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Year 4

A new subordinate clause: the relative clause

I can identify that a relative clause is a type of subordinate clause.

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New
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Year 4

A new subordinate clause: the relative clause

I can identify that a relative clause is a type of subordinate clause.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Any subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a verb and does not make complete sense.
  2. Any subordinate clause must join to a main clause to make sense.
  3. A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause which starts with a relative pronoun.
  4. A previously-learnt type of subordinate clause is the adverbial clause that starts with a subordinating conjunction.

Keywords

  • Subordinate clause - a group of words that contains a verb and does not make complete sense

  • Main clause - a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense

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

  • Relative pronoun - a word that starts a relative clause like "who" or "which"

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

Common misconception

Children may believe relative clauses can only be placed in the middle of sentences.

Relative clauses follow nouns/noun phrases; although we focus on the middle position in Y4, it can vary.


To help you plan your year 4 english lesson on: A new subordinate clause: the relative clause, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Give pupils opportunities to say example sentences out loud so that they become accustomed to how they sound.
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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).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
A clause is a group of words that contains ...
an adjective.
Correct answer: a verb.
an adverb.
a name.
Q2.
Which two are true of a main clause?
Correct answer: It contains a verb.
It does not make sense on its own.
It always includes a comma.
Correct answer: It does make sense on its own.
Q3.
Which two are true of a subordinate clause?
Correct answer: It contains a verb.
Correct answer: It does not make sense on its own.
It always includes a comma.
It does make sense on its own.
Q4.
What type of word joins a main clause and an adverbial clause to make an adverbial complex sentence?
verb
co-ordinating conjunction
adverb
Correct answer: subordinating conjunction
Q5.
Which of the following is an adverbial complex sentence?
It was perfectly still.
Correct answer: As the stars shimmered, we slept peacefully.
Aisha was afraid of the dark, but she slept all night.
Q6.
Tick all the sentences that use commas correctly.
We walked to the shops, and bought chicken, eggs and milk.
Correct answer: When it was time to go home, we put the strong, metal chairs on our desks.
Correct answer: After they had eaten lunch, Jun, Jacob and Andeep had to go to see Mr Clarke.
Before the children arrived at school they had already eaten their lunch.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
A relative clause is a type of ...
main clause
Correct answer: subordinate clause
simple sentence
Q2.
What kind of word begins a relative clause?
subordinating conjunction
co-ordinating conjunction
Correct answer: relative pronoun
Q3.
Which two of the following are relative clauses?
while we were waiting
Correct answer: which was very expensive
Correct answer: who had no money
because we were hungry
Q4.
What kind of word does a relative clause often follow?
Correct answer: a noun or noun phrase
a verb
an adjective
an adverb
Q5.
Which relative clause could fill this gap? 'Sofia, __________, waved her hand wildly in the air.'
which was very intelligent
which was the best at grammar
Correct answer: who was desperate to answer
Q6.
Tick all the sentences that contain a relative clause.
We trooped into the classroom when the bell rang.
Correct answer: The door, which was old and cracked, was made of solid wood.
Correct answer: Andeep, who often visited Alex's house, was waiting at the door.
Who are you looking for?