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Year 4

Fronted adverbials: phrases and clauses

I can use and recognise the difference between a fronted adverbial phrase and a fronted adverbial clause.

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Year 4

Fronted adverbials: phrases and clauses

I can use and recognise the difference between a fronted adverbial phrase and a fronted adverbial clause.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A fronted adverbial is a sentence starter that is followed by a comma.
  2. A fronted adverbial can be a single word or phrase.
  3. A fronted adverbial can be a clause.
  4. A clause is a group of words that contains a verb.
  5. A fronted adverbial can express detail about time, place or manner.

Keywords

  • Fronted adverbial - a sentence starter followed by a comma

  • Comma - a punctuation mark used after any fronted adverbial

  • Phrase - a group of words with no verb

  • Clause - a group of words that contains a verb

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

Common misconception

Pupils may create what they believe are fronted adverbial clauses, but they may omit the verb.

It is not wrong to omit a verb (this creates a phrase), but encourage pupils to circle or highlight the verb in a clause.


To help you plan your year 4 english lesson on: Fronted adverbials: phrases and clauses, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Encourage pupils to say the comma when reading sentences like these aloud to reinforce the idea that any fronted adverbial is followed by a comma.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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.
Where does a fronted adverbial come in a sentence?
Correct answer: at the start
in the middle
at the end
Q2.
What piece of punctuation always follows a fronted adverbial?
a full stop
Correct answer: a comma
an apostrophe
inverted commas
Q3.
After which word should the comma be placed in this sentence? Full of sadness she wiped away a tear.
full
she
Correct answer: sadness
away
Q4.
Which of the following are fronted adverbials of manner?
Correct answer: Cautiously,
Correct answer: With a smile,
Just then,
To my left,
Correct answer: Full of joy,
Q5.
Which of the following fronted adverbials are phrases?
Just as the sun set,
Correct answer: At sunset,
Correct answer: At 8pm,
When the sun set,
Q6.
Which is the most appropriate fronted adverbial to complete this sentence? __________ you will find everything you ever wanted.
Full of fear,
Correct answer: There,
Just then,
With a sigh,

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match each word to its meaning.
Correct Answer:word,a single word
tick

a single word

Correct Answer:phrase,a group of words with no verb
tick

a group of words with no verb

Correct Answer:clause,a group of words that contains a verb
tick

a group of words that contains a verb

Q2.
Which of these are true for a fronted adverbial clause?
Correct answer: It starts with a subordinating conjunction.
Correct answer: It comes at the start of a sentence.
Correct answer: It it followed by a comma.
It makes complete sense on its own.
Correct answer: It contains a verb.
Q3.
Which of the following are fronted adverbial clauses?
Just then,
Correct answer: When it was time to go,
To my left,
Correct answer: While we were waiting,
Q4.
After which word should the comma be placed in this sentence? After we had finished we were allowed outside to play.
had
Correct answer: finished
were
outside
Q5.
What kind of fronted adverbial has been used in this sentence? While I was listening, Alex tried to distract me.
Correct answer: fronted adverbial of time
fronted adverbial of place
fronted adverbial of manner
Q6.
What mistake has been made in this sentence with a fronted adverbial clause? When the summer was over we returned to school.
The fronted adverbial clause does not contain a verb.
The fronted adverbial clause does not contain a subordinating conjunction.
Correct answer: The fronted adverbial clause is not followed by a comma.