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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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New
New
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.

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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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).

Lesson video

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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,

6 Questions

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

a single word

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

a group of words with no verb

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

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.