Punctuation and Grammar
Workshop
Derek woke up, went
downstairs and ate his cat
Derek woke up, went
downstairs and ate. His cat
was playing in his cereal bowl
Derek woke up, went
downstairs and ate. His cat
was playing. In his cereal
bowl, Derek had cornflakes
and milk.
Punctuation and Grammar
• SAT tests for spelling, punctuation and grammar in
Year 6;
• Improved understanding of sentence structure;
• Improved understanding of how to vary own writing
to add interest;
• Greater variety of specific language for context and
effect.
• Access languages much easier at secondary level.
Handwriting IS important!
Changes to 2016 SPaG SAT
Example from 2015 test:
Insert commas in the correct places in this
sentence:
I gave Zak a magazine two packs of stickers some
pens and a drink.
I gave Zak a magazine, two packs of stickers, some
pens and a drink.
Changes to 2016 SPaG SAT
Sample 2016 test:
Write a correctly punctuated sentence that lists all
the information below:
Milkshake ingredients
bananas semi-skimmed milk
honey
marshmallows (for decoration)
The milkshake ingredients are bananas, semiskimmed milk, honey and marshmallows (for
decoration).
Word Class
• Noun – The subject (who
or what). This could be
an object, person, place,
feeling
• Verb – the action or
‘happening’ (this can
change tense)
• Adjective – describes the
noun
• Adverb – describes how
the action (verb)
happens. They often end
in ‘ly’
• Preposition – where or
when
• Conjunction – a word to link
two ‘happenings’ in a
sentence
• Types of nouns (pro noun,
proper noun, abstract noun,
collective noun)
• Article (the, an or a)
Ideas for games
Alphabets
Taboo
Ladders
Consequences
Dice games
Crazy
paragraphs
Post-it note
games
Zones of
relevance
Fast Five
Sentence Types
• Simple
• Compound
• Complex
Simple Sentences
Only 1 thing can be happening.
The cat sat on the mat.
The chubby, yellow cat sat on the old mat.
All morning, the chubby, yellow cat sat on
the old mat.
All morning, the chubby, yellow cat sat on
the old mat in the warm sun.
Compound Sentences
There are 2 or more ‘happenings’ (2 or more main clauses).
‘Happenings’ are joined with a FANBOYS conjunction
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
Compound Sentences
These are simple sentences:
The cat sat on the mat. He licked his paws
All night, the cat sat on the mat. He never slept.
The cat sat on the mat. He perched on the
highest branch of next door’s cherry tree.
Compound Sentences
Adding the conjunction changes the simple
sentence to compound.
The cat sat on the mat and he licked his paws
All night, the cat sat on the mat but he never
slept.
The cat sat on the mat or he perched on the
highest branch of next door’s cherry tree.
Complex Sentences (not complicated)
2 or more ‘happenings’ (I main clause and a subordinate
clause)
The 2 clauses are joined by a subordinating conjunction.
He wore flips flops, even though it was raining.
The rabbits dived into their burrows, just as the hawk
appeared on the horizon.
My brother chewed the crayons, while I was colouring.
Complex Sentences
The subordinating clause and subordinating conjunction
stick together like glue! They can travel around the
sentence.
He wore flips flops, even though it was raining.
The rabbits dived into their burrows, just as the hawk
appeared on the horizon.
My brother chewed the crayons, while I was colouring.
Complex Sentences
The whole clause can be moved so it is fronted or even
embedded.
Even though it was raining, he wore flips flops.
The rabbits, just as the hawk appeared on the horizon,
dived into their burrows.
While I was colouring, my brother chewed the crayons.
Complex Sentences
The subordinating clause does not always have a
conjunction. It can be an ‘ing’ clause (non-finite clause)
He wore flips flops, wishing for sunshine
Fearing the hawk looming on the horizon, the rabbits
dived into their borrows.
My brother, dribbling a rainbow of pencil sharpenings,
chewed the crayons.
Subordinating conjunctions
(just a few)
rather
than
wherever
in order
just as
until
ever since
as
unless
provided
where
whenever
although
since
while
if
before
after/
before
once
because
in case
Openings
Use a conjunction
While I waited for my
friend, I read a book.
Use an ‘ing’ clause
Counting sheep, he tried
to fall to sleep.
Use an ‘ed’ clause
Surprised by the bang,
the dog hid under a
blanket.
Use an simile
Like a speeding bullet,
the train shot down the
track.
Openings
Use an adverb
Use one word
Carefully, the prize
Sad, Dexter hung his
winning cake was carried head.
towards the stage.
Use a prepositional
phrase
At the end of the lane,
stood a lonely cottage.
Use ‘But’ for emphasis
But, they were doomed.