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Year 4

Using the comma rules with relative complex sentences

I can use a pair of commas to interrupt a main clause with a relative clause in a relative complex sentence.

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Year 4

Using the comma rules with relative complex sentences

I can use a pair of commas to interrupt a main clause with a relative clause in a relative complex sentence.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A relative clause joined to a main clause forms a relative complex sentence.
  2. The relative clause often interrupts the main clause.
  3. A relative clause often interrupts after the subject of the main clause at the start of the sentence.
  4. A pair of commas is used around the relative clause to demarcate it from the main clause.

Keywords

  • Comma - a punctuation mark used to demarcate the relative clause from the main clause in a relative complex sentence

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

  • 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"

  • Interrupt - force to stop or break

Common misconception

Children may believe that a relative clause starts with a being verb e.g. 'who is' or 'which was'.

We can use a whole range of verbs to start the relative clause e.g. 'who has', 'which sits', 'who likes'.


To help you plan your year 4 english lesson on: Using the comma rules with relative complex sentences, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Ensure you say that a relative clause 'can' interrupt a main clause - children will learn in Year 5 that it can also come at the end of a main clause. The key thing is that it always follows a noun or noun phrase.
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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 of the following are relative pronouns that can start a relative clause?
as
and
Correct answer: who
when
Correct answer: which
Q2.
A relative clause is a type of __________, so it does not make sense on its own.
main clause
simple sentence
Correct answer: subordinate clause
relative pronoun
Q3.
Match the type of clause to its meaning.
Correct Answer:main clause,a clause that makes sense on its own
tick

a clause that makes sense on its own

Correct Answer:adverbial clause,a clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction
tick

a clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction

Correct Answer:relative clause,a clause that begins with a relative pronoun
tick

a clause that begins with a relative pronoun

Q4.
Which three of the following would be found in a relative complex sentence?
adverbial clause
Correct answer: relative clause
subordinating conjunction
Correct answer: relative pronoun
Correct answer: main clause
Q5.
Identify the main clause in the sentence. 'Jun, who was hungry, went to the shops to buy food.'
who was hungry
Jun went to the shops
Jun who was hungry
Correct answer: Jun went to the shops to buy food
Q6.
'Aisha rushed to school. She was late.' Which version shows correctly how these two ideas could be combined into a relative complex sentence?
Aisha, who rushed to school, she was late.
Correct answer: Aisha, who was late, rushed to school.
Aisha, who was late, she rushed to school.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Identify the relative clause in the sentence. 'Sam's mum, who is a police officer, visited our school to teach us about crime.'
Correct answer: who is a police officer
Sam's mum, who is a police officer
Sam's mum visited our school to teach us about crime
Q2.
In the sentence 'My grandad, who is 84, works hard on his allotment', what is the noun that the relative clause tells us more about?
his allotment
works hard
Correct answer: my grandad
who is 84
Q3.
When a relative clause interrupts a main clause, what punctuation is added to the sentence?
Correct answer: a pair of commas
a single comma
a pair of question marks
a pair of exclamation marks
Q4.
Which relative complex sentence is correctly punctuated?
My cousin, who is an actor starred in a film last year.
Correct answer: My cousin, who is an actor, starred in a film last year.
My cousin who is an actor, starred in a film last year.
Q5.
Match the keyword to its meaning.
Correct Answer:relative pronoun,a word that begins a relative clause
tick

a word that begins a relative clause

Correct Answer:relative clause,a subordinate clause that begins with a relative pronoun
tick

a subordinate clause that begins with a relative pronoun

Correct Answer:pair of commas,punctuation marks that show where the relative clause is
tick

punctuation marks that show where the relative clause is

Correct Answer:main clause,a clause that makes sense on its own
tick

a clause that makes sense on its own

Q6.
Which of the following uses a relative clause correctly?
The castle, which was perched, on a hill towered over us.
The castle, which was perched on a hill towered, over us.
Correct answer: The castle, which was perched on a hill, towered over us.