45-minute lesson
Year 8 English: Clauses and complex sentences
Lesson objective
- Distinguish between main (independent) and subordinate (dependent) clauses.
- Build complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions.
- Punctuate complex sentences correctly when the subordinate clause comes first.
Success criteria:
- I can find the verb in a clause and decide whether the clause makes sense on its own.
- I can join two ideas with a subordinating conjunction such as 'because', 'although' or 'when'.
- I can place a comma after an opening subordinate clause.
Materials
- Exercise book
- Scissors and scrap paper for sentence strips
- Pencil
Introduction
5 minIntroduce today's words:
- Clause: A group of words containing a subject and a verb.
- Main clause: A clause that makes complete sense on its own; also called an independent clause.
- Subordinate clause: A clause that cannot stand alone and depends on a main clause for its meaning.
- Subordinating conjunction: A joining word such as 'because', 'although', 'when', 'unless' or 'since' that begins a subordinate clause.
- Complex sentence: A sentence with one main clause and at least one subordinate clause.
Ask your child what they already know about clauses and complex sentences.
Explanation
9 minEvery clause has a subject (who or what) and a verb (the action or state). 'The bus arrived' is a clause: subject 'the bus', verb 'arrived'.
A main clause makes complete sense by itself: 'We stayed inside.' A subordinate clause begins with a subordinating conjunction and leaves the reader waiting: 'because the hail was falling…' – because what happened?
A complex sentence joins a main clause and a subordinate clause: 'We stayed inside because the hail was falling.' The conjunction shows the relationship between ideas – here, cause and effect.
- Time: when, after, before, while, until
- Cause: because, since, as
- Contrast or concession: although, even though, whereas
- Condition: if, unless
If the subordinate clause comes first, put a comma after it: 'Although the water was freezing, Jack dived in.' If the main clause comes first, a comma is usually not needed: 'Jack dived in although the water was freezing.' Moving the subordinate clause to the front is a good way to vary sentence openings and build suspense.
Worked examples
7 minIdentifying the clauses
Identify the main and subordinate clauses: 'When the siren sounded, the swimmers raced back to the sand.'
Step 1: Find the verbs: 'sounded' and 'raced'. Two verbs suggests two clauses.
Step 2: 'When the siren sounded' starts with 'when' and cannot stand alone: subordinate clause.
Step 3: 'the swimmers raced back to the sand' makes sense alone: main clause.
Step 4: Note the comma after the opening subordinate clause.
Answer: Subordinate clause: 'When the siren sounded'. Main clause: 'the swimmers raced back to the sand'.
Combining simple sentences
Combine into one complex sentence that shows contrast: 'The track was muddy. The team finished the hike.'
Step 1: Decide the relationship: the mud might have stopped them, but it did not – this is contrast.
Step 2: Choose a contrast conjunction: 'although'.
Step 3: Attach it to the clause that is being conceded: 'Although the track was muddy'.
Step 4: Add the main clause and a comma: 'Although the track was muddy, the team finished the hike.'
Answer: Although the track was muddy, the team finished the hike.
Choosing a conjunction for meaning
Complete with a conjunction showing condition: 'You can borrow my bike ___ you bring it back by six.'
Step 1: Condition means one thing depends on another.
Step 2: Condition conjunctions: 'if', 'unless', 'provided that'.
Step 3: 'Unless' would reverse the meaning, so choose 'if'.
Answer: You can borrow my bike if you bring it back by six.
Guided practice (do together)
9 min1. Which of these is a subordinate clause?
(a) The dog barked (b) because the gate was open (c) We left early (d) Mum laughed
2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
(a) Unless it rains we will play cricket. (b) Unless, it rains we will play cricket. (c) Unless it rains, we will play cricket. (d) Unless it rains we, will play cricket.
3. Which conjunction shows contrast?
(a) Although (b) Because (c) When (d) Since
4. Which is a complex sentence?
(a) The lorikeets screeched. (b) The lorikeets screeched and the cat hid. (c) Screeching lorikeets everywhere. (d) The cat hid while the lorikeets screeched.
Independent practice
11 min5. What do all clauses contain?
(a) A comma (b) A subject and a verb (c) A conjunction (d) An adjective
6. What type of clause can stand alone as a sentence? A ______ clause. (one word)
7. Write the subordinating conjunction in: 'She kept running even though her legs ached.' (two words)
8. What do we call a sentence with one main clause and at least one subordinate clause? A ______ sentence. (one word)
Questions to check understanding
- Can you find the verb in a clause and decide whether the clause makes sense on its own?
- Can you join two ideas with a subordinating conjunction such as 'because', 'although' or 'when'?
- Can you place a comma after an opening subordinate clause?
- What was the trickiest part today?
Answer guide
1. because the gate was open — It begins with 'because' and cannot stand alone.
2. Unless it rains, we will play cricket. — A comma follows an opening subordinate clause.
3. Although — 'Although' introduces an idea that contrasts with the main clause.
4. The cat hid while the lorikeets screeched. — It has a main clause and a subordinate clause beginning with 'while'.
5. A subject and a verb — A clause is built around a subject and a verb.
6. Main — Main (independent) clauses make complete sense on their own.
7. even though — 'Even though' introduces the subordinate clause and shows concession.
8. Complex — That is the definition of a complex sentence.
Review
4 minRecap the success criteria together. Watch for these common misconceptions:
- Thinking a long sentence must be complex. Length does not matter; the structure of clauses does.
- Treating a subordinate clause as a full sentence ('Because I was tired.'). This is a sentence fragment in formal writing.
- Adding a comma before every conjunction. A comma is needed after an opening subordinate clause, but not usually before 'because' in the middle of a sentence.
Extension activities
- Rewrite a paragraph of simple sentences from a children's book as a passage with varied complex sentences, then compare the effect.
- Write a suspenseful 100-word scene in which every sentence begins with a different subordinating conjunction.
- Find five complex sentences in a newspaper report and identify the relationship each conjunction shows.
Suggested follow-up
- Revisit clauses and complex sentences tomorrow with two or three quick questions from memory.
- Try the online practice check for this topic and look at any questions that need another go.
Tips for parents
- Write clauses on paper strips and let your learner physically rearrange them to see how meaning and punctuation change.
- When your learner writes, ask, 'Can that part stand on its own?' to check for fragments.
- Challenge them to start three sentences in a piece of writing with a subordinate clause.