Year 4 English · Fronted adverbials and connecting words · Summary
Year 4 English Fronted adverbials and connecting words: summary and key words
Part of the Year 4 English fronted adverbials and connecting words chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Fronted adverbial | A word, phrase or clause at the start of a sentence that tells when, where or how: Suddenly, the cat jumped. |
| When, where, how | Time (when), place (where) and manner (how). Ask the question to find the type. |
| Comma after the adverbial | One comma after the whole fronted adverbial. No comma before an adverbial at the end of a sentence. |
| Main clause | Makes sense on its own: we went to the park. |
| Subordinate clause | Starts with a connective and needs a main clause: When the bell rang. |
| Connective | Joins a subordinate clause to a main clause: when, before, after, while, because, although, if. |
| Choosing a connective | Match the meaning: time (when, before, after, while), reason (because), contrast (although), condition (if). |
| Connecting word | Links a new sentence to the one before: However, Meanwhile, Therefore, As a result. Full stop before, comma after. |
Can you…?
- I can find a fronted adverbial at the start of a sentence, and say whether it tells when, where or how
- I can put one comma after the whole fronted adverbial
- I know there is no comma before an adverbial at the end of a sentence
- I can tell a main clause from a subordinate clause
- I can choose a connective that fits the meaning: time, reason, contrast or condition
- I can link two sentences with a connecting word, a full stop and a comma
- I can explain why a comma is needed
Key terms
- fronted adverbial
- an adverbial at the start of a sentence, followed by a comma
- adverbial
- a word, phrase or clause that tells when, where or how something happens
- connective
- a word that joins two clauses or links two ideas, such as when, because or however
- clause
- a group of words with a verb
- main clause
- a clause that makes sense on its own
- subordinate clause
- a clause that needs a main clause to make sense; it starts with a connective
- connecting word
- a word such as however, meanwhile or therefore that links a sentence to the one before it
- comma
- a mark that separates parts of a sentence, such as a fronted adverbial from the main clause