Year 10 · English
Someone is accusing you. All you have is word order.
The accusation
Three people deny the same thing. Who do you believe?
Vote. Then defend your choice in one sentence.
Same facts.
English lets you move the spotlight. Today: three ways to move it.
The defence · Weapon 1 · the spotlight sentence
Liam sent the photo to the class group yesterday.
A flat report. Nobody is in trouble yet.
How do we put Liam in the spotlight? Say it before I show you.
It + was + spotlight + who / that
The spotlight works in defence too
— You told the teacher.
— It wasn't me who told the teacher.
— It was someone else who told her.
You don't deny everything. You move the spotlight off yourself.
Your turn · 60 seconds · pairs
"YOU broke the speaker at the party."
You didn't. Defend yourself with one cleft sentence.
It wasn't... / It was... who...
The counterpunch · Weapon 2
— You didn't do your homework.
— I did do my homework.
— You're not listening to me.
— I am listening!
How it works
Is there already an auxiliary? Stress it.
am · is · have · will · can
No auxiliary? Add do / does / did.
One small word cancels the whole accusation. This is the weapon you'll actually use.
Rapid fire · pairs · A accuses, B counterpunches
01 You don't like my cooking.
02 You weren't at training on Monday.
03 You never answer my messages.
04 You forgot my birthday.
Then swap roles. The stress goes on the auxiliary — say it like you mean it.
Round 2: invent your own accusation. Your partner must counterpunch in three seconds.
The closing speech · Weapon 3
We have never faced a challenge like this.
Never have we faced a challenge like this.
Which one sounds like a prime minister?
Your turn: "We have never lost a final."
Make it sound presidential.
You've heard this weapon a thousand times.
The trailer voice. Negative word first → subject and auxiliary swap places.
Say it aloud — in the deepest voice you own. That's the register: trailers, speeches, closing arguments. Not the supermarket.
The trial · pairs · 3 minutes
Build your defence: one cleft + one counterpunch.
Trailer voice = bonus points. Strongest defence gets heard by the court.
One possible defence
It wasn't me who deleted the file.
It was Marek who deleted it — after I went home.
I did do my part of the project.
Never have I deleted someone else's work.
Three weapons, one argument. The last line is the closing speech — save it for the end.
The verdict
The spotlight doesn't change the facts.
Exit ticket: someone accuses you of something you didn't do. Invent it.
Defend yourself in one sentence — using a spotlight.