Marker or model sentences are sentences that are clear examples of the target language of the lesson. Marker sentences help learners understand the structure, use and meaning of new language. They can also provide information about context, including collocations and connotation and work as a reliable example for learners to record.

Example
The aim of the class is for learners to understand the use of the present perfect to describe something that starts in the past and continues. The marker sentence the teacher writes on the board is ‘I have lived here in Japan since 1989'.

In the classroom
As part of looking at new language, learners can be asked to suggest a marker sentence themselves. This helps them focus on the target language and is also a useful learning strategy for them to develop for private study.