The Quiet Art of Holding Power
Grammar: Relative clauses — defining, non-defining, and advanced prepositional forms
A Level 6 English lesson exploring leadership.
What's in this lesson
A Level 6 (proficiency) ESL lesson on leadership, practising relative clauses — defining, non-defining, and advanced prepositional forms. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Quiet Art of Holding Power
In 1962, when the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world within hours of nuclear exchange, the decision that mattered most was not made in a war room but in a private letter. Robert McNamara, who served as US Secretary of Defense at the time, later reflected that the outcome depended less on military superiority than on the deliberate restraint of men whose authority was absolute but whose instinct was silence. Power, he argued, is most dangerous in the hands of those who enjoy displaying it — and most effective in the hands of those who do not.
Vocabulary
- in
- on
- at the time
- in real time
- in writing
- over time
- to no avail
Grammar: Relative Clauses
- Defining relative
- The leader who listens carefully builds stronger teams. — identifies which person; no commas
- Non-defining relative
- Ed Catmull, who co-founded Pixar, ran it for three decades. — adds extra info; commas required
Discussion questions
- Does powerful mean visible?
- Have you ever had to hold back when you had authority over someone?
- Is silence ever a form of power?
The Quiet Art of Holding Power
Grammar: Relative clauses — defining, non-defining, and advanced prepositional forms
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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