a sentence about one idea that makes complete sense

a sentence formed of two main clauses and a co-ordinating conjunction

a sentence formed of a main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause

a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause

Four sentence types

English

Two types of clause

Comma rules in four sentence types

A new subordinate clause: the non-finite (-ing) clause

A new sentence structure: the non-finite complex sentence

Using the comma rules in non-finite complex sentences

In this unit, pupils learn a fifth sentence type: the non-finite complex sentence. In 'Using five sentence types', pupils will learn about the subject and object of a clause.

In 'Simple, compound, adverbial and relative complex sentences', pupils revised the first three sentence types and learnt a fourth. In this unit, pupils will learn a fifth: the non-finite complex sentence.

In this unit, pupils learn a new sentence structure: the non-finite complex sentence. In so doing, they learn a new comma rule for how to separate a non-finite clause from a main clause. Pupils revise the other sentence structures they know: simple, compound, adverbial complex and relative complex.

Five sentence types

Match the types of simple sentence to the examples.

It contains a co-ordinating conjunction. 

It sometimes contains a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction.

Which of these are true for a compound sentence?

The door was open and we stepped through. 

We stepped confidently into the dark, eerie forest. 

Which of the following are found in an adverbial complex sentence? 

My sister, who is nine, loves paintball. 

Match the types of sentence to the examples. 

Which is the correct definition of a clause?

Which of the following are subordinate clauses?

There are different types of subordinate clause.

A subordinate clause makes complete sense on its own. 

A subordinate clause must be linked to a main clause to make complete sense.

Which of the following are true for subordinate clauses?

Which of the following are adverbial clauses?

A relative clause does not make sense on its own. 

A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause. 

A relative clause begins with a relative pronoun. 

A relative clause is a group of words that contains a verb.

What one thing makes a relative clause different to an adverbial clause?

Starter Quiz

Which is the correct definition of a clause?