Adverbial complex sentences
Lesson details
Learning outcome
You can understand that a complex sentence is formed of at least one main clause and any type of subordinate clause.
Key learning points
- A word that joins a second idea to a main clause in an adverbial complex sentence is called a subordinating conjunction.
- A subordinating conjunction is the word that starts an adverbial clause.
- A subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a verb and does not make complete sense.
- An adverbial clause is a type of subordinate clause.
- A main clause joined with any subordinate clause forms a complex sentence.
Keywords
Subordinating conjunction - a word that starts an adverbial clause
Subordinate clause - a group of words that contains a verb and does not make complete sense
Adverbial clause - a type of subordinate clause that starts with a subordinating conjunction
Main clause - a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense
Complex sentence - a sentence formed of at least one main clause and a subordinate clause
Common misconception
Pupils do not recognise that an adverbial clause is one type of subordinate clause.
"Subordinate clause" is an umbrella term. Any subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a verb and does not make complete sense.
Teacher tip
Explain that adverbial clauses are the most frequently used subordinate clauses in English. Remind pupils that there are more subordinate clauses that they will learn in future year groups.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a main clause?
Q2.Fill in the gap: a main clause __________ makes sense by itself.
Q3.Fill in the gap: any conjunction is a word that __________.
Q4.Fill in the gap: a main clause is a group of words that contains a verb and makes sense.
Q5.Which two co-ordinating conjunctions need commas before them in a compound sentence?
Q6.Fill in the gap: a sentence formed of at least two main clauses joined with a co-ordinating conjunction is called a __________ sentence.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a subordinate clause?
Q2.Fill in the gap: a subordinating conjunction is a word that __________ an adverbial clause.
Q3.Fill in the gap: an adverbial clause is a type of __________ clause.
Q4.What type of sentence is formed of at least one main clause and a subordinate clause?
Q5.What is one feature of a subordinate clause that is the same as a main clause?
Q6.Which of these pairs of words are subordinating conjunctions?
To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Adverbial complex sentences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Adverbial complex sentences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the Simple, compound and adverbial complex sentences unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.