Four sentence types | English | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Which is the correct definition of a clause?
- a group of words with no verb
- a group of words that contains a verb ✓
- a group of words that contains a noun
Which of the following are main clauses?
- as we laughed
- we laughed loudly ✓
- which made me laugh
- the joke was hilarious ✓
Which of the following are subordinate clauses?
- when the snow began to fall ✓
- it was very cold
- we stomped through the icy fields
- which were thickly covered ✓
Which of the following are true for subordinate clauses?
- There are different types of subordinate clause. ✓
- A subordinate clause contains a verb. ✓
- A subordinate clause makes complete sense on its own.
- A subordinate clause must be linked to a main clause to make complete sense. ✓
Which of the following are adverbial clauses?
- while we were waiting ✓
- who was struggling
- which was delicious
- before we could begin ✓
What one thing makes a relative clause different to an adverbial clause?
- A relative clause does not make sense on its own.
- A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause.
- A relative clause begins with a relative pronoun. ✓
- A relative clause is a group of words that contains a verb.

Match the types of simple sentence to the examples.
- question
  
  ⇔
  
  What type of tree is this? ✓
- command
  
  ⇔
  
  Run towards that tree. ✓
- exclamation
  
  ⇔
  
  How glorious this tree is! ✓
- statement
  
  ⇔
  
  This tree has been here for 300 years. ✓
Which of these are true for a compound sentence?
- It contains a co-ordinating conjunction. ✓
- It contains at least two main clauses. ✓
- It sometimes contains a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction. ✓
- It contains just one main clause.
Tick the compound sentences.
- We wanted to go, but it was too late. ✓
- The door was open and we stepped through. ✓
- We stepped confidently into the dark, eerie forest.
- We could stay in, or we could go out. ✓
Which of the following are found in an adverbial complex sentence?
- a main clause ✓
- a subordinate clause ✓
- a subordinating conjunction ✓
- a relative pronoun
Match the keywords to the examples.
- adverbial clause
  
  ⇔
  
  when we were ready ✓
- relative clause
  
  ⇔
  
  which I found confusing ✓
- main clause
  
  ⇔
  
  we got ourselves ready ✓
Match the types of sentence to the examples.
- simple sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  Put that down! ✓
- compound sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  You can go, but please come back. ✓
- adverbial complex sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  Shut the door when you leave. ✓
- relative complex sentence
  
  ⇔
  
  My sister, who is nine, loves paintball. ✓

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A sentence composed of one main clause is a simple sentence.
A sentence composed of at least two main clauses joined by a co-ordinating conjunction is a compound sentence.
A sentence composed of at least one main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause is an adverbial complex sentence.
A sentence composed of at least one main clause and a relative subordinate clause is a relative complex sentence.
Specific comma rules apply to the demarcation of clauses in compound and complex sentence structures.

Pupils may believe that any use of a co-ordinating conjunction creates a compound sentence.

Remind pupils that sentences like 'We ate cheese and ham.' cannot be a compound sentence because it does not contain two main clauses.

Clause - a group of words that contains a verb
Simple sentence - a sentence about one idea that makes complete sense
Compound sentence - a sentence formed of two main clauses and a co-ordinating conjunction
Adverbial complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause
Relative complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause