Lesson video

Hi, I'm Mr. Buckingham, and I'm really glad you've chosen to join me today to learn about a new type of complex sentence.

Now, complex sentences are a great way of adding extra detail about characters and actions in our writing, and I think you'll find this new type of complex sentence a really helpful addition to your writer's toolkit.

Let's make a start.

Today's session is called a new sentence structure: the non-finite complex sentence, and it comes from our unit called Five Sentence Types.

By the end of this lesson, we'll be able to understand the structure of a non-finite complex sentence.

Now, this is going to give us that fifth sentence type which we can use in our writing so we can add even more variety and interest for our reader.

Let's get to work.

Here are our key words for today's lesson, my turn, your turn: non-finite clause, main clause, progressive tense, simultaneous, and non-finite complex sentence.

Really well done.

Okay, let's talk about those in a bit more detail, but don't panic.

We'll be talking about them all as we go through this lesson.

A non-finite clause is a type of subordinate clause that can start with a verb in the progressive tense with an -ing suffix.

A main clause is a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense.

The progressive tense is a tense that denotes or shows ongoing actions, something going on over a period of time.

If two things are simultaneous, they happen at the same time.

And a non-finite complex sentence is formed of a main clause and a non-finite clause.

Here's our lesson outline for today.

We're going to start by looking at what a non-finite complex sentence is and then we're going to try and write some of our own.

So a clause always contains a verb.

A main clause makes complete sense on its own, but a subordinate clause does not.

A non-finite clause is a type of subordinate clause, so that tells us it can't be a sentence on its own.

Here are some examples.

In purple, we can see the non-finite clause and in black, the main clause it's joined to in a complex sentence.

Gasping desperately for air, I pushed myself towards the finish line.

I pushed myself towards the finish line, knowing I could win.

Hoping she had done well, Sam handed her test to Mrs. Begum.

Sam handed her test to Mrs. Begum, sighing in relief.

Now, the non-finite clause, as we said, could not be a sentence on its own, and in this case, we've used one which starts with a verb in the progressive tense, with an -ing suffix.

Now, there are different types of non-finite clause, but we're focusing on a non-finite -ing clause with that progressive tense -ing verb at the start of the non-finite clause, and you can see them here.

Gasping, knowing, hoping, and sighing are those -ing words to start those non-finite clauses.

Now, the non-finite clause can come before or after a main clause and we know it needs to be paired with the main clause because all subordinate clauses must be paired with the main clause to make complete sense.

Let's have a look at the non-finite clause before the main clause.

Handling it with great care, the archaeologist removed the artefact from the grave.

I can see I've got my non-finite -ing clause to start with that word handling, and my main clause, the archaeologist removed the artefact from the grave.

That could be a sentence on its own.

Now, let's flip it the other way around.

The archaeologist removed the artefact from the grave, handling it with great care.

Now, the non-finite -ing clause is at the end, handling it with great care, after the main clause.

All clauses contain a verb, and when we're talking about non-finite -ing clauses, that verb is the progressive tense -ing verb at the start of the non-finite clause, handling here and handling here.

Those are the verbs that make these clauses.

So which of the following sentences contains a non-finite clause? Pause the video and find them all.

Well done.

In A, yes, there is a non-finite clause.

It starts with dancing and it's dancing across the night sky.

There's that -ing verb dancing.

B does not have a non-finite clause.

C does.

We see that -ing word breathing starting this non-finite clause, breathing deeply, after our main clause, we strode up the hillside.

And D does not have a non-finite clause.

I can't see a progressive tense -ing verb in that sentence.

Well done if you've got this.

Now, what's the purpose of a non-finite clause? Well, it's trying to add more detail to the main clause by saying what action is happening simultaneously at the same time.

Let me show you what I mean.

We could have this main clause, he rushed out to the leisure centre.

That's telling us the main action this person is doing.

We could add a non-finite clause, stuffing his swimming kit into his bag.

That gives us detail about what he's doing simultaneously, what action is happening simultaneously from the main clause and the non-finite clause.

So that could be added together to make a complex sentence.

He rushed out of the leisure centre, stuffing his swimming kit into his bag.

I can see the non-finite clause after the main clause on this occasion.

It tells us more about what a character is doing at the same time as the main action in the main clause.

Now, here's a really tricky rule for non-finite clauses.

The person or the thing that does that progressive tense verb at the start of the non-finite clause must be the same as the one doing the action in the main clause.

Now, I'm going to show you a wrong example first.

For this one, doesn't get it right.

Let's have a look.

Dancing across the night sky, I saw the shooting star blaze brightly through the black.

Now, we see that progressive tense verb dancing.

Now, I think that what the thing that's dancing across the night sky is actually the shooting star, but after the comma, we've written I.

Now that's confusing because I'm not dancing across the night sky, the shooting star is, so that one doesn't work.

Instead, it should look like this: Dancing across the night sky, the shooting star blazed brightly through the black.

Here, the thing doing that -ing word, dancing, is also the thing after the comma at the start of my main clause.

The shooting star is the one that's dancing, so that works.

Here's another bad example: Pushing open the church door, people were singing inside.

Well, those people aren't the ones pushing open the door.

That can't be right, so something has gone wrong there.

Instead, let's change those words.

Pushing open the church door, I saw people singing inside.

I'm the one who's doing the pushing of the door, so I have to be after the comma as well in this case.

So which of the following would we find in a non-finite -ing clause? Pause the video and have a think.

Okay, let's take a look.

What do we have, a past tense verb with an -ed suffix, -ed ending.

No, we wouldn't.

Instead, we'd have a progressive tense verb with an -ing suffix.

We would have details about the action that's happening simultaneously with the action in the main clause.

That's the purpose of a non-finite clause and we wouldn't have a subordinating conjunction.

If it started with a subordinating conjunction, it would be an adverbial clause.

Now, what's the problem with the main clause in this sentence and how would you change it? Stepping into the classroom, children were working hard.

Pause the video and decide the problem and fix it with your own sentence.

Okay, let's have a look.

This doesn't work because the action in the main clause, children were working hard, is being done by a different person to the action in the non-finite clause, stepping into the classroom.

We need to have the same person as is doing the non-finite clause at the start of that main clause.

So we would say, stepping into the classroom, I saw children working hard.

And here, the person doing the seeing is the same person who's doing the stepping in the non-finite clause, and that's how we make it work.

So the action in the non-finite clause and the action in the main clause must be able to be done simultaneously.

I'm going to show you two examples which do this really well.

Waving her hands wildly, Sam shouted towards the shore.

Sam is waving her hands and shouting at the same time.

That could work.

Alex pushes his baby brother's pram, singing quietly to help him sleep.

Alex can do both of those things together, and the non-finite clauses work really well to give us some extra detail about what Alex is doing at the same time.

So in both these cases, the actions can be completed at the same time or simultaneously.

Now, the non-finite clause can go, remember, before or after the main clause.

For instance, we could flip that first sentence, Sam shouted towards the shore, waving her hands wildly, and the second one, singing quietly to help him sleep, Alex pushed his baby brother's pram.

We can flip those sentences and they still work perfectly.

What's the problem with the non-finite clause in this sentence, and how would you change it? Washing your hands with soap, I should dry them thoroughly.

Pause the video and decide what's the problem and how would you fix it.

Great effort.

So the problem is the non-finite clauses here, washing your hands with soap, can't be done simultaneously with the main clause, Aisha dried them thoroughly.

Those two actions can't happen at the same time, can they? You can't wash your hands at the same time as drying them.

That wouldn't make any sense.

So we could fix this in two different ways.

We could say, washing her hands with soap, Aisha carefully removed all of the dirt.

So I've given a different piece of action there, and then I could write a different sentence about drying her hands.

I could say, rubbing her hands on the soft towel, Aisha dried them thoroughly.

So those two actions, the washing and the drying, can't be in the same sentence, but we could make a sentence with a non-finite clause using both of those actions.

We just need to think of two things which can be done simultaneously.

Really well done if you thought of some ideas there.

Now, let's see if you can match these non-finite clauses on the left to the main clauses on the right which could be done simultaneously.

Pause the video and have a go.

Let's have a look.

For A, I would say, racing round the track, Alex looked destined to win the race.

For B, measuring the temperature carefully, we completed the experiment.

And for C, striding down the corridor, the head teacher looked furious.

Those could be done simultaneously, so the non-finite clause works well with the main clause there.

Really well done for matching those up.

Now, when a non-finite clause is joined to a main clause, it creates what we call a non-finite complex sentence.

Remember, any subordinate clause joined to a main clause is a complex sentence, a non-finite clause is a type of subordinate clause, so we join the non-finite and the main clause, we have a non-finite complex sentence.

Let's look at how that works.

Here's an example: Joining the long queue is our non-finite clause, we sighed in frustration is our main clause.

So we've got our subordinate -ing non-finite clause first, followed by our main clause joined together to make a non-finite complex sentence.

We could do it the other way.

We joined the long queue, sighing in frustration.

Here, we've got our main clause first, we joined the long queue, followed by our -ing non-finite subordinate clause, sighing in frustration.

And each time, you can see in our diagram, there's a comma to separate the main clause and that non-finite -ing clause.

So which of these are non-finite complex sentences? We're looking for a non-finite clause with that -ing progressive tense verb at the start and then a main clause as well.

Pause the video and see if you can spot those non-finite complex sentences.

Okay, let's take a look.

A is a non-finite complex sentence.

We've got raising her hand as the non-finite clause.

B is not a non-finite complex sentence nor is C, but D is, because it has this non-finite clause, falling silent, with that -ing word there and our main clause, we tiptoed anxiously into the dark cave.

Great work if you've spotted this.

Now, we now know three types of complex sentence.

Let's just summarise them quickly.

We know an adverbial complex sentence, which might look like this: Before we were ready, the test was finished.

That includes an adverbial clause like before we were ready.

We know a relative complex sentence, which might look like this: Sofia, who loves sports, is on three school teams. And that's got a relative clause, who loves sports, inside it.

And we now also know a non-finite complex sentence, and that might look like this: Smiling at me kindly, Mrs. Begum asked her question, and it contains that non-finite -ing clause.

In this case, we've used my -ing clause.

Remember, we have said there are other types of non-finite clause you may learn in the future.

So we can tell which type of complex sentence we're talking about from the word that starts the subordinate clause.

Remember, all complex sentences include a subordinate clause and a main clause.

So let's see how that works.

We've got this one here: Before we were ready, the test was finished.

There, we've got a subordinating conjunction starting our subordinate clause, and we know there are many subordinating conjunctions like as, because, when, and why.

If our subordinate clause starts with a subordinating conjunction, it is an adverbial clause, making this sentence an adverbial complex sentence.

Here's another example: Sofia, who loves sports, is on three school teams. Here we see that word who at the start of our subordinate clause.

Who is a relative pronoun and we need to know two of those, who and which.

If a sentence contains a relative clause starting with a relative pronoun, it must be a relative complex sentence.

And finally, we have, smiling at me kindly, Mrs. Begum asked her question.

Here, we have that word smiling, a progressive tense verb with an -ing suffix.

That creates the non-finite -ing clause, smiling at me kindly, which means this type of sentence is a non-finite complex sentence.

So to summarise, if we start our subordinate clause with a subordinating conjunction, it's an adverbial complex sentence.

If it starts with a relative pronoun, it's a relative complex sentence.

And if it starts with that progressive tense -ing verb, it's a non-finite complex sentence.

So can you match the type of complex sentence here to a word that could start its subordinate clause? Pause the video and have a try.

Okay, let's have a go.

In a relative complex sentence, the subordinate clause could start with who, 'cause that would be a relative pronoun starting a relative clause.

In a non-finite complex sentence, the subordinate clause could start with hoping, because that would be a progressive tense verb with -ing suffix which could start a non-finite -ing clause.

And in an adverbial complex sentence, the subordinate clause could start with while, because that would be a subordinating conjunction starting an adverbial clause.

Really well done if you managed to match those together.

Now, for our first task this lesson, I'd like you to decide whether each sentence is an adverbial complex sentence, a relative complex sentence, or a non-finite complex sentence using those rules we've just discussed.

So here are our sentences.

All you need to do is to write which type of complex sentence we have here, and you may want to circle the word that told you that was the case.

Pause the video and have a go.

Okay, let's take a look.

In A, we have laughing, which is a progressive tense word starting a non-finite clause, so this is a non-finite complex sentence.

In B, we have the relative pronoun who, creating a relative clause to make this a relative complex sentence.

In C, we have recognising an -ing verb starting that non-finite clause, so this is a non-finite complex sentence.

In D, we have when starting the adverbial clause when he grew up, so this is an adverbial complex sentence.

In E, I can see knowing is my -ing word, knowing Mrs. Begum would help is my non-finite -ing clause, so this is a non-finite complex sentence.

In F, we have before, a subordinating conjunction in this sentence, before Andeep could argue is an adverbial clause, so this is an adverbial complex sentence.

And finally, racing through the streets is a non-finite clause, so this is a non-finite complex sentence.

That was a lot of work you've just done there, the first half of our lesson, so great job if you've managed to keep up all the way through.

Okay, we've now learned what a non-finite complex sentence looks like, we're going to now move on to practising writing our own with a little bit of help.

Let's get to work.

We know that a non-finite clause can come before or after a main clause and sometimes it's possible to flip the non-finite clause to the other side, so to be before or after the main clause.

Let's have a look.

Writing his name shakily, Jacob prepared himself to take the exam.

Here, we've got the -ing non-finite clause first, followed by the main clause to make a non-finite complex sentence.

We could flip it the other way around.

Jacob prepared himself to take the exam, writing his name shakily.

This time you've got our main clause first, followed by a non-finite -ing clause to make another non-finite complex sentence.

Could you see if you can flip the sentences so the non-finite clause are at the opposite end of the sentence? Pause the video and have a go.

Okay, so let's take a look.

In A, we could flip it to, the adults chuckled, speaking quietly to each other.

B could flip to, marching solemnly down the road, the soldier looked straight ahead.

And C would flip to make, we waited desperately for the shop to open, queuing outside in the cold.

Notice how we've still kept a comma between the main and the non-finite clause.

Really good job.

Now, we can create non-finite complex sentences by adding a non-finite clause to a main clause.

So here's a main clause, I dashed across the wide grassy park.

So we need to think, when we're making a non-finite clause, what actions could be happening simultaneously as I dash across that park.

So maybe I'm heading for the football pitch, maybe I'm searching for my friend, maybe I'm feeling the sun on my skin.

Now, none of those are non-finite -ing clauses yet because they don't start with an -ing progressive tense verb.

So let's change that.

Let's make each of those into a non-finite -ing clause with a progressive tense -ing verb.

We could say, heading for the pitch, searching for my friend, feeling the sun of my skin.

Those are now non-finite -ing clauses I can add to that main clause, I dashed across the wide grassy park.

So let's do that.

We're gonna add the non-finite clause either before or after this main clause.

Here's three examples.

We could say, I dashed across the wide, grassy park, heading for the pitch.

I could say, feeling the sun on my skin, I dashed across the wide, grassy park.

Or I could say, I dashed across the wide, grassy park, searching for my friend.

Look how we can put the non-finite -ing clause before or after that main clause, but we've had to choose something in that non-finite -ing clause which could be done at the same time as I dashed across that park.

Now you try.

What ideas can you think of for a non-finite clause to add to this main clause? We all groaned loudly.

And what non-finite complex sentence would this create? Now this is really tricky.

So pause the video and have a good long think about how we could make a non-finite clause first and add it to this main clause to make a non-finite complex sentence.

Have a go.

Okay, let's take a look.

Here are some non-finite clauses you might have thought of.

You could say, burying our heads in our hands, sighing in frustration, knowing the story was over, realising playtime had finished, rolling our eyes.

I've tried to think of things we might do at the same time as groaning, and I've given each of them an -ing progressive tense verb to start.

Now, I could put these before or after that main clause, we all groaned loudly, to make a non-finite complex sentence.

I could have said, rolling our eyes, we all groaned loudly or, we all groaned loudly, knowing the story was over or, sighing in frustration, we all groaned loudly.

So I've put my non-finite -ing clauses before or after those main clauses.

Hopefully you came up with something similar.

Really well done if you did.

Now, we can also add a main clause to complete a non-finite complex sentence when we're given the non-finite clause.

Let me show you how that works.

Here are some non-finite clauses: shivering with fear, clutching our torches.

So what could be happening simultaneously in the main clause? Well, maybe we're walking through the dark cemetery, maybe we stepped into the cave, maybe we left the warm, cosy house.

All of those could work at the same time as shivering with fear or clutching our torches.

So we could add together the non-finite clause and the main clause to make non-finite complex sentences, which look like this: Shivering with fear, we walked through the dark cemetery.

We stepped into the cave, clutching our torches.

What ideas can you think of for a main clause to add to this non-finite clause? And what non-finite complex sentence could this create? We've got the non-finite clause gasping desperately for air.

What main clause could be happening at the same time? Pause the video and see if you can make a non-finite complex sentence.

Have a go.

Okay, let's share some ideas.

The main clause could have been, I dashed across the field, she swam the whole length of the pool, we raced away from the dark house, they sprinted on towards the finish line.

All of those would make sense if I'm gasping desperately for air.

So now, let's make some non-finite complex sentences using those ideas.

I could say, gasping desperately for air, she swam the whole length of the pool.

I could say, we raced away from the dark house, gasping desperately for air.

I could say, they sprinted on towards the finish line, gasping desperately for air.

So I've put the non-finite clause before or after the main clauses I came up with.

If you came up with something similar, amazing work.

Now, I wonder if you can think of a main clause that could complete the sentence in each of these examples to create a non-finite complex sentence.

Pause the video and have a good long think about what main clause might be able to fill each of these gaps.

Have a go.

Okay, let's have a look at some ideas.

We could say, stepping into the classroom, I looked around for my friends.

For B, I could say, we stepped onto the pitch, feeling our hearts pound in our chest.

And for C, I could say, Jacob made his way through the maze, wondering how he would ever get out.

That was really tricky, so good job if you managed to think of some.

Okay, let's have a go at our second task for this lesson.

I want you to complete each of the sentences I'm going to show you by writing a main clause in the gap to create a non-finite complex sentence.

So here are some non-finite clauses with a gap before or after the non-finite clause where you can place a main clause.

So you need to think of something which could be done simultaneously and it has to be done by the same person who is doing the non-finite clause.

So remember, the same person does non-finite clause and the main clause.

Pause the video and see what you can come up with.

Good luck.

Okay, here are some examples of non-finite complex sentences with a main clause added to those non-finite clauses I gave you.

Let's take a look.

I could say, throwing things onto the floor, I stomped angrily across the room.

There's my main clause, I stomped angrily across the room, that I have added to match up with throwing things across the floor.

For B, I could say, we walked through the bright forest, kicking the autumn leaves.

For C, hoping Mrs. Begum was there, we rushed into the classroom.

For D, Andeep and Izzy ran home, sprinting down the pavement quickly.

And for E, standing on the hilltop, they admired the beautiful view.

Now, notice how in each of those cases, I have the same person doing the non-finite clause and the main clause.

Andeep and Izzy are the ones who are sprinting.

We are the ones who are kicking autumn leaves as we walk through the forest.

I'm the one who's stomping, and I'm the one who's throwing things onto the floor.

That's a really important thing to remember.

If you've managed to make some non-finite complex sentences there, you've done a fantastic job with a really tricky skill.

Really well done.

Okay, let's summarise the learning we've done in this lesson.

We learned that a non-finite clause can start with a progressive tense verb with an -ing suffix.

We learned that the non-finite clause adds more detail to the main clause by saying something else that's happening simultaneously.

We learned that a non-finite complex sentence is composed of a non-finite clause and a main clause, and we learned that the non-finite clause can come before or after the main clause and a comma is always placed between the two of them.

Now, there was some really tricky stuff in that lesson.

You've done a great job if you've got to the end of it.

So hopefully, you now have another skill you can use in your writing to make your writing even more interesting for your reader.

Really well done.

And I hope to see you again in a future lesson.

Goodbye.