A new sentence structure: the non-finite complex sentence | English

Starter quiz

Tick all the subordinate clauses.
- which was very cold ✓
- I was very cold
- before I had woken up ✓
- they woke up slowly
Tick all the verbs in a progressive tense.
- waited
- playing ✓
- hoping ✓
- watched
- throwing ✓
Which of the following are non-finite clauses?
- looking up, ✓
- as we looked up,
- while I waited patiently,
- waiting patiently, ✓
Which of these sentences include a non-finite clause?
- Answering the question perfectly, Sofia smiled. ✓
- Sofia smiled as she answered the question perfectly.
- Sam raced home, trying to beat his brother to the door. ✓
- When Sam got home, his brother was already there.
Match each type of subordinate clause to the type of word it can begin with.
- adverbial clause
  
  ⇔
  
  subordinating conjunction ✓
- relative clause
  
  ⇔
  
  relative pronoun ✓
- non-finite clause
  
  ⇔
  
  progressive tense verb with -ing suffix ✓
Match the type of subordinate clause to the example.
- adverbial clause
  
  ⇔
  
  before we went to school ✓
- non-finite clause
  
  ⇔
  
  heading out of the door ✓
- relative clause
  
  ⇔
  
  who was just leaving ✓

Tick all the sentences that contain a non-finite clause.
- Waiting for the bus, I looked at my watch. ✓
- Alex stomped into the room, throwing down his bag. ✓
- After we had eaten, we went out to play.
Which of the following are true for a non-finite complex sentence?
- It contains a subordinate clause. ✓
- It contains a main clause. ✓
- It can contain a verb with an -ing suffix. ✓
- It contains a subordinating conjunction.
Which of these is true of a non-finite complex sentence?
- It shows actions that take place at different times.
- It shows actions that take place one after another.
- It shows actions that take place simultaneously. ✓
Match the type of complex sentence to the word that could start its subordinate clause.
- relative complex sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  which ✓
- non-finite complex sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  hoping ✓
- adverbial complex sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  because ✓
Match the type of complex sentence to the example.
- relative complex sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  The man, who was short, shuffled down the street. ✓
- non-finite complex sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  Shuffling down the street, the man smiled. ✓
- adverbial complex sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  As the man shuffled down the street, he smiled. ✓
Which of the following main clauses could follow this non-finite clause? Rushing down the street,...
- I felt my heart pounding. ✓
- I stepped slowly and carefully.
- I hoped I would not be late. ✓

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The non-finite clause is a type of subordinate clause.
A non-finite clause must join to a main clause to make sense.
The non-finite clause denotes ongoing action that relates to the subject of the main clause.
The action of the non-finite clause occurs simultaneously to the action of the main clause.
A non-finite clause joined with a main clause forms the non-finite complex sentence.

Pupils may suggest ideas for main or non-finite clauses that cannot be done simultaneously.

Encourage pupils to imagine the two actions and consider whether they can be done at the same time.

Non-finite clause - a type of subordinate clause that can start with a verb in the progressive tense
Main clause - a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense
Progressive tense - a tense that denotes ongoing action
Simultaneous - at the same time
Non-finite complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and a non-finite subordinate clause