The note
How schools teach it now
A fronted adverbial is a word or phrase at the start of a sentence telling when, where, how or why something happens (Later that day, Under the bridge, Silently). From Year 4, children put a comma after it. The term appears in the Year 6 SPaG test.
5-minute kitchen-table activity
On a car journey, take turns saying sentences that start with a fronted adverbial: 'At the traffic lights, we stopped.' 'Without warning, a pigeon landed.' Clap where the comma goes. Then find three in a reading book and notice how they vary sentence openings.
Worked example
Which sentence is punctuated correctly? A: Later that afternoon, the children built a den. B: Later that, afternoon the children built a den. C: Later that afternoon the children, built a den. D: Later that afternoon the, children built a den.
- Find the opening phrase that tells us when: 'Later that afternoon'.
- The comma goes straight after it, before the main clause (the children built a den).
- Never put a comma between the subject (the children) and its verb (built).
Answer: A: Later that afternoon, the children built a den.
Common mistakes to watch for
- Putting the comma in the middle of the opening phrase instead of at its end.
- Thinking only -ly words count; phrases like 'In the morning' are adverbials too.
- Treating the subject at the start (The old man) as a fronted adverbial.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “Read the opener, then pop the comma where it finishes.”
- Rather than
- “Just put a comma wherever you'd take a breath.”