SPaG Samurai Training

Grammar –
Sentence Structure
Learn the Ways of the Samurai
How to build sentences:
1. Know your building materials.
The grammatical units of a sentence

Clauses – chunks of information containing a subject and verb

Phrases – words that join together to form a concept*
Words
*usually without a verb

2. Know the blueprint of what it is you’re constructing .

Simple sentences – contain a single clause

Compound sentences – two clauses of equal

and
weight bonded together with a conjunction

Complex sentences – contain a main clause (makes sense

, on its own) and a subordinate clause (dependent on main
clause), linked by commas and/or relative pronouns.
Practise the Ways
1. Is it a main clause (in other words,
does it make sense on its own)?
a) Heather enjoyed the party.
b) Which is why everybody was late.
c) Max knew what to do.
d) When the sun shines.
e) Because of the distress caused.
3. Underline the subordinate clause.
a) Mickey, who liked building things,
wanted to be an engineer.
b) While his parents were away, Archie
decided to decorate the house.
c) Even after lots of practice, Devon still
struggled to understand.
d) I decided not to go even though my
friends begged me.
e) When Mattie jumped off the cliff face,
she felt a surge of adrenaline.
2. Identify whether these sentences are simple, compound
or complex.
a) Ruby was asleep and so was Tommy.
b) This house is too expensive but that one is too small.
c) The protestors were angry.
d) Budget cuts had caused deprivation.
e) The protestors, who were campaigning against budget cuts,
were angry.
4. Insert commas to separate the subordinate clause
from the main clause.
Marina despite feeling off-colour threw herself into the
carnival atmosphere.
Walking through the wood he heard a noise that stopped him
in his tracks.
Jimmy now that he’d recovered was ready to go again.
Whenever he looked at the photograph of her he felt a pang
of regret.
The dress made of delicate chiffon by a famous fashion
designer made everybody turn.
Have You Mastered It?
1. Is it a main clause (in other words,
does it make sense on its own)?
a) Heather enjoyed the party.
b) Which is why everybody was late.
c) Max knew what to do.
d) When the sun shines.
e) Because of the distress caused.
3. Underline the subordinate clause.
a) Mickey, who liked building things,
wanted to be an engineer.
b) While his parents were away,
Archie decided to decorate
the house.
c) Even after lots of practice, Devon
still struggled to understand.
d) I decided not to go even though
my friends begged me.
e) When Mattie jumped off the cliff
face, she felt a surge
of adrenaline.
2. Identify whether these sentences are simple, compound
or complex.
a) Ruby was asleep and so was Tommy. compound
b) This house is too expensive
but that one is too small. compound
c) The protestors were angry. simple
d) Budget cuts had caused deprivation. simple
e) The protestors, who were campaigning
against budget cuts, were angry. complex
4. Insert commas to separate the subordinate
clause from the main clause.
Marina, despite feeling off-colour, threw herself
into the carnival atmosphere.
Walking through the wood, he heard a noise that
stopped him in his tracks.
Jimmy, now that he’d recovered, was ready to
go again.
Whenever he looked at the photograph of her,
he felt a pang of regret.
The dress, made of delicate chiffon by a famous
fashion designer, made everybody turn. Full marks
to secure