---
title: "Grammar Terms: Clauses and Conjunctions"
description: "Use and understand Year 3 grammatical terminology accurately when discussing reading and writing: preposition, conjunction, word family, prefix, clause, subordinate clause, direct speech, consonant le"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/grammar-terms-clauses-and-conjunctions-mt_B8JOz79O6t
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/grammar-terms-clauses-and-conjunctions-mt_B8JOz79O6t.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

> **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants.
> When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md
> API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md
> Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt
> Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json
> Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`.

# Grammar Terms: Clauses and Conjunctions

Use and understand Year 3 grammatical terminology accurately when discussing reading and writing: preposition, conjunction, word family, prefix, clause, subordinate clause, direct speech, consonant letter, vowel letter, inverted commas/speech marks

Subject: English · Area: Grammar & Punctuation · Ages 7 to 9
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/grammar-terms-clauses-and-conjunctions-mt_B8JOz79O6t

## Ready when they can

- Use the terms 'clause' and 'subordinate clause' to identify parts of a multi-clause sentence (e.g., point to the subordinate clause in 'I stayed inside because it rained')
- Use the terms 'conjunction', 'preposition', and 'prefix' correctly when explaining word/sentence choices in own writing
- Distinguish between consonant letters and vowel letters and use the terms 'direct speech' and 'inverted commas' when discussing punctuation

## Lesson: Clauses, Conjunctions, and More Grammar Words

A clause has a subject and a verb. Some sentences have two clauses joined by a small word called a conjunction, like 'because', 'when', or 'if'.

**Example.** See this sentence: 'She stayed home because she was ill.' 'She stayed home' is the main clause. It makes sense on its own. 'because she was ill' is the subordinate clause. It cannot stand alone. 'because' is the conjunction.

Prepositions are small words that show where or when something happens, like 'under', 'before', or 'near'. A prefix is different: it's letters added to the front of a word to change its meaning, like 'un-' in front of 'happy'.

*(drawing: Adding the prefix 'un-' to 'happy' changes it to 'unhappy', the opposite meaning.)*

When you write someone's exact words, put inverted commas (speech marks) around them: "Where are you going?" asked Mia. And remember: a, e, i, o, u are vowel letters. Every other letter is a consonant letter.

**Example.** Try 'Wash your hands when the bell rings.' 'Wash your hands' is the main clause. It gives a command, so the subject is an understood you. Flip it to 'When the bell rings, wash your hands.' The subordinate part can come first.

**Recap.** Clauses join with conjunctions, prefixes change meanings, and inverted commas mark out someone's exact words.

## Practice

24 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Grammar Terms: Nouns, Verbs and Tense](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/grammar-terms-nouns-verbs-and-tense-mt_qzwQAOfurw)
- [Subordinate clauses](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/subordinate-clauses-mt_wq-1OJ_8s5)

## Opens up

- [Precision in mathematical language and notation](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/precision-in-mathematical-language-and-notation-mt_HY8Yycu_rz)
- [Grammar Terms: Pronouns and Determiners](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/grammar-terms-pronouns-and-determiners-mt_J5cx6S_eT9)