Grammar Workshop

November 2014

What is Grammar?

• Grammar is the way that words are put together to form a sentence.

What is a sentence?

• This is a group of words that are put together, contain a verb and make sense on their own. A sentence always starts with a capital letter and ends in a . ? or !

• Commands- Go over there. • Statement – I have brown hair.• Questions- Can I have some chocolate?• Exclamations- Wow that’s amazing!

Parts of speech

• Noun- name, place or thingCommon, proper, collective, abstract.

• Verbs- action words• Adjectives- words that describe nouns• Adverbs- words that describe verbs• Connectives- words that join two parts of a

sentence.• Preposition- a word that states where the noun is

placed.

Phrases and Clauses

• Phrase- a group or related words that make up part of a sentence. They don’t make sense on their own. They do not have to contain a verb.

• Clause- part of the sentence that contains the verb

Main clause- is independent and makes sense on its own

Subordinate clause- usually contains the connective, but still has a verb and does not make sense on its own.

Extending sentences

• Compound sentences- two independent clauses

• I tried to speak Spanish and my friend tried to speak English.• Alejandro played football so Maria went shopping.• I like ice cream but you like doughnuts

• Complex sentences- an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses joined using connectives or commas.

The boat sailed into the harbour although it was very dangerous.Although it was very dangerous, the ship sailed into the harbour.I work hard at school because I want to get a good job.Sitting in front of the fire, the cat licked its paws.

• Adverbial phrases- time, place or how

At the very beginning of the day, we always read our books.We always read our books at the very beginning of the day. Mr Barraclough teaches us singing in the hall at school. Sitting quietly, I read my book.

• Relative clauses and phrases- used to add extra information

• The boy, in the stripped trousers, walked down the road.• The teacher, who always arrives at school on time, teaches

English.• After looking at his watch (which he does regularly) the man

realised that he was late.

Lets have a go……

• The girl is splashing.

• What could we add to make our sentence better?

Useful Websites

• Woodlands junior• Zondle• Key stage 2 bite size