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Year 6

Subject and object

I can identify the subject and object in main clauses.

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New
New
Year 6

Subject and object

I can identify the subject and object in main clauses.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Any clause is a group of words that contains a verb.
  2. Given that any clause contains a verb, it must contain an agent that does or is the verb.
  3. The noun, noun phrase or pronoun that does the verb is the subject.
  4. Some sentences have the verb acting on another noun, noun phrase or pronoun.
  5. The noun, noun phrase or pronoun that receives the action is the object.

Common misconception

Pupils may think any group of words following a verb is an object.

A noun, noun phrase or pronoun that directly follows a verb can be an object.

Keywords

  • Clause - a group of words that contains a verb

  • Verb - a being, doing or having word

  • Subject - the noun that does or is the main verb in a clause

  • Object - the noun that receives the action of the main verb in a clause

When identifying the verb, subject and object in a sentence, follow the order V > S > O. Start by finding the verb. Then, identify who is doing this action (the subject). Then, see if the action is being done to another thing (the object).
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.
What kind of word starts a relative clause?
subordinating conjunction
Correct answer: relative pronoun
noun
relative conjunction
Q2.
Which of the following can be subordinating conjunctions that start adverbial clauses?
Correct answer: because
Correct answer: after
whose
who
Correct answer: as
Q3.
Which of the following could complete the adverbial clause in this sentence? 'I have known her since __________.'
she is my cousin
Correct answer: I was six
Correct answer: she arrived at this school
2022
Q4.
Where is a relative clause always placed?
before a noun or noun phrase
Correct answer: after a noun or noun phrase
in the middle of a sentence
at the end of a sentence
Q5.
Which sentences contain a relative clause?
Correct answer: 1st January, when my parents got married, is a special day for me.
Correct answer: I rolled my eyes at Izzy, who was being silly.
Izzy was being silly and I rolled my eyes at her.
My parents got married on 1st January.
Q6.
What is the relative clause in the following sentence? 'The people that I love are all here with me.'
the people that I love
are all here with me
Correct answer: that I love
that I love are all here

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their meanings.
Correct Answer:verb,the action in the sentence

the action in the sentence

Correct Answer:subject,the noun doing the action

the noun doing the action

Correct Answer:object,the noun the action is done to

the noun the action is done to

Q2.
Match the keywords to the relevant parts of the sentence: 'Tomorrow, she will make some money.'
Correct Answer:some money,object

object

Correct Answer:she,subject

subject

Correct Answer:will make,verb

verb

Q3.
Match the keywords to the relevant parts of the sentence: 'This morning, my baby brother brushed his teeth carefully.'
Correct Answer:my baby brother,subject

subject

Correct Answer:brushed,verb

verb

Correct Answer:his teeth,object

object

Q4.
How many subjects are there in the following compound sentence and what are they? 'Alex will wash the floor and I will polish the knives.'
two (floor, knives)
Correct answer: two (Alex, I)
one (Alex)
one (I)
Q5.
Which of these sentences contain an object?
Just then, Sofia interrupted.
Correct answer: Just then, Sofia interrupted the song.
Correct answer: On Tuesday, we will visit your nan.
We will visit on Tuesday.
Q6.
Which compound sentence contains two objects?
I ate lunch, but Laura didn't.
Correct answer: We wanted cheese sandwiches, but we got ham.
Andeep waited and I annoyed him.