Starter quiz
- Which two of the following words are nouns?
- beautiful
- hill ✓
- boots ✓
- heavy
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- Which two of the following words are adjectives?
- boggy ✓
- dark ✓
- bog
- darkness
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- Which two of the following are expanded noun phrases?
- ran quickly
- a small, blue tent ✓
- cautiously waited
- the long, steep hill ✓
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- Co-ordinating conjunctions join together two main clauses in a compound sentence. Which three of the following are co-ordinating conjunctions?
- because
- but ✓
- or ✓
- and ✓
- when
-
- Where is the top of a comma placed when we are writing on lines?
- below the line
- on the line ✓
- just above the line
- high above the line
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- Which word in this adverbial complex sentence is the subordinating conjunction? 'We all cheered when we were given extra playtime.'
- we
- cheered
- when ✓
- were
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Exit quiz
- Which two co-ordinating conjunctions always need a comma before them in a compound sentence?
- and
- but ✓
- or ✓
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- Which compound sentence is punctuated correctly?
- The room was silent, and we all held our breath.
- It was the middle of the night, but we could see by the light of the moon. ✓
- We knew we had to continue or it we would never make it in time.
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- Match the first main clause to the second main clause to create a compound sentence.
- It was time to go home⇔, but the teacher kept us waiting. ✓
- We ran to the lunch hall⇔and we wolfed down our food. ✓
- It would either work perfectly⇔, or it would be a total disaster. ✓
- Which of these adverbial complex sentences is punctuated correctly?
- As the sun rose the cockerel crowed loudly.
- The cockerel crowed loudly, as the sun rose.
- As the sun rose, the cockerel crowed loudly. ✓
- As the sun rose the cockerel, crowed loudly.
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- What have the commas been used for in this sentence? 'When the storm was over, the cold, shivering animals crept out of hiding.'
- to separate two main clauses
- to separate an adverbial clause and a main clause ✓
- to separate two adjectives in an expanded noun phrase ✓
- to separate a list of nouns
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- What have the commas been used for in this sentence? 'Jun didn't buy anything, but Sofia bought crisps, chocolate and a drink.'
- to separate an adverbial clause and a main clause
- to separate two adjectives in an expanded noun phrase
- to separate a list of nouns ✓
- to separate two main clauses ✓
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A comma is written before "but" or "or" co-ordinating conjunctions in a compound sentence.
- If the adverbial clause is first in an adverbial complex sentence, it is followed by a comma before the main clause.
- If the main clause is first in an adverbial complex sentence, it is not followed by a comma before the adverbial clause.
- Commas are often used to demarcate clauses in compound and complex sentence structures.
- Commas may be found in a simple sentence for other purposes than clause demarcation.
Common misconception
Pupils may believe that commas indicate a 'pause' in sentences, or 'taking a breath'.
Commas have a number of specific functions, several of which are covered in this lesson.
Keywords
Co-ordinating conjunction - a word that joins two main clauses to form a compound sentence
Comma - a punctuation mark used before "but" or "or" co-ordinating conjunctions in a compound sentence
Adverbial clause - a type of subordinate clause that starts with a subordinating conjunction
Subordinating conjunction - a word that starts an adverbial clause
Comma - a punctuation mark used to demarcate the first adverbial clause from the second main clause in an adverbial complex sentence
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