Clauses, subordinate clauses and phrases: KS2

[eggandcress]

My dd has a SAT buster book on grammar to complete over the holiday. She is struggling with these three areas.
(They do seem a bit advanced for KS2 to me but hey what do I know!)

Does anyone know an easy way of explaining them or a clear website that explains them. I think she almost understands phrases, it is the clauses that are worrisome.
I am not good at simplifying explanations!

They are taught at primary, so it is usual, but that doesn't mean that every child will get it.
Have you had a look at the bbc bite size website?

www.tesol-direct.com/guide-to-english-grammar/clauses

www.tesol-direct.com/guide-to-english-grammar/phrases

A clause is a full sentence. A phrase is a partial sentence. A subordinating clause is a sentence with a connective such as 'if', 'so', 'when' etc that adds extra detail, but often makes the sentence 'complex' by making part of the sentence dependent on the other section of the sentence.

I hope that makes sense! Two weeks off has turned my brain to mush. Incidentally, we teach this in year 3.

www.northwood.org.uk/complex%20sentences%20home.htm
has some very clear descriptions of different clauses, phrases and sentence types

You can remove a subordinate clause from a sentence and the sentence will still make sense. E.G.

The boy who liked football scored three goals.

The subordinate clause is 'who liked football' - it doesn't mean anything in isolation.

The rest of the sentence ('The boy scored three goals') still makes sense with that element removed.

A main clause contains a SUBJECT and a VERB and can stand alone, making sense, as a complete sentence.

A subordinate clause does not make sense on its own.

This is great thank you all

She came up with this sentence:

The girl ran down the road so she could catch the bus.

She said "the girl ran down the road" was the clause and "to catch the bus on time" was the subordinate clause.

Is this an Eliza Dolittle moment?

That's it. To boost her levels, teach her that the subordinate clause can often at the the front, with a comma:
To catch the bus on time, the girl ran down the road.

Thank you Reluctantly

I just read this to her and she loved it, she said it made the sentence much more interesting and grown-up.

Brilliant! I teach secondary pupils and I love it when I get a year seven pupil who has already cracked it at primary school.