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Year 5

Four sentence types

I can say and write four different sentence structures.

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New
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Year 5

Four sentence types

I can say and write four different sentence structures.

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Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A sentence composed of one main clause is a simple sentence.
  2. A sentence composed of at least two main clauses joined by a co-ordinating conjunction is a compound sentence.
  3. A sentence composed of at least one main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause is an adverbial complex sentence.
  4. A sentence composed of at least one main clause and a relative subordinate clause is a relative complex sentence.
  5. Specific comma rules apply to the demarcation of clauses in compound and complex sentence structures.

Common misconception

Pupils may believe that any use of a co-ordinating conjunction creates a compound sentence.

Remind pupils that sentences like 'We ate cheese and ham.' cannot be a compound sentence because it does not contain two main clauses.

Keywords

  • Clause - a group of words that contains a verb

  • Simple sentence - a sentence about one idea that makes complete sense

  • Compound sentence - a sentence formed of two main clauses and a co-ordinating conjunction

  • Adverbial complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause

  • Relative complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause

Don't expect pupils to be able to use a wide range of subordinating conjunctions without explicit teaching. In Oak lessons, the range of subordinating conjunctions taught is gradually increased over the primary years.
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.
Which is the correct definition of a clause?
a group of words with no verb
Correct answer: a group of words that contains a verb
a group of words that contains a noun
Q2.
Which of the following are main clauses?
as we laughed
Correct answer: we laughed loudly
which made me laugh
Correct answer: the joke was hilarious
Q3.
Which of the following are subordinate clauses?
Correct answer: when the snow began to fall
it was very cold
we stomped through the icy fields
Correct answer: which were thickly covered
Q4.
Which of the following are true for subordinate clauses?
Correct answer: There are different types of subordinate clause.
Correct answer: A subordinate clause contains a verb.
A subordinate clause makes complete sense on its own.
Correct answer: A subordinate clause must be linked to a main clause to make complete sense.
Q5.
Which of the following are adverbial clauses?
Correct answer: while we were waiting
who was struggling
which was delicious
Correct answer: before we could begin
Q6.
What one thing makes a relative clause different to an adverbial clause?
A relative clause does not make sense on its own.
A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause.
Correct answer: A relative clause begins with a relative pronoun.
A relative clause is a group of words that contains a verb.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the types of simple sentence to the examples.
Correct Answer:question,What type of tree is this?

What type of tree is this?

Correct Answer:command,Run towards that tree.

Run towards that tree.

Correct Answer:exclamation,How glorious this tree is!

How glorious this tree is!

Correct Answer:statement,This tree has been here for 300 years.

This tree has been here for 300 years.

Q2.
Which of these are true for a compound sentence?
Correct answer: It contains a co-ordinating conjunction.
Correct answer: It contains at least two main clauses.
Correct answer: It sometimes contains a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction.
It contains just one main clause.
Q3.
Tick the compound sentences.
Correct answer: We wanted to go, but it was too late.
Correct answer: The door was open and we stepped through.
We stepped confidently into the dark, eerie forest.
Correct answer: We could stay in, or we could go out.
Q4.
Which of the following are found in an adverbial complex sentence?
Correct answer: a main clause
Correct answer: a subordinate clause
Correct answer: a subordinating conjunction
a relative pronoun
Q5.
Match the keywords to the examples.
Correct Answer:adverbial clause,when we were ready

when we were ready

Correct Answer:relative clause,which I found confusing

which I found confusing

Correct Answer:main clause,we got ourselves ready

we got ourselves ready

Q6.
Match the types of sentence to the examples.
Correct Answer:simple sentence,Put that down!

Put that down!

Correct Answer:compound sentence,You can go, but please come back.

You can go, but please come back.

Correct Answer:adverbial complex sentence,Shut the door when you leave.

Shut the door when you leave.

Correct Answer:relative complex sentence,My sister, who is nine, loves paintball.

My sister, who is nine, loves paintball.