1. Recognise and use fronted adverbials
Year 4 SPAG
NCLO:
Recognise and use fronted adverbials

2. What is an adverbial? Time (When) Place (Where) Manner (How) Last year
Adverbials provide information about someone’s action or tell us more about what happened. Adverbials provide information about time, place and manner. In other words, they give us details which relate to when, where and how. Look at the examples in the table below: Adverbials may consist of just one word (an adverb) or more than one word (an adverbial phrase).
Time (When)
Place (Where)
Manner (How)
Last year
In the forest
Slowly
In the afternoon
Inside
Timidly
Hours later
Up the mountain
Quietly

3. What is a fronted adverbial?
A fronted adverbial is a term used to describe an adverbial that is placed at the beginning of a sentence. When adverbials are placed in this position, they are usually followed by a comma. Moving adverbials to the front of a sentence allows us to create variation in sentence structure. Look at the following examples:* Before we begin, make sure you’ve got a pencil. [Without fronting: Make sure you’ve got a pencil before we begin.] The day after tomorrow, I’m visiting my granddad. [Without fronting: I’m visiting my granddad the day after tomorrow.] *Examples provided from National Curriculum for English glossary

4. Have a go!
Adjust these sentences so that the adverbials of time are placed at the front.
I am going to school tomorrow morning.
Edward is moving to a new house in three weeks.
It will be lunch-time in a few minutes.
It is going to snow later on.
Aaron will be going to football club during lunch-time.

5. How did you do? Tomorrow morning, I am going to school.
In three weeks, Edward is moving to a new house.
In a few minutes, it will be lunch-time.
Later on, it is going to snow.
During lunch-time, Aaron will be going to football club.
Did you remember to place commas after the fronted adverbials?

6. Have a go!
Adjust these sentences so that the adverbials of place are at the front.
The trees grew beside the river.
There is a shed in the garden.
There lived a scary monster in the land of Make Believe.
A terrifying dragon lived high in the mountain.
It is warm outside.

7. How did you do? Beside the river, the trees grew.
In the garden, there is a shed.
In the land of Make Believe, there lived a scary monster.
High in the mountain, a terrifying dragon lived.
Outside, it is warm.
Did you remember to place commas after the fronted adverbials?

8. Have a go!
Adjust these sentences so that the adverbials of manner are placed at the front
Susan completed the painting slowly.
Thomas slammed the door crossly.
Elijah won the race easily.
The scaffolding came crashing down without warning.
I drew my picture carefully.

9. How did you do? Slowly, Susan completed the painting.
Crossly, Thomas slammed the door.
Easily, Elijah won the race.
Without warning, the scaffolding came crashing down.
Carefully, I drew my picture.

10. Can you spot the fronted adverbials in this text?
Nervously, Beth approached the dragon. Without warning, the dragon roared. Defiantly, Beth pulled out her sword. Suddenly, flames shot out of the dragon’s mouth. Moments later, Beth felt intense heat whoosh past her ears. The dragon had almost set her on fire! From the window of the castle, Prince Gerald watched. Beth had come to rescue him. She was determined to save him from the dragon. Carefully, she raised her sword. She knew she had to act quickly. Seconds later, the dragon lay on the floor –dead. Beth had done it. She had defeated the dragon!

11. Were you right?
Nervously, Beth approached the dragon. Without warning, the dragon roared. Defiantly, Beth pulled out her sword. Suddenly, flames shot out of the dragon’s mouth. Moments later, Beth felt intense heat whoosh past her ears. The dragon had almost set her on fire! From the window of the castle, Prince Gerald watched. Beth had come to rescue him. She was determined to save him from the dragon. Carefully, she raised her sword. She knew she had to act quickly. Seconds later, the dragon lay on the floor –dead. Beth had done it. She had defeated the dragon!

12. Reflect and Discuss
Give examples of: Adverbials of time (when) Adverbials of place (where) Adverbials of manner (how) Explain what is meant by the term fronted adverbial. Think of a sentence which uses one.