Year 4 - English
A new subordinate clause: the relative clause
Simple, compound, adverbial and relative complex sentences
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn a new sentence structure: the relative complex sentence. In so doing, they learn a new comma rule for how to embed a relative clause within a main clause. Pupils revise main and adverbial clauses and phrases as well as simple, compound and adverbial complex sentences.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify that a relative clause is a type of subordinate clause.
Key Notes
- Any subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a verb and does not make complete sense.
- Any subordinate clause must join to a main clause to make sense.
- A relative clause is a type of subordinate clause which starts with a relative pronoun.
- A previously-learnt type of subordinate clause is the adverbial clause that starts with a subordinating conjunction.
Vocabulary To Learn
- subordinate clause: a group of words that contains a verb and does not make complete sense
- main clause: a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense
- relative clause: a type of subordinate clause that starts with a relative pronoun
- relative pronoun: a word that starts a relative clause like "who" or "which"
- adverbial clause: a type of subordinate clause that starts with a subordinating conjunction
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Children may believe relative clauses can only be placed in the middle of sentences.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Any subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a verb and does not make complete sense. Any subordinate clause must join to a main clause to make sense.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'subordinate clause'
a group of words that contains a verb and does not make complete sense.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Children may believe relative clauses can only be placed in the middle of sentences. Correction: Relative clauses follow nouns/noun phrases; although we focus on the middle position in Y4, it can vary.
More Lessons In This Unit
- A new sentence structure: the relative complex sentence Study Guide
- Comma rules in three sentence types Study Guide
- Three sentence types Study Guide
- Two types of clause, including subordinate clauses Study Guide
- Two types of conjunction Study Guide
- Using the comma rules with relative complex sentences Study Guide
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