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      Subordination five ways

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use different joining words for subordination.

      Key learning points

      1. An adverbial complex sentence is formed of one main idea joined with subordination.
      2. Subordination joining words are 'because', 'so', 'when', 'if' and 'that'.
      3. An adverbial complex sentence can be written in the past or present tense.

      Keywords

      • Subordinate - of lower importance

      • Subordination - joining a simple sentence with a second idea of lower importance

      • Present tense - tells the reader the action is happening now

      • Past tense - tells the reader the action happened before now

      • Complex sentence - a sentence formed of a simple sentence joined with subordination

      Common misconception

      Some subordination joining words can join the same sentences as others e.g. 'because', 'so', 'when'.

      Discuss this with pupils if it arises in the lesson and explain that they have different purposes within the sentence but can both function.

      Teacher tip

      If sentences contain auxiliary verbs, focus on the main verbs in each idea at this stage so as not to over-complicate the learning. Consider this carefully when giving sentence examples that require pupils to identify the verbs.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the word class to its definition.

      Correct Answer:adverb,a word that describes a verb
      Correct Answer:verb,a doing or being word
      Correct Answer:noun,a naming word for people, places or things
      Correct Answer:adjective,a word that describes a noun

      Q2.
      A full sentence must contain at least one...

      Correct answer: noun
      adjective
      Correct answer: verb
      adverb

      Q3.
      Match the following.

      Correct Answer:verb,sing
      Correct Answer:noun,Luca
      Correct Answer:adjective,joyful
      Correct Answer:adverb,beautifully

      Q4.
      Identify the being verb in the following sentence. Jun is kind.

      Correct Answer: is

      Q5.
      Match the tense to the correct definition.

      Correct Answer:present tense,happening now
      Correct Answer:past tense,happened before now

      Q6.
      Fill in the gap in the following sentence. The __________ carries the tense of a sentence.

      Correct answer: verb
      noun
      adjective
      adverb

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Tick the sentence that is written in the past tense.

      Correct answer: The mighty lion roared loudly.
      The mighty lion roars loudly.
      The mighty lion will roar loudly.

      Q2.
      Fill in the gap. A subordinate idea __________ another idea to make sense.

      builds on
      agrees with
      Correct answer: depends on
      is separate to

      Q3.
      Identify the verbs in the following complex sentence and decide whether they are in the past, present or future tense. This morning, the birds sang tunefully because the sun was rising.

      present tense
      Correct answer: past tense
      future tense

      Q4.
      What is the subordination joining word in the following sentence? 'You can have a cookie if you eat your vegetables first.'

      Correct Answer: if, If

      Q5.
      Match the first idea with the second idea that is in the same tense.

      Correct Answer:I ate an apple,that was sweet and crunchy
      Correct Answer:I eat an apple,that is sweet and crunchy

      Q6.
      Tick the complex sentences that are written in the same tense throughout.

      Sam counted the apples when they fall from the tree.
      Correct answer: The hamster hid in its nest because it was frightened.
      Correct answer: Sam counted the apples when they fell from the tree.
      The hamster hides in its nest because it was frightened.

      To help you plan your 2 English lesson on: Subordination five ways, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...