KS2 SATs 2017 — English GPS Paper 1: Questions

The idea

A clause is a group of words built around a verb. A main clause makes sense on its own as a complete sentence. A subordinate clause also has a verb but does not make sense alone — it leans on the main clause and often starts with a subordinating conjunction such as 'because', 'when', 'if' or 'although'.

Sentences have four functions. A statement gives information and ends with a full stop. A question asks something and ends with a question mark. A command tells someone to do something, usually starting with an imperative verb like 'Close'. An exclamation shows strong feeling, starts with 'What' or 'How', contains a verb, and ends with an exclamation mark.

Beware: not every sentence ending in '!' is an exclamation in the grammar-test sense — it must begin with 'What' or 'How' and include a verb.

Worked example

In the sentence 'Although it was raining, we played football in the park', which part is the main clause, and is the sentence a statement, question, command or exclamation?

1. Find the clauses: 'Although it was raining' and 'we played football in the park'.
2. Test each alone: 'we played football in the park' makes sense by itself, so it is the main clause; the 'although' clause does not stand alone, so it is subordinate.
3. The sentence gives information and ends with a full stop, so it is a statement.

Answer: The main clause is 'we played football in the park', and the sentence is a statement.

Watch out

• Calling any sentence with an exclamation mark an exclamation — a test exclamation must start with 'What' or 'How' and contain a verb.
• Splitting clauses in the wrong place; always split around the conjunction and check each part has its own verb.