Study Guides

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 use the comma for a range of purposes in three different sentence structures.

Key Notes

• 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.

Vocabulary To Learn

• 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

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Pupils may believe that commas indicate a 'pause' in sentences, or 'taking a breath'.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• A new sentence structure: the relative complex sentence Study Guide
• A new subordinate clause: the relative clause 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