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Year 3

Using the comma rule in adverbial complex sentences

You can use the comma rule to write accurate adverbial complex sentences.

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New
New
Year 3

Using the comma rule in adverbial complex sentences

You can use the comma rule to write accurate adverbial complex sentences.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The position of an adverbial subordinate clause can move in an adverbial complex sentence.
  2. If the adverbial clause comes first in the sentence, it is followed by a comma to demarcate from the main clause.
  3. If the main clause comes first in the sentence, there is no comma used.
  4. A comma is a punctuation mark that has more than one purpose.
  5. Commas often help the reader see clause demarcation in a range of sentence types.

Common misconception

Pupils do not know when to use a comma to demarcate between the adverbial and main clause.

If the adverbial clause is first in the sentence, a comma is placed after it. If the main clause is first, no comma is placed after it.

Keywords

  • Clause - a group of words that contains a verb

  • 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

  • Adverbial complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause

Use a gesture to model the comma, for example a curved hand slicing downwards through the air.
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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Where can an adverbial clause appear in a sentence?
Correct answer: at the beginning or end
only at the end
only at the beginning
Q2.
Fill in the gap: an adverbial clause only makes sense if it is joined to a clause.
Correct Answer: main, Main
Q3.
What starts an adverbial clause?
a co-ordinating conjunction
a preposition
Correct answer: a subordinating conjunction
Q4.
Which of these groups are subordinating conjunctions?
Correct answer: when so because
my your our
her his their
and but or
Q5.
Fill in the gap: commas can separate words or __________ in sentences.
Correct answer: clauses
punctuation
capital letters
Q6.
When does an adverbial complex sentence need a comma?
it never requires one
Correct answer: when the adverbial clause is at the end
it always requires one
when the adverbial clause is at the beginning

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Fill in the gap: any clause is a group of words that contains a .
Correct Answer: verb, vurb, verb, Verb
Q2.
Which clause starts with a subordinating conjunction?
main
relative
Correct answer: adverbial
Q3.
Fill in the gap: to form a complex sentence, you must join a main clause to any type of clause.
Correct Answer: subordinate, subbordinate, suborddinate, subordinit, Subordinate
Q4.
Which of these groups are subordinating conjunctions?
Correct answer: because when so
and but or
mine yours theirs
I me my
Q5.
Match the subordinating conjunction to its purpose.
Correct Answer:because,for giving a reason

for giving a reason

Correct Answer:when,for giving a time frame

for giving a time frame

Correct Answer:so,for giving a result

for giving a result

Q6.
Fill in the gap: if the adverbial clause comes __________ in a complex sentence, a comma is placed after it ends and before the main clause begins.
Correct answer: first
second
last