Understanding the comma rule in adverbial complex sentences
Lesson details
Learning outcome
You can understand the comma rule in an adverbial complex sentence.
Key learning points
- The position of an adverbial clause can move in an adverbial complex sentence.
- The adverbial clause can come first in the sentence followed by the main clause.
- If the adverbial clause comes first in the sentence, it is followed by a comma to separate it from the main clause.
- The main clause can come first in the sentence followed by the adverbial clause.
- If the main clause comes first in the sentence, no comma is used.
Keywords
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
Comma - a punctuation mark used to separate the first adverbial clause from the second main clause in an adverbial complex sentence
Adverbial complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and an adverbial clause
Common misconception
Pupils think the adverbial clause always comes second in an adverbial complex sentence.
The position of the adverbial clause can swap. The adverbial clause can come first or second in an adverbial complex sentence.
Teacher tip
Use gestures (as the illustrations show) to model the main clause and the adverbial clause.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Fill in the gap: a subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a verb and __________ make complete sense.
Q2.Fill in the gap: a subordinating conjunction is a word that starts an __________ clause.
Q3.Is this true or false? There are several different subordinate clauses.
Q4.If you write one main clause and one adverbial clause, you have written a sentence.
Q5.Which of these groups of words are subordinating conjunctions?
Q6.What is one feature of a subordinate clause that is different to a main clause?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Where can an adverbial clause appear in a sentence?
Q2.Fill in the gap: an adverbial clause must __________ a main clause to make sense.
Q3.Which of these pairs are subordinating conjunctions?
Q4.Fill in the gap: if you move the adverbial clause in a complex sentence, you must __________ to make sure the sentence still makes sense.
Q5.Fill in the gap: commas often have the job of separating __________ in sentences.
Q6.Fill in the gap: if the adverbial clause comes first in a complex sentence, a __________ is placed after it before the main clause begins.
To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Understanding the comma rule in 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: Understanding the comma rule in 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.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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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.