Year 3 English: Clauses: groups of words with a verb
Part of the Year 3 English clauses and sentences chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Clauses: groups of words with a verb
A clause is a group of words that has a verb in it. Most clauses also have a subject: the person or thing that does the action. In Ravi runs, the verb is runs, and the subject is Ravi.
A sentence can have one clause or more than one. Each clause has its own verb. Ravi runs, and Priya jumps has two verbs, so it has two clauses.
A group of words with no verb is not a clause. Under the bench tells us where the ball is, but it has no verb.
Key ideas
- A clause is a group of words with a verb in it.
- Count the verbs to count the clauses in a sentence.
- A subject is the person or thing that does the action.
- A group of words with no verb, such as under the bench, is not a clause.
Method. Count the verbs. Each clause has one verb.
- Find each verb. Each clause has one verb, so the verbs show the clauses.flew, was
- Count the clauses. 2 verbs means 2 clauses.2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. The verbs in the sentence are flew, was. ✓
Watch out. A group of words with no verb, such as under the bench, is not a clause.
Method. Count the verbs. Each clause has one verb.
- Find each verb. Each clause has one verb, so the verbs show how many clauses there are.finds
- Count the clauses. There is 1 verb.1 clause
- Write the answer. Yes. It has 1 clause, because it has 1 verb: finds.
Check. Ali is right. ✓
Watch out. A group of words with no verb is not a clause.
Method. Count the verbs. Each clause has one verb.
- Find each verb. Each clause has one verb, so the verbs show the clauses.ran
- Count the clauses. 1 verb means 1 clause.1
- Write the answer. 1
Check. The verbs in the sentence are ran. ✓
Watch out. A group of words with no verb, such as under the bench, is not a clause.
Watch out
Watch out: Mia and Ben swim has two names but only one verb, so it is one clause. Count verbs, not names. The word and joins two names here, not two clauses.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to say a sentence, then point to each verb. Each verb means one clause. Then ask: is there a group of words with no verb? That group is not a clause.
Exercise 4A Practice: finding clauses
Method. Count the verbs. Each clause has one verb.
- Find each verb. Each clause has one verb, so the verbs show the clauses.runs
- Count the clauses. 1 verb means 1 clause.1
- Write the answer. 1
Check. The verbs in the sentence are runs. ✓
Watch out. A group of words with no verb, such as under the bench, is not a clause.
Method. Count the verbs. Each clause has one verb.
- Find each verb. Each clause has one verb, so the verbs show the clauses.runs, jumps
- Count the clauses. 2 verbs means 2 clauses.2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. The verbs in the sentence are runs, jumps. ✓
Watch out. A group of words with no verb, such as under the bench, is not a clause.
Method. Find each word that is a verb.
- Read each word in its sentence. Check the job of each word, not only its spelling.Priya finds a ball under the bench.
- Pick out the verbs. A verb tells what someone or something does, is or has.finds
- Write the answer. finds
Check. Each word in the answer is a verb. ✓
Watch out. Verbs can change to show time: runs, ran.
Method. Find each word that is a verb.
- Read each word in its sentence. Check the job of each word, not only its spelling.The children ran to the swings after school.
- Pick out the verbs. A verb tells what someone or something does, is or has.ran
- Write the answer. ran
Check. Each word in the answer is a verb. ✓
Watch out. Verbs can change to show time: runs, ran.
Method. Count the verbs. Each clause has one verb.
- Find each verb. Each clause has one verb, so the verbs show the clauses.was, was
- Count the clauses. 2 verbs means 2 clauses.2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. The verbs in the sentence are was, was. ✓
Watch out. A group of words with no verb, such as under the bench, is not a clause.
Method. A clause must have a verb in it.
- Look at under the bench. Under is a preposition, and the bench is a noun phrase. There is no verb in it.under the bench: no verb
- Write the answer. No. It has no verb.
Check. The phrase has no verb, so it is not a clause. ✓
Watch out. The verb is finds, and it belongs to the clause Priya finds a ball.
Method. Count the verbs. Each clause has one verb.
- Find each verb. Each clause has one verb, so the verbs show the clauses.swim
- Count the clauses. 1 verb means 1 clause.1
- Write the answer. 1
Check. The verbs in the sentence are swim. ✓
Watch out. A group of words with no verb, such as under the bench, is not a clause.
Method. Count the verbs. Each clause has one verb.
- Find each verb. Each clause has one verb, so the verbs show the clauses.stopped, laughed
- Count the clauses. 2 verbs means 2 clauses.2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. The verbs in the sentence are stopped, laughed. ✓
Watch out. A group of words with no verb, such as under the bench, is not a clause.
Method. Find each word that is a verb.
- Read each word in its sentence. Check the job of each word, not only its spelling.Our kite flew high, and the wind was strong.
- Pick out the verbs. A verb tells what someone or something does, is or has.flew, was
- Write the answer. flew, was
Check. Each word in the answer is a verb. ✓
Watch out. Verbs can change to show time: runs, ran.
Method. Count the verbs. Each clause has one verb.
- Find each verb. Each clause has one verb, so the verbs show how many clauses there are.is, is
- Count the clauses. There are 2 verbs.2 clauses
- Write the answer. No. It has 2 clauses, because it has 2 verbs: is, is.
Check. Ali is not right. ✓
Watch out. A group of words with no verb is not a clause.
Method. Write one clause with a verb, then a joining word, then a second clause with its own verb.
- First clause. Ali sings has the verb sings.Ali sings
- Second clause. Ben dances has the verb dances, and joins the two clauses.and Ben dances
- Write the answer. Any correct sentence, for example: Ali sings and Ben dances.
Check. Each clause has one verb: sings and dances. ✓
Watch out. Check that each side of and has a verb.