Lesson video

- Hi there.

Welcome back to grammar with me, Ms. Richards.

Lovely to have you all back.

So before we get started with today's lesson can you just make sure you've got a pen and some paper or an exercise book? Something you can write on.

If you can, try and go somewhere nice and quiet where you won't be interrupted.

And if you've got any devices around then turn all the notifications off so you don't get interrupted.

If you want to pause the video now, just get yourself settled, get yourself ready to go, that's absolutely fine.

Press play when you're ready and we will get on with some subordinate clause work.

You got everything you need.

Brilliant.

Let's get going then.

For today's session, we're going to look back at independent clause, which is the new term that we looked at last lesson or revisited if you knew it already.

And we're going to go back to a term called subordinate clause, which is one you would have done earlier in your grammar work with Miss Eden.

Then we're going to complicate matters.

I'm going to see if we can add multiple subordinate clauses to an independent clause.

Then you're going to have a go and you've got your quiz as always.

Okay.

Let's just look back at this term independent clause from our last session.

An independent clause is a complete idea which includes a subject, a verb, and all the information for it to make sense Can be understood by itself.

We know that ,we did loads of work last time.

You've done it in previous lessons.

You are fantastic at independent clauses already.

However, it's really important that we stick to being clear on an independent clause.

That we're really, really clear that it's a complete idea.

It's got all the information it needs to make sense by itself, because the independent clause is kind of the foundation of what we're doing.

We can't add subordinate clauses to an independent clause if we can't find the independent clause or we're not confident in what that is.

So let's do a really, really quick little recap.

Just to check then that we're really happy with that, take a look at the two options on the screen, pause the video and decide which one is the independent clause.

You got it right? Christina played video games.

I've got a subject, Christina, got a verb, played, and then the action information video games just so we're really clear on what it is that Christina is playing.

Whereas our second option played video games is missing a subject.

Let's try another one, which of these is the independent clause? Pause the video, have a read, make your decision.

You got it right.

There are lots of places to eat.

The other option, there are lots of to eat is missing places.

It's missing all the information that we need for that independent clause to make proper sense.

Okay.

Another one then, pause the video which of these is the independent clause? Did you get this one? It's important to brush your teeth.

We've got a subject we've got a verb, we've got all the information that we need to really understand what this independent clause is trying to say.

The others are missing vital bits of information.

Fantastic.

And you've been absolutely brilliant at that.

You've done so much work and practise now that I know you're excellent in your independent clauses, but like I said at the start, such an important concept for the work that we're doing today that I did just want to make sure we're really happy.

So let's move on to subordinate clauses now which I know you covered with Miss Eden earlier on in this grammar work.

But again, we're just recapping and refreshing and hopefully I'm going to extend and challenge your knowledge.

Okay.

A subordinate clause is a part of the sentence which adds extra information and does not make sense by itself.

That's really important.

Our independent clause makes sense by itself, our subordinate clause is the extra information and it doesn't make sense by itself.

It relies on the independent clause to give all the information that we need.

Okay.

You might be really competent with these already.

Let's have a look.

So here's an example of a subordinate clause, every Wednesday evening.

It doesn't make sense by itself, does it? It doesn't tell me like what happens on a Wednesday evening or where people go on a Wednesday evening, just every Wednesday evening.

So it's extra information.

It's additional details, but doesn't make sense.

So this part of the sentence does not make sense by itself.

It's just giving us extra information.

So what I need to do is add it to an independent clause.

Here we go.

Let's add it to an independent clause then.

So I could do this every Wednesday evening, Craig attended tennis coaching.

Now my subordinate clause makes total sense because I have all the information from the independent clause about Craig, about his tennis coaching.

And now I get the extra information that it happens on a Wednesday evening.

So our subordinate clauses don't make sense by themselves.

You must put them with an independent clause.

There are different types of subordinate clauses.

I'm going to go through some of them now, but we're going to stick with our independent clause of Craig attending tennis coaching just to help us understand.

So we might have a time subordinate clause.

You might've heard of these called temporal clauses.

Every Wednesday evening, Craig attended tennis coaching.

So a temporal ordinate clause or a times ordinate clause is the extra information about the time an event took place, when something happened.

That's not the only subordinate clause that we can have.

We might have a place subordinate clause or a prepositional phrase.

Now these tell us where something took place.

So for example, at the leisure centre across the road, Craig attended tennis coaching.

You'll see that we're keeping the same independent clause of Craig attended tennis coaching.

And we're just thinking about the extra information that subordinate clauses can give us.

We could have a conditional clause.

Let's have a look at an example of one of those.

If the weather is nice, Craig attended tennis coaching.

So our conditional subordinate clauses are extra information that on the condition of something happening.

So if the weather is nice, fantastic.

But there are other subordinate clauses too.

They just keep going.

So we could have subordinate clauses of reason, as he enjoyed it, Craig attended tennis coaching.

So a subordinate clause here gives us the reason why the independent clause happens.

We might have a result.

So he could improve, Craig attempted tennis coaching.

So these subordinate clauses give us the result of the independent clause.

Might be about people winning or losing or just an outcome that happens.

But we get some kind of end result.

We can also have concessive subordinate clauses.

These mean it's a really fancy way of saying opposite idea.

Although he preferred rugby, Craig attended tennis coaching.

So it's the opposite thing that, although he was doing this, he actually wanted to do this, or although he wanted to do something he was doing something else and it gives an opposite idea in our subordinate clause.

Okay.

I wanted to just pause here for just a second because we've just looked at a lot of different types of subordinate clauses and that could be really overwhelming.

You might be a little bit worried now that you've got to remember all of these different names and all these different types and just wanted to stop and say absolutely don't, don't panic.

Okay.

You're fine.

I've used names like temporal or prepositional because some of you might know those from the work that you've done with teachers already.

And I want you to be able to build on that and to see how this work connects.

But if you've never had those phrases before, do not worry.

You don't need to know the technical terms for these, but you do need to know that there are lots of different types of subordinate clause.

We can add so much information to our independent clauses and that's what really builds variety and interest when we're writing, whether that's creative writing or academic writing for any of our curriculum subjects.

Actually it's our subordinate clauses giving all that extra information to the independent clause makes our writing really really engaging and interesting.

So we've stopped.

Don't panic.

You don't need to know all the different technical terms. Don't need to worry about those names.

If you know them, that's actually fantastic, but you do need to know how we write subordinate clauses properly so that we're punctuating and we're following all the rules.

So let's carry on.

The really important thing that we remember is a subordinate clause is part of a sentence which adds extra information and does not make sense by itself.

That's our rule, that's our important bit.

We obviously want to pick the subordinate clause that best fits our independent clause or best fits what we're trying to say so that we're being really precise.

But there isn't one type of subordinate clause that's better than another or one that you should use more than another.

It really does all fit in relation to what you're writing and how specific you're trying to be.

But the great thing with there being so many is that we just get loads of variety in our writing, and we get to add all of this extra information to our independent clauses, to really add some detail, show some knowledge or be really creative.

Let's have a practise then, first of all at just finding the subordinate clause.

So I've got three sentences for you here.

I'd like you to write them out and then underline the subordinate clause in each one.

So pause the video to do this and then press play when you're ready.

How'd you get on? Do yours look like mine? If you've got another coloured pen that you want to use to tick and mark, that's fine.

Got your normal pen, that's all right.

Give yourself a tick if you've got these.

So for A, last week is our subordinate clause because that tells us when they went out to dinner with their friend.

B our subordinate clause is, in the technology room.

Macy designed a chest of drawers to build.

So that tells us where Macy did her designing, in the technology room.

It doesn't make sense by itself.

It doesn't have all the information.

So that's the subordinate clause, and then C, provided he got good results on his test.

David's mother said he could go to the cinema.

So provided he got good results on his test.

That's our subordinate.

That's the bit that doesn't sense by itself.

And we need the independent clause to give us that extra bit of information.

How'd you do? Did you get three out three? I bet you did.

If you didn't, don't worry.

That's fine.

Just go back, correct your answers and maybe listen to the explanations again if you just need to check your understanding.

Going to go through this rule and you might want to just pause the video to read it really carefully again.

So the rule is a subordinate clause at the start of the sentence needs the comma.

If the subordinate clause comes after the independent clause, then you do not put a comma.

So go through that again.

A subordinate clause at the start of the sentence needs a comma.

If the subordinate clause comes after the independent clause then you do not put a comma.

Pause the video now to look at that rule again and just write it down as well so you've got it saved, 'cause it's really important.

I'm going to be using that rule a lot today.

Let's look at what that means then, using our first example from the task that we just did.

Last week, I went out to dinner with a friend.

Now because that's at the start of the sentence and it comes before the independent clause.

So independent clause is I went out to dinner with a friend, and our subordinate, last week, comes before the independent.

So what I have is last week comma, I went out to dinner with a friend, because when our subordinate clause comes at the start, comes before the independent clause, we put a comma.

You ready for a really easy little trick though.

I can move it to the end.

The great thing about subordinate clauses is most of the time you can move them around your independent clause and it will still makes sense.

So now I've changed it to, I went out to dinner with a friend last week.

But notice, I don't now have a comma in my second phrase.

I went out to dinner with a friend last week.

When the subordinate clause comes after the independent clause, we don't put a comma.

What we do have to do is make sure our capital letters are correct.

So you'll see that I've taken away the capital L because last week is no longer the start of my sentence.

And I made sure I got a capital letter at the start of my new sentence.

And then I've got rid of that comma.

So if I want my subordinate clause at the beginning before the independent clause, I'll put a comma there.

If I put my subordinate clause at the end after the independent clause, then I take that comma away.

They're really easy.

You can just move them around.

Okay? I'd like you to go back to the sentences that you did and you see did number one together anyway, but going back to the sentences that we did where you found the subordinate clause and what I'd like you to do now is to move the subordinate clause to after the independent.

You're going to need to rewrite these out, putting the independent clause first, and moving the subordinate clause to the end.

Think really carefully about what you're doing with your commas and your capital letters.

Pause the video now, give it a go.

Let's check then.

How did you do? Hopefully you found it nice and easy.

So A we've already done, I'm hoping you now have written down on your page, I went out to dinner with a friend last week.

B, Macy designed a chest of drawers to build in the technology room.

Now you'll notice that we've got no comma because our subordinate clause has come after our independent clause.

And then C, David's mother said he could go to the cinema provided he got good results on his test.

Just check now that you've put your full stop at the end of each of those sentences.

Check that your capital letters are correct because your subordinate clause moved to the end.

You've got rid of the capital letter in there and you've removed the comma too.

Fantastic.

Okay.

There is one thing I want you to be a little bit careful of though.

If we look at this example, because the sweets were left on the counter, Sharmin was tempted to eat them.

Now I can find my subordinate clause, because the sweets were left on the counter.

And I know that Sharmin was tempted to eat them is my independent clause.

And that's absolutely fine.

That works really well.

It's great.

My comma's in the right place, because the sweets were left on the counter, Sharmin was tempted to eat them.

And so now I want to try to move that to the end just like we just did, So I'm going to move my subordinate clause after the independent clause, and I get this.

Sharmin was tempted to eat them because the sweets were left on the counter.

That's fine.

I've got rid of the comma.

I've changed my capital letter.

Perfect.

Except just doesn't quite sound right, does it? Sharmin was tempted to eat them because the sweets were left on the counter.

So let's look at why that doesn't quite sound right.

And it's because of the word them and the sweets.

Sharmin was tempted to eat them because the sweets were left on the counter.

Them and the sweets refer to the same thing except them is the pronoun for the sweets.

It doesn't make sense to have the pronoun coming first before we've got the noun that actually names the sweets.

So what I need to do is just switch those two words around.

If I want to move my subordinate clause, to after the independent clause, I have to check my pronouns are appearing in the right order.

So I can do this.

Well, I can do this.

Sharmin was tempted to eat the sweets because they were left on the counter.

Now notice I've had to change them to they so that all fits.

So instead of Sharmin was tempted to eat them because the sweets were left on the counter.

Sharmin was tempted to eat the sweets because they were left on the counter.

Nice and easy.

It's not too big a change.

You do just have to be careful and watch out to make sure your sentences sound completely clear and fluent.

Okay, fantastic.

We can find independent clauses.

We can find subordinate clauses and we can move subordinate clauses to after the independent clause or we can put them at the start of a sentence and we know how to punctuate that.

Brilliant.

So let's step it up a level.

Let's make it even harder.

What if I want to add more than one subordinate clause? What do I do there? Let's have a look.

I'd like to give you this example.

After dinner, Jake washed dishes at the sink.

Now you see we've got our independent clause.

So that's acting as the centre of our sentence, the main point of our sentence, Jake washed dishes.

And then I've added two subordinate clauses to the sentence.

So the one in front of my independent clause is a temporal subordinate clause.

It's a time phrase after dinner.

It tells me when Jake washed the dishes and then I've also added a prepositional phrase, a place marker to tell us that Jake was doing that activity at the sink.

After dinner, Jake washed dishes at the sink.

And you'll notice I still have to follow that comma rule, even with two subordinate clauses in my sentence.

So the subordinate clause that comes before the independent clause has a comma.

After dinner, comma, Jake washed dishes.

The subordinate clause that comes after my independent clause, at the sink, does not have the comma.

After dinner comma, Jake washed dishes at the sink.

I've got two subordinate clauses in there and I've remembered my rules on how I placed them around an independent clause.

I might be tempted to try and switch the order just like we did before.

Now, with some, you can do this.

With some subordinate clauses, you can move them and put them either side of the independent clause.

When we look at this example, at the sink comma, Jake washed dishes after dinner.

It's completely grammatically correct.

It works.

We followed our comma rule.

We followed our independent clause rule.

Just doesn't sound quite as good.

At the sink, comma Jake wash dishes after dinner.

We tend to find that time comes before place.

It's one of these weird things about English.

It just sounds better if time comes before place, but you wouldn't be incorrect if you did it this way round, just doesn't sound as fluid and as nice.

All right.

Time for you to have a little practise then.

My sentence has got all jumbled up.

I've got all the elements that I need.

So I've got two subordinate clauses.

One is going to come in front of my independent clause and one is going to come after my independent clause.

I've also got an independent clause here.

I've got a comma and I've got full stop.

Your task is to pause the video and write this out so that it's in the correct order.

Just like last lesson, It might be really helpful to read your sentences aloud as you write them, to check which subordinate clause sounds better coming first.

Pause the video now and write down the sentence in the correct order.

How'd you get on? Does yours look like mine? After school, Becca swept the leaves that were under the bench.

Now just check you also put your punctuation in the right place there.

After school comma, Becca swept the leaves that were under the bench.

That's the right way round for the subordinate clauses.

We had Becca swept The leaves as our independent clause, and then one subordinate before and one subordinate after.

Fantastic.

Okay.

Let's have another practise.

Pause the video.

Have a go at unscrambling this sentence.

Don't forget your comma, don't get your full stop.

Pause the video now.

Does yours look like mine? In Chloe's art book, comma, the pages were neat because she stored it carefully.

Now, the pages were neat is our independent clause, in Chloe's art book, and because she stored it carefully are both our subordinate clauses.

Maybe yours doesn't look like mine though.

This is one where I could put them in either order.

Because she stored it carefully comma, the pages were neat in Chloe's art book.

That works either way round, again making sure I followed the rule that whichever subordinate clause comes in front of the independent clause, I put a comma after.

The subordinate clause that comes after our independent clause doesn't have a comma.

And it's important that my independent clause stays in the same place at the moment.

This is one where we could play around with it.

The pages were neat in Chloe's art book because she stored it carefully, also reads fluently and makes sense as well.

So this is one that's really versatile.

And this is why English is great because you get to make your sentence sound different.

Other people's will still be completely correct.

Last one for you then please.

Pause the video, unscramble this sentence.

Don't forget your punctuation.

And remember to say it out loud if you're not sure just to help see how it sounds and it can make it a little bit clearer for you.

Is your answer like mine? Although it had stood for over 300 years, the castle wall crumbled as the storm violently battered it.

That's a really nice descriptive sentence, isn't it? Although it had stood for over 300 years, the castle wall crumbled as the storm violently battered it.

Fantastic if you worked that out and you remembered to put your comma after a hundred years, because the independent clause is, the castle wall crumbled.

Fantastic.

I'd like you to pause the next slide, read the instructions and then complete the sentence task.

Remember to press play when you're finished.

You've got three independent clauses here.

The bookshop door swung open.

Number two, the owner was able to close it.

Number three, he thought it was the wind.

I'd like you to add in a subordinate clause before and after the independent clause.

So you're going to add two subordinate clauses to each of these three independent clauses.

Don't forget, add your full stop, add your capital letters or change your capital letters.

And to make sure that you think about the comma whether you need to add a comma or remove a comma.

Pause the video now to have a go.

This is one of these great tasks where there are so many different answers and we can all take the same independent clauses and our different subordinate clauses to tell a very different story or to give very different information.

So this is a possible answer for each of these, but yours could look very different to mine and that's okay.

So possible answer is for number one, yesterday, comma the bookshop door swung open but nobody was there, full stop, Two, using the key comma, the owner was able to close it although the knock got stuck.

And three, looking outside, comma, he thought it was the wind that caused the door to open, full stop.

Now these are only possible answers.

You could have written something totally different there.

That's fine, but we can still do some checks on your answer to make sure that you have added in all the right elements.

So the first thing we're going to check is that you've got a full stop at the end of each of your sentences.

You can give yourself a tick for each of those that you've put there.

If you forgot, go back and add it in.

Then take a look at the start of each sentence.

Just like me, have you put a capital letter there? Your next check then is where your independent clause starts, have you got rid of the capital letter that was on the original sentences and now made them into small letters because they're now in the middle of our sentence, and the last check, please.

The subordinate clause that you've put at the start of each sentence, you've put it in front of your independent clause.

Did you remember to put that comma? So however long your subordinate clause is, there should be a comma before your independent clause starts, and you can give yourself a tick for each of those as well.

A really good answer might have realised all of those sentences connected.

They might've used it as a chance to turn it into a story.

Let's have a listen.

Late last night, the bookshop door swung open even though there was no one there.

After a few attempts, the owner was able to close it although it had been a struggle.

As there had been a storm, he thought it was the wind that had caused this mystery.

Perhaps it was a ghost.

I did add a sneaky little extra, perhaps it was a ghost with a nice ellipsis, with the cliffhanger on the end there.

But you might have seen that those three independent clauses were linked.

So you could make sure that your subordinate causes added so much extra information to make quite a detailed story.

And that would be great.

But if you just did the three independent clauses by themselves, adding subordinate clauses to each one, that's absolutely fine too.

I hope you found that really easy.

Subordinate clauses are.

You just have to remember, if they're in front of the independent clause, pop a comma there.

If they're after the independent clause, don't need a comma.

And they're a great way of adding loads of extra information and loads of variety to your writing.

So you can be really creative and really engaging and interesting.

Don't forget after this lesson to go and complete your quiz.

And I look forward to seeing you in our next lesson.

Bye.