Starter quiz
- Match the type of simple sentence to the example.
- question⇔What on earth are you doing? ✓
- exclamation⇔What a mess you've made! ✓
- command⇔Clear up this mess. ✓
- statement⇔I can't believe this room is so messy. ✓
- Match the type of sentence to its definition.
- simple sentence⇔has just one main clause ✓
- compound sentence⇔has main clauses joined by co-ordinating conjunctions ✓
- adverbial complex sentence⇔has a main clause and an adverbial clause ✓
- relative complex sentence⇔has a main clause and a relative clause ✓
- What type of sentence is this? The door, which was made of steel, was impossible to break down.
- compound
- simple
- relative complex ✓
- adverbial complex
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- What type of sentence is this? We all gasped as the fireworks shot into the sky.
- compound
- simple
- relative complex
- adverbial complex ✓
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- Which of these are true of a relative complex sentence?
- It contains a subordinate clause. ✓
- It contains a main clause. ✓
- It contains a relative pronoun. ✓
- It contains a subordinating conjunction.
- The main clause can be interrupted by the relative clause. ✓
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- Tick all the adverbial complex sentences.
- Before we could finish, Mrs Begum told us to pack away. ✓
- Before lunch, we finished our projects.
- After we had eaten, we went outside. ✓
- After that, we played football on the field.
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Exit quiz
- Which of the following are ways a comma can be used?
- to end a sentence
- to separate adjectives in an expanded noun phrase ✓
- to separate nouns in a list ✓
- to show where a relative clause begins and ends ✓
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- Why has a comma been used in this sentence? Jun stepped into the warm, cosy classroom.
- to show where a relative clause begins or ends
- because a co-ordinating conjunction was used
- because it is after an adverbial clause
- to separate adjectives in an expanded noun phrase ✓
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- Which co-ordinating conjunctions require a comma before them in a compound sentence?
- and
- but ✓
- or ✓
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- Which version of this sentence requires a comma to be added?
- After we returned from church we did Art. ✓
- We did Art this afternoon.
- We did Art after we returned from church.
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- Which version of this sentence has the correct commas?
- My cousin who lives in Liverpool, is a cricket fanatic.
- My cousin, who lives in Liverpool is a cricket fanatic.
- My cousin, who lives in Liverpool, is a cricket fanatic. ✓
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- Which version of this sentence has all the commas used correctly?
- We could play with Jacob, or we could invite Sam Izzy and Alex.
- We could play with Jacob, or we could invite Sam, Izzy and Alex. ✓
- We could play with Jacob or we could invite Sam Izzy and Alex.
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A comma is written before 'but' or 'or' co-ordinating conjunctions in a compound sentence.
- If the adverbial clause is first in an adverbial complex sentence, it is followed by a comma before the main clause.
- If the main clause is first in an adverbial complex sentence, it is not followed by a comma before the adverbial clause.
- A relative clause often interrupts after the subject of the main clause at the start of the sentence.
- A pair of commas is used around the relative clause to demarcate it from the main clause.
Common misconception
Pupils may believe that commas are only used to demarcate clauses or for 'pauses'.
Encourage pupils to think about the specific rules for comma use, including for clauses, in lists and between adjectives in ENPs.
Keywords
Comma - a punctuation mark used before 'but' or 'or' co-ordinating conjunctions in a compound sentence
Comma - a punctuation mark used to demarcate the first adverbial clause from the second main clause in an adverbial complex sentence
Comma - a punctuation mark used to demarcate the relative clause from the main clause in a relative complex sentence
Adverbial clause - a type of subordinate clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction
Relative clause - a type of subordinate clause that begins with a relative pronoun
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