Simple, compound, adverbial and relative complex sentences
Downloads can take a few minutes, especially for larger files or slower connections.
Threads
Why this why now
This unit uses and builds on learning around writing simple, compound and adverbial complex sentence structures reviewed in the Year 3 grammar unit 'Simple, compound and adverbial complex sentences'. Pupils learn a new set of subordinating conjunctions (after, before, while) and practise writing adverbial complex sentences in two formations, making use of a comma in one of these. A new sentence structure is taught - the relative complex sentence - which has a new comma rule. This unit prepares pupils to learn one more complex sentence structure in the Year 5 grammar unit 'Five sentence types'.
Prior knowledge requirements
- A main clause is a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense.
- A simple sentence is formed of one main clause and there are four types of simple sentence: statement, question, command and exclamation.
- A compound sentence is formed of two main clauses that are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction.
- There are three co-ordinating conjunctions used to join main clauses: 'and', 'but' and 'or'.
- The main clause on either side of the co-ordinating conjunction holds equal grammatical weight.
- A subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a verb that does not make complete sense.
- An adverbial complex sentence is formed of at least one main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause.
- An adverbial clause starts with a subordinating conjunction and each subordinating conjunction has a different meaning.
- The main clause and adverbial clause can swap position in an adverbial complex sentence.
- Commas are often used to demarcate clauses in compound and complex sentences.
Threads
Why this why now
This unit uses and builds on learning around writing simple, compound and adverbial complex sentence structures reviewed in the Year 3 grammar unit 'Simple, compound and adverbial complex sentences'. Pupils learn a new set of subordinating conjunctions (after, before, while) and practise writing adverbial complex sentences in two formations, making use of a comma in one of these. A new sentence structure is taught - the relative complex sentence - which has a new comma rule. This unit prepares pupils to learn one more complex sentence structure in the Year 5 grammar unit 'Five sentence types'.
Prior knowledge requirements
- A main clause is a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense.
- A simple sentence is formed of one main clause and there are four types of simple sentence: statement, question, command and exclamation.
- A compound sentence is formed of two main clauses that are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction.
- There are three co-ordinating conjunctions used to join main clauses: 'and', 'but' and 'or'.
- The main clause on either side of the co-ordinating conjunction holds equal grammatical weight.
- A subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a verb that does not make complete sense.
- An adverbial complex sentence is formed of at least one main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause.
- An adverbial clause starts with a subordinating conjunction and each subordinating conjunction has a different meaning.
- The main clause and adverbial clause can swap position in an adverbial complex sentence.
- Commas are often used to demarcate clauses in compound and complex sentences.
Grammar
Simple, compound, adverbial and relative complex sentences
In this unit, pupils learn a new sentence structure: the relative complex sentence. In so doing, they learn a new comma rule for how to embed a relative clause within a main clause. Pupils revise main and adverbial clauses and phrases as well as simple, compound and adverbial complex sentences.
7 lessons in unit
slide decks, worksheet PDFs, quizzes and lesson overviews. You can select individual lessons from the Simple, compound, adverbial and relative complex sentences unit and download the resources you need, or download the entire unit now. See every unit listed in our primary english curriculum and discover more of our teaching resources for primary english programmes.