Year 3 English Clauses and sentences: check-up and practice test questions

Method. Count the verbs. Each clause has one verb.

1. Find each verb. Each clause has one verb, so the verbs show the clauses.
   was, lost
2. Count the clauses. 2 verbs means 2 clauses.
   2
3. Write the answer.
   2

Check. The verbs in the sentence are was, lost. ✓

Watch out. A group of words with no verb, such as under the bench, is not a clause.

Method. Find the conjunction that joins the clauses.

1. Find the verbs, one for each clause. Each clause has its own verb.
   smiled, came
2. Find the joining word. It starts the subordinate clause and joins it to the main clause.
   Ella smiled when the sun came out.
3. Write the answer.
   when

Check. when sits between the two parts. ✓

Watch out. The clause that starts with this word cannot stand alone.

Method. Find the words that make the subordinate clause.

1. Find the verbs. Each clause has one verb. A fronted adverbial has none.
   left, tidied
2. Find the words in the subordinate clause. A subordinate clause starts with a conjunction such as when or because. It needs a main clause and does not make sense alone.
   Before we left, we tidied the room.
3. Write the answer.
   Before we left

Check. Read the subordinate clause aloud: it has only the words above. ✓

Watch out. The subordinate clause starts with its conjunction, such as when, because or although.

Method. Find the conjunction that joins the clauses.

1. Find the verbs, one for each clause. Each clause has its own verb.
   stopped, went
2. Find the joining word. It sits between two main clauses, and each part makes sense on its own.
   The rain stopped, so we went outside.
3. Write the answer.
   so

Check. so sits between the two parts. ✓

Watch out. Each side of this word could be a sentence on its own.

Method. Find the job of while in the sentence.

1. Read the word in its sentence. Look at its job in the sentence, not only at its spelling.
   Dad cooks dinner while we set the table.
2. Test the word. A conjunction joins two words, phrases or clauses.
   while is a conjunction here
3. Write the answer.
   conjunction

Check. while does the job of a conjunction here. ✓

Watch out. A conjunction sits between the parts that it joins.

Method. Find the words that make the fronted adverbial.

1. Find the verbs. Each clause has one verb. A fronted adverbial has none.
   came
2. Find the words in the fronted adverbial. A fronted adverbial comes first in the sentence and tells when, where or why. It has no verb in it.
   Soon, the bus came.
3. Write the answer.
   Soon

Check. Read the fronted adverbial aloud: it has only the words above. ✓

Watch out. A fronted adverbial has no verb. A clause with a verb is different.

Method. Move the subordinate clause to the front, and keep the same meaning.

1. Find the subordinate clause. A subordinate clause starts with a conjunction such as when or because. It needs a main clause and does not make sense alone.
   Sam was sad because his team lost.
2. Find the main clause. A main clause makes sense on its own, so it could be a sentence on its own.
   Sam was sad because his team lost.
3. Move the subordinate clause to the front. The meaning stays the same. Start with a capital letter and put a comma after the clause.
   Because his team lost, Sam was sad.
4. Write the answer.
   Because his team lost, Sam was sad.

Check. The new sentence means the same as the old one. ✓

Watch out. Only the order changes. The clause still starts with its conjunction.

Method. Look for the verb, then test whether the group can stand alone.

1. Find the verb in the group of words. A clause has a verb.
   had
2. Test: can it stand alone as a sentence? A subordinate clause starts with a conjunction such as when or because. It needs a main clause and does not make sense alone.
   Tom got wet, although he had a coat.
3. Write the answer.
   subordinate clause

Check. The group of words is a subordinate clause. ✓

Watch out. The subordinate clause starts with its conjunction, such as when, because or although.

Method. Find the conjunction that joins the clauses.

1. Find the verbs, one for each clause. Each clause has its own verb.
   was, wore
2. Find the joining word. It sits between two main clauses, and each part makes sense on its own.
   Priya was cold, so she wore a coat.
3. Write the answer.
   so

Check. so sits between the two parts. ✓

Watch out. Each side of this word could be a sentence on its own.

Method. Check whether the words make complete sense alone.

1. Find the verb. Because it rained has the verb rained.
   rained
2. Test it alone. The words do not say what happened. A main clause is needed to finish the idea.
   needs a main clause
3. Write the answer.
   It has a verb, but it needs a main clause to make complete sense, so it is a subordinate clause.

Check. A subordinate clause depends on a main clause. ✓

Watch out. A subordinate clause is not a sentence on its own.

Method. Find the conjunction that joins the clauses.

1. Find the verbs, one for each clause. Each clause has its own verb.
   stayed, was
2. Find the joining word. It starts the subordinate clause and joins it to the main clause.
   We stayed in because the snow was deep.
3. Write the answer.
   because

Check. because sits between the two parts. ✓

Watch out. The clause that starts with this word cannot stand alone.

Method. Count the verbs. Each clause has one verb.

1. Find each verb. Each clause has one verb, so the verbs show the clauses.
   laughed, sang
2. Count the clauses. 2 verbs means 2 clauses.
   2
3. Write the answer.
   2

Check. The verbs in the sentence are laughed, sang. ✓

Watch out. A group of words with no verb, such as under the bench, is not a clause.

Method. Find each word that is an adverb.

1. Read each word in its sentence. Check the job of each word, not only its spelling.
   Next, we painted the fence.
2. Pick out the adverbs. An adverb tells how, when, where or how often something happens.
   Next
3. Write the answer.
   Next

Check. Each word in the answer is an adverb. ✓

Watch out. Many adverbs end in ly, but then, next and soon do not.

Method. Find the words that make the subordinate clause.

1. Find the verbs. Each clause has one verb. A fronted adverbial has none.
   was, arrived
2. Find the words in the subordinate clause. A subordinate clause starts with a conjunction such as when or because. It needs a main clause and does not make sense alone.
   Ben was happy when his dad arrived.
3. Write the answer.
   when his dad arrived

Check. Read the subordinate clause aloud: it has only the words above. ✓

Watch out. The subordinate clause starts with its conjunction, such as when, because or although.

Method. Find the words that make the fronted adverbial.

1. Find the verbs. Each clause has one verb. A fronted adverbial has none.
   walked
2. Find the words in the fronted adverbial. A fronted adverbial comes first in the sentence and tells when, where or why. It has no verb in it.
   Before school, we walked the dog.
3. Write the answer.
   Before school

Check. Read the fronted adverbial aloud: it has only the words above. ✓

Watch out. A fronted adverbial has no verb. A clause with a verb is different.

Method. Move the subordinate clause to the front, and keep the same meaning.

1. Find the subordinate clause. A subordinate clause starts with a conjunction such as when or because. It needs a main clause and does not make sense alone.
   Mum made tea because we were cold.
2. Find the main clause. A main clause makes sense on its own, so it could be a sentence on its own.
   Mum made tea because we were cold.
3. Move the subordinate clause to the front. The meaning stays the same. Start with a capital letter and put a comma after the clause.
   Because we were cold, Mum made tea.
4. Write the answer.
   Because we were cold, Mum made tea.

Check. The new sentence means the same as the old one. ✓

Watch out. Only the order changes. The clause still starts with its conjunction.

Method. Look for the verb, then test whether the group can stand alone.

1. Find the verb in the group of words. A clause has a verb.
   read
2. Test: can it stand alone as a sentence? A main clause makes sense on its own, so it could be a sentence on its own.
   Although it was late, Sam read his book.
3. Write the answer.
   main clause

Check. The group of words is a main clause. ✓

Watch out. A main clause can stand alone, with a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end.

Method. Look at the order of the reason and the result in each sentence.

1. First sentence. The bench is wet is the reason, and so introduces the result.
   reason, so, result
2. Second sentence. We sat on the wall is the result, and because introduces the reason.
   result, because, reason
3. Write the answer.
   They give the same reason and the same result. The first puts the reason first, with so. The second puts the result first, with because.

Check. Both sentences give the same reason and result. ✓

Watch out. Only the order of the words changes.

Method. Therefore is an adverb, so it needs a full stop before it.

1. Find the two parts. It snowed a lot is the reason. The school closed is the result.
   reason; result
2. Add a full stop before therefore. Therefore starts the second sentence, so it needs a full stop before it.
   It snowed a lot. Therefore, the school closed.
3. Write the answer.
   It snowed a lot. Therefore, the school closed.

Check. Each sentence now makes sense. ✓

Watch out. A semicolon before therefore would also be correct.

Method. Write each subordinate clause with its conjunction, and join it to a main clause.

1. Although. Although it rained is a subordinate clause that shows a contrast.
   Although it rained
2. When. When the sun came out is a subordinate clause that shows the time.
   Ella smiled when the sun came out
3. Write the answer.
   Any correct answer, for example: Although it rained, we played. Ella smiled when the sun came out.

Check. Each sentence has a main clause and a subordinate clause. ✓

Watch out. Check that each subordinate clause has a main clause.