Tackling Complex Sentences and Commas...

If there is anything that truly revolutionizes a pupil's writing, it is mastering the art of the complex sentence.  Of course, to do this effectively requires mastery of the comma and a proper understanding of main and subordinate clauses. 

Once pupils have mastered this, then can then move to understanding clause mobility which is vital to them really grasping how to vary their sentence structure and type to effect the reader. 

The lesson below is the first in a sports-themed unit which really targets sentence level skills. 

If we do say so ourselves, it is undoubtedly brilliant and has been a great success with pupils of various abilities and ages across KS3 and 4.


Because we love you, we're going to post some of the follow up lessons too.  You lucky sausages.


Check it out by clicking the three links below then clicking 'File' and 'Download' to save the resources to your computer.  Follow the SQLP below and you can't go far wrong with this one...

Complex Sentences Presentation
Starter Worksheet (Print and cut to A5 size)
Main Task Worksheets

SQLP (Super Quick Lesson Plan!)

Learning Objective

To know what a complex sentence is.
To be able to punctuate a complex sentence.

Key Words

Clause, comma

Suitable for - y6-11 depending on your pupils' prior knowledge and ability levels of course; I have used this lesson with low-ability y7 and 8 groups as well as high ability y9s to equally good effect, the only thing that differed was the time it took us to achieve our objectives and, obviously, the ease with which pupils could apply the skills learned to their independent written work.


Prior knowledge needed - some vague knowledge of clauses is useful to get things going but this is fully covered in the starter.  Pupils need to know what a comma is and have some basic idea of its function.

Starter - A quick gap fill on an A5 sheet; pupils to feedback ideas; hit the space bar for the gaps to be correctly filled on the starter slide.  Check comprehension of key terms.


Main Task 1 - Introduce clauses; main clause and sub clause succinctly explained and colour coded on slide; pupils to use a code to identify the main clauses and sub clauses in the sentences on their worksheet; teacher to elicit ideas and model this first using example slide; hit the space bar for the code to appear and check comprehension.


Feedback responses.


Main Task 2 -  Ask pupils if they have worked out the rules for where the commas go in complex sentences based on the order of the main clause and sub clause; hit space to bring up the 3 basic rules on the slide.


Draw pupils attention to their second main task sheet; here, they must identify the main and sub clauses and then put the commas in the correct places following the rules on the scroll.


Feedback responses.


Extension - Pupils to write a complex sentence of their own following the 3 image prompts on the slide.


Plenary - Discuss the three questions on the final slide; most pupils should be able to answer all of them!