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Year 4

Two types of conjunction

I can know the difference between co-ordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

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Year 4

Two types of conjunction

I can know the difference between co-ordinating and subordinating conjunctions.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Any conjunction joins words, phrases or clauses.
  2. A co-ordinating conjunction is found in a compound sentence.
  3. A subordinating conjunction is found in an adverbial complex sentence.
  4. Different co-ordinating and subordinating conjunctions have different meanings.

Keywords

  • Conjunction - a word(s) that joins words, phrases or clauses

  • Co-ordinating conjunction - a word that joins two main clauses to form a compound sentence

  • Subordinating conjunction - a word that starts an adverbial clause

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

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

Common misconception

Pupils may believe that using 'before' and 'after' always creates an adverbial complex sentence.

These words often create phrases, rather than adverbial clauses; a clause requires a verb.


To help you plan your year 4 english lesson on: Two types of conjunction, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

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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.
Which two co-ordinating conjunctions have a comma before them in a compound sentence?
and
Correct answer: but
Correct answer: or
Q2.
Tick the compound sentence that is correctly punctuated.
The children ate their lunch, and they ran off to play.
We could walk home or we could take the bus.
Correct answer: We could walk home, but it's raining hard.
Q3.
Tick the sentence that should include a comma.
The volcano rumbled violently as the eruption drew near.
Correct answer: As the eruption drew near the volcano rumbled violently.
The tourists watched the volcano rumble and they were very frightened.
Q4.
Match the adverbial clause to an appropriate main clause.
Correct Answer:When it was morning,,we got up sleepily.
tick

we got up sleepily.

Correct Answer:Because it was snowing,,I wrapped up warmly.
tick

I wrapped up warmly.

Correct Answer:As the sun set,,we sang songs by the camp fire.
tick

we sang songs by the camp fire.

Q5.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
As Laura watched a small, red fox darted past.
Correct answer: As Laura watched, a small, red fox darted past.
As Laura watched a small red fox, darted past.
Q6.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Correct answer: Andeep ran home and he grabbed his boots, his socks and his shinpads.
Andeep ran home, and he grabbed his boots, his socks and his shinpads.
Andeep ran home and he grabbed his boots, his socks, and his shinpads.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to its definition.
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.
A compound sentence is made of two main clauses. Tick the two compound sentences.
Correct answer: You could work with me, or you could work on your own.
We could eat pizza or pasta.
The water was clean but very cold.
Correct answer: The water was clean, but it was very cold.
Q3.
Which of the following are subordinating conjunctions?
or
Correct answer: because
Correct answer: while
and
Correct answer: as
Q4.
Which subordinating conjunction best completes this sentence: '___________ Aisha went to sleep, she put on her pyjamas.'
after
while
Correct answer: before
as
Q5.
Tick two sentences that contain an adverbial clause.
After that, we all went home.
Before long, it was time for bed.
Correct answer: Before we had finished lunch, the bell rang.
Correct answer: After the teacher spoke, there was total silence.
Q6.
Which adverbial complex sentence is correctly punctuated?
While I ate dinner Dad fed the baby some carrots, some mash and some beans.
Correct answer: While I ate dinner, Dad fed the baby some carrots, some mash and some beans.
While I ate dinner Dad fed the baby some carrots, some mash, and some beans.