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      Two types of clause, including subordinate clauses

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can identify different types of clause.

      Key learning points

      1. Any clause is a group of words that contains a verb.
      2. A main clause is a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense.
      3. A subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a verb that does not make complete sense.
      4. A subordinate clause must be joined to a main clause to make a complex sentence.
      5. One type of subordinate clause is an adverbial clause, which starts with a subordinating conjunction.

      Keywords

      • Clause - a group of words that contains a verb

      • Main clause - a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense

      • Subordinate clause - a group of words that contains a verb and does not make complete sense

      Common misconception

      Pupils may think verbs can only show 'doing'.

      Verbs can show 'being' and 'having' as well as 'doing'. These are sometimes 'hidden' in contractions (I'm, she's, they've, we've).

      Teacher tip

      Give children opportunities to engage in quick partner talk during Checks for Understanding, so that any child can be picked to answer instead of relying on 'hands up'.

      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.
      What piece of punctuation should end this sentence? 'Where is your homework...'

      full stop
      Correct answer: question mark
      capital letter
      comma

      Q2.
      Which two of these groups of words could be a complete sentence?

      all of a sudden
      Correct answer: can you hear me
      a small piece of paper
      Correct answer: we ran home rapidly

      Q3.
      Match the word class to its meaning.

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

      Q4.
      Which word is the verb in the sentence 'Izzy walked slowly to the park'.

      Izzy
      Correct answer: walked
      slowly
      park

      Q5.
      Match each word in this sentence to its word class: 'Jacob dashed quickly to the local shop'.

      Correct Answer:Jacob,noun
      Correct Answer:dashed,verb
      Correct Answer:quickly,adverb
      Correct Answer:local,adjective

      Q6.
      Why does the word 'Laura' have a capital letter in this sentence? 'Sam gave Laura a brand new football'.

      It is at the start of a sentence.
      Correct answer: It is a proper noun - the name of a specific person.
      It is a common noun - a naming word.
      It is an adjective.

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What must a clause contain?

      an adjective
      Correct answer: a verb
      an adverb
      a phrase

      Q2.
      Which two of these are main clauses?

      just then
      Correct answer: a vast bat flew past
      a tiny, wooden boat
      Correct answer: Andeep smiled happily

      Q3.
      Match the term to its meaning.

      Correct Answer:clause,a group of words that contains a verb
      Correct Answer:main clause,a group of words with a verb that makes complete sense
      Correct Answer:subordinate clause,a group of words with a verb that doesn't make sense

      Q4.
      Which two of these are subordinate clauses?

      Correct answer: as the sun rose slowly in the east
      I rolled sleepily out of bed
      Aisha tiptoed across the damp grass
      Correct answer: so no-one would notice she had gone

      Q5.
      Which two elements does a complex sentence have to contain?

      Correct answer: a main clause
      a phrase
      Correct answer: a subordinate clause
      an adjective

      Q6.
      Make three complex sentences by matching the subordinate clauses to the main clauses.

      Correct Answer:Because it was sunny,,I wore sunglasses.
      Correct Answer:When it was lunchtime,,we ran onto the playground.
      Correct Answer:As the sun set,,Jacob got ready for bed.

      To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Two types of clause, including subordinate clauses, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...