Clauses Learning objective We are learning to recognise main clauses and subordinate clauses in writing and to use them correctly in our own writing.
What pupils already know • Pupils will have learned how to join clauses using ‘and’ in Year 1, and learned about subordination and coordination in Year 2. • They should be familiar with the term subject as the person, place or thing that is doing or being something in a sentence.
Key vocabulary clause, main clause, subject, subordinate clause, subordinating conjunction, verb
Teaching notes • Ask pupils if they can remember what a clause in a sentence is. If they do not know, use the following example: Theresa likes apple pie. • Explain that a clause is a group of words that contains at least one subject (Theresa) and one verb (likes). • If the clause makes sense as a complete sentence, we call it a main clause. In the example, the whole sentence is a main clause. Example 1: Underline the subject and the verb in the sentence. We enjoyed the show. Ask pupils to find the subject (we) and the verb (enjoyed). Then ask them if this sentence is a main clause (yes) and if so, how do we know? (because it is a complete sentence and makes sense). • Write up the following words: though, because, when, unless, until, while. Remind pupils that we can use these words to join clauses in longer sentences. Clauses that begin with these words are called subordinate clauses. Example 2: Underline the subordinate clause in the sentence. We went back inside when it started to rain. Ask pupils to identify the subordinate clause and point out how it starts with a subordinating conjunction (joining word), when. • Explain that a subordinate clause does not make sense on its own. It needs to be paired with a main clause in order to make sense (when it started to rain has a subject it and a verb started but it does not make sense by itself). • Show the class how the sentence can be rewritten with the subordinating conjunction at the beginning of the sentence (When it started to rain, we went back inside.). Point out where the comma is placed.
Independent activity Refer pupils to the Year 5 Grammar and Punctuation Pupil Book, pages 8–9. 8
61521_P002-021.indd 8
24/08/2015 10:19