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Primary English · Year 3Chapter 5 · Punctuation
Year 3 English · Punctuation · Lesson 5.3

Year 3 English: Commas after fronted adverbials

Part of the Year 3 English punctuation chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

5.3

Commas after fronted adverbials

Year 3
Name a fronted adverbial, which comes at the start of a sentence and tells when, where, why or how, Put a comma after a fronted adverbial at the start of a sentence
Story. On Saturday morning, Ben and Dad walk to the park. Later that day, they fly a kite. Quietly, Ben watches the sky. Suddenly, the wind pulls the string.

A fronted adverbial comes at the start of a sentence. It tells us when, where, why or how. It can be one word, a phrase or a clause with a verb.

When a fronted adverbial comes first, put a comma after it. The comma shows the reader where the adverbial stops and the main clause starts.

Fronted adverbialWhat it tells usExample
YesterdaywhenYesterday, we made pancakes.
In the gardenwhereIn the garden, a robin sang.
Because of the rainwhyBecause of the rain, the game stopped.
SlowlyhowSlowly, the tortoise crossed the road.
Slowly,fronted adverbialthe tortoise crossed the road.main clause
The comma comes straight after the fronted adverbial.

Key ideas

  • A fronted adverbial comes first in a sentence and tells when, where, why or how.
  • Put one comma after it, before the main clause.
  • A fronted adverbial can be one word, a phrase or a clause with a verb.
  • An adverbial at the end of the sentence, as in Ben read a book later, does not need a comma.
Worked example 5.3.1
Add one comma to this sentence: Later that day Ben read a book.

Method. Put one comma straight after the fronted adverbial.

  1. Find the fronted adverbial. It comes first in the sentence and tells when.
    Later that day
  2. Find the verb of the main clause. The main clause has its own verb and makes sense on its own.
    read
  3. Put a comma after the fronted adverbial. The comma shows where the adverbial stops and the main clause starts.
    Later that day, Ben read a book.
  4. Write the answer.
    Later that day, Ben read a book.

Check. The comma comes straight after Later that day. ✓

Watch out. The comma goes after the adverbial, not after the verb.

Worked example 5.3.2
Add one comma to this sentence: Outside the shop a dog was barking.

Method. Put one comma straight after the fronted adverbial.

  1. Find the fronted adverbial. It comes first in the sentence and tells where.
    Outside the shop
  2. Find the verb of the main clause. The main clause has its own verb and makes sense on its own.
    was barking
  3. Put a comma after the fronted adverbial. The comma shows where the adverbial stops and the main clause starts.
    Outside the shop, a dog was barking.
  4. Write the answer.
    Outside the shop, a dog was barking.

Check. The comma comes straight after Outside the shop. ✓

Watch out. The comma goes after the adverbial, not after the verb.

Worked example 5.3.3
Add one comma to this sentence: Because of the wind the kite fell down.

Method. Put one comma straight after the fronted adverbial.

  1. Find the fronted adverbial. It comes first in the sentence and tells why.
    Because of the wind
  2. Find the verb of the main clause. The main clause has its own verb and makes sense on its own.
    fell
  3. Put a comma after the fronted adverbial. The comma shows where the adverbial stops and the main clause starts.
    Because of the wind, the kite fell down.
  4. Write the answer.
    Because of the wind, the kite fell down.

Check. The comma comes straight after Because of the wind. ✓

Watch out. The comma goes after the adverbial, not after the verb.

Watch out

Watch out: put the comma straight after the fronted adverbial: Later that day, Ben read a book. Do not put it after the name or after the verb.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Say the sentence with a pause after the first part. Ask your child where the pause is. That is where the comma goes.

Exercise 5C  Practice: commas after fronted adverbials

1
FAdd one comma to this sentence: Yesterday we went to the library.
2
FAdd one comma to this sentence: Every Tuesday Mia swims at the pool.
3
FAdd one comma to this sentence: Quietly Ella opened the door.
4
FAdd one comma to this sentence: Under the tree a hedgehog was sleeping.
5
FAdd one comma to this sentence: Suddenly the lights went out.
6
PSWhich words are the fronted adverbial in this sentence? At the end of the day, the children went home.
7
PSCorrect this sentence: On Saturday Dad took us to the zoo.
8
PSAdd one comma to this sentence: Before the match the team had a drink.
9
RAli writes: Last night Sam heard a loud bang. Is his punctuation right? Explain.
10
RSam says that the sentence Ben read a book later. needs a comma before later. Is he right? Explain.

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