' it asks for permission. **Tip.** Modal verbs such as can, might, should, and must show how certain or how necessary something is. Clear pronouns and well-chosen modal verbs give your writing cohesion, so ideas flow together. When a reader cannot tell what a word refers to, that is ambiguity, and strong writers avoid it. **Recap.** A relative clause starts with a relative pronoun, or with where for a place, a parenthesis sits inside brackets or dashes, and careful modal verbs and clear pronouns keep writing cohesive instead of ambiguous. ## Practice 24 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Grammar Terms: Pronouns and Determiners](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/grammar-terms-pronouns-and-determiners-mt_J5cx6S_eT9) ## Opens up - [Grammar Terms: Voice and Punctuation](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/grammar-terms-voice-and-punctuation-mt_hzkNpp2PdV) - [Saying What Might Be: Mood and Modality](https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/saying-what-might-be-mood-and-modality-mt_IIgSDzD2a9)