Year 3 — Grammar

Clauses and paragraphs

Spot a main clause and a subordinate clause, organise ideas into paragraphs, and use a fronted adverbial to start a sentence with extra detail.

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💡Understand

A MAIN CLAUSE makes complete sense on its own. A SUBORDINATE CLAUSE doesn't make sense alone — it needs the main clause. A FRONTED ADVERBIAL is a phrase at the START of a sentence, followed by a comma, giving extra detail (like when or where).

“Later that afternoon, the children built a sandcastle because the tide was low.”

'Later that afternoon,' is a fronted adverbial (extra detail at the start, followed by a comma). 'The children built a sandcastle' is the main clause. 'Because the tide was low' is a subordinate clause — it can't stand alone.

🔍Spot it

Is this a main clause, a subordinate clause, or a fronted adverbial?

Question 1

"The dog barked loudly" — on its own, does this make full sense?

💡 This makes complete sense by itself — a main clause.

Question 2

"because it saw a stranger" — on its own, does this make full sense?

💡 This depends on more information — it's a subordinate clause.

Question 3

"Suddenly, the lights went out." What is 'Suddenly,'?

💡 This is a single word at the start followed by a comma, giving extra detail — a fronted adverbial.

🧠Think about it

Why does a fronted adverbial always need a comma after it, like 'Every morning, she walks her dog'?

✍️Try it

Identify the clause type.

Although it was raining, the match continued.

Question 1

What type of clause is 'Although it was raining'?

💡 Does this phrase make complete sense on its own?

📝Practise

Identify the clause or fronted adverbial each time.

Question 1

"She smiled" — main clause or subordinate?

Question 2

"when she heard the good news" — main clause or subordinate?

Question 3

"Without a word," at the start of a sentence — what is this?

Question 4

In one phrase, what do we call a phrase at the start of a sentence, followed by a comma, giving extra detail?

💡 It's the third skill named in this lesson's introduction.

Question 5

"the bus arrived" — main clause or subordinate?

Question 6

"if it doesn't rain" — main clause or subordinate?

🎯Apply

Read the passage, then answer the questions below.

Slowly and carefully, Amir climbed the tall ladder, even though he was afraid of heights.

Question 1

What is 'Slowly and carefully,' in this sentence?

💡 It's at the start of the sentence, followed by a comma.

Question 2

What is the main clause of this sentence?

Question 3

What subordinating word introduces the subordinate clause at the end?

💡 It's the phrase right before 'he was afraid'.

🏆Challenge

Can you write a sentence with a fronted adverbial at the start, followed by a comma?

🔄Review

A quick mastery check — 3 questions.

Question 1

"the rain stopped" — main or subordinate?

Question 2

"as soon as the bell rang" — main or subordinate?

Question 3

"After a long day," at the start of a sentence — what is this?

Want more practice mixing this with other grammar rules? Try Grammar practice →