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Year 5

Comma rules in four sentence types

I can use the comma for a range of purposes in four different sentence structures.

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New
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Year 5

Comma rules in four sentence types

I can use the comma for a range of purposes in four different sentence structures.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A comma is written before 'but' or 'or' co-ordinating conjunctions in a compound sentence.
  2. If the adverbial clause is first in an adverbial complex sentence, it is followed by a comma before the main clause.
  3. If the main clause is first in an adverbial complex sentence, it is not followed by a comma before the adverbial clause.
  4. A relative clause often interrupts after the subject of the main clause at the start of the sentence.
  5. A pair of commas is used around the relative clause to demarcate it from the main clause.

Common misconception

Pupils may believe that commas are only used to demarcate clauses or for 'pauses'.

Encourage pupils to think about the specific rules for comma use, including for clauses, in lists and between adjectives in ENPs.

Keywords

  • Comma - a punctuation mark used before 'but' or 'or' co-ordinating conjunctions in a compound sentence

  • Comma - a punctuation mark used to demarcate the first adverbial clause from the second main clause in an adverbial complex sentence

  • Comma - a punctuation mark used to demarcate the relative clause from the main clause in a relative complex sentence

  • Adverbial clause - a type of subordinate clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction

  • Relative clause - a type of subordinate clause that begins with a relative pronoun

When reading aloud across the curriculum, pause occasionally to remark on comma usage and to encourage discussion of why a particular comma has been used.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the type of simple sentence to the example.
Correct Answer:question,What on earth are you doing?

What on earth are you doing?

Correct Answer:exclamation,What a mess you've made!

What a mess you've made!

Correct Answer:command,Clear up this mess.

Clear up this mess.

Correct Answer:statement,I can't believe this room is so messy.

I can't believe this room is so messy.

Q2.
Match the type of sentence to its definition.
Correct Answer:simple sentence,has just one main clause

has just one main clause

Correct Answer:compound sentence,has main clauses joined by co-ordinating conjunctions

has main clauses joined by co-ordinating conjunctions

Correct Answer:adverbial complex sentence,has a main clause and an adverbial clause

has a main clause and an adverbial clause

Correct Answer:relative complex sentence,has a main clause and a relative clause

has a main clause and a relative clause

Q3.
What type of sentence is this? The door, which was made of steel, was impossible to break down.
compound
simple
Correct answer: relative complex
adverbial complex
Q4.
What type of sentence is this? We all gasped as the fireworks shot into the sky.
compound
simple
relative complex
Correct answer: adverbial complex
Q5.
Which of these are true of a relative complex sentence?
Correct answer: It contains a subordinate clause.
Correct answer: It contains a main clause.
Correct answer: It contains a relative pronoun.
It contains a subordinating conjunction.
Correct answer: The main clause can be interrupted by the relative clause.
Q6.
Tick all the adverbial complex sentences.
Correct answer: Before we could finish, Mrs Begum told us to pack away.
Before lunch, we finished our projects.
Correct answer: After we had eaten, we went outside.
After that, we played football on the field.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are ways a comma can be used?
to end a sentence
Correct answer: to separate adjectives in an expanded noun phrase
Correct answer: to separate nouns in a list
Correct answer: to show where a relative clause begins and ends
Q2.
Why has a comma been used in this sentence? Jun stepped into the warm, cosy classroom.
to show where a relative clause begins or ends
because a co-ordinating conjunction was used
because it is after an adverbial clause
Correct answer: to separate adjectives in an expanded noun phrase
Q3.
Which co-ordinating conjunctions require a comma before them in a compound sentence?
and
Correct answer: but
Correct answer: or
Q4.
Which version of this sentence requires a comma to be added?
Correct answer: After we returned from church we did Art.
We did Art this afternoon.
We did Art after we returned from church.
Q5.
Which version of this sentence has the correct commas?
My cousin who lives in Liverpool, is a cricket fanatic.
My cousin, who lives in Liverpool is a cricket fanatic.
Correct answer: My cousin, who lives in Liverpool, is a cricket fanatic.
Q6.
Which version of this sentence has all the commas used correctly?
We could play with Jacob, or we could invite Sam Izzy and Alex.
Correct answer: We could play with Jacob, or we could invite Sam, Izzy and Alex.
We could play with Jacob or we could invite Sam Izzy and Alex.