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Primary grammar explained for parents

Quick answer

Children in England learn grammar terms from Year 1 to Year 6, and many are tested in the Year 6 grammar, punctuation and spelling test. Most are simpler than they sound: a fronted adverbial, for example, is just a word or phrase at the start of a sentence saying when, where or how something happened. This guide explains each term in plain English, with one example.

By the TapLearn team · Updated 23 October 2026 · Facts checked 23 October 2026 · For England

Why children learn grammar terms

The national curriculum for England sets out the grammar and punctuation for each year, and the terms children should know, in English appendix 2: vocabulary, grammar and punctuation. Naming features helps children talk about their writing and make deliberate choices, so they are mostly taught to use these features in their own writing, not just to label them.

In Year 6, the terms are tested in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test (often called SPaG or GPS), on Monday 10 May 2027. See our Year 6 SATs 2027 guide. The curriculum is being reviewed, with changes planned for 2028, but these are the terms schools teach now.

The terms below are grouped by when they usually come up. Schools may introduce some a little earlier or later.

Years 1 and 2

Noun phrase and expanded noun phrase

A noun phrase is a group of words built around a noun. An expanded noun phrase adds detail, usually with adjectives: "the dog" becomes "the scruffy brown dog". From Year 4, children also add detail after the noun: "the scruffy dog with muddy paws".

Conjunction (coordinating and subordinating)

A conjunction joins words or clauses. Coordinating conjunctions such as and, but and or join two equal parts: "I wanted to play, but it was raining." Subordinating conjunctions such as because, when, if and although start a part that depends on the rest of the sentence: "We stayed in because it was raining." Children use both in Year 2 and learn the word "conjunction" in Year 3.

Apostrophes

Apostrophes do two jobs. They show missing letters in contractions ("can't", or "it's" for "it is") and they show belonging ("the girl's coat"). Year 2 covers contractions and belonging for one owner; Year 4 adds plurals ("the girls' coats", belonging to more than one girl).

Years 3 and 4

Preposition

A preposition links a noun or pronoun to the rest of the sentence, often showing place or time: "under the bridge", "after lunch", "during the film".

Present perfect

A verb form made with has or have, for something in the past that still matters now: "She has lost her key" (and still hasn't found it), compared with the simple past "She lost her key".

Pronoun

A word used instead of a noun, to avoid repeating it: he, she, it, we, they. Possessive pronouns, such as mine and theirs, show belonging. "Sam ate his lunch, then he went outside."

Determiner

A word before a noun (and any adjectives) that tells you which one or how many: a, an, the, this, those, my, some, every, three. "Those three red balloons."

Fronted adverbial

A word or phrase at the start of a sentence that tells you when, where or how something happened, usually followed by a comma: "Later that day, we went to the beach." It's one of the most searched grammar terms, and it's simpler than it sounds.

Year 5

Relative clause

A clause that adds information about a noun, usually starting with a relative pronoun such as who, which, that, where, when or whose: "My aunt, who lives in Leeds, is coming to stay."

Modal verb

A verb that shows how likely or necessary something is: can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must. "It might rain" is less certain than "It will rain".

Parenthesis

Extra information added to a sentence, marked off by a pair of brackets, dashes or commas. The sentence still makes sense without it: "Our cat (a very lazy tabby) sleeps all day."

Year 6

Active and passive voice

In the active voice, the subject does the action: "The dog chased the ball." In the passive voice, the subject has the action done to it: "The ball was chased by the dog." The passive is useful when the doer is unknown or unimportant: "The window was broken."

Subjunctive

A formal verb form used for wishes, demands and situations that aren't real. The most familiar example is "If I were you…" rather than "If I was you". Another: "The teacher insisted that he be on time."

Colon and semi-colon

A colon introduces something, such as a list or an explanation: "You'll need three things: a pen, a ruler and a rubber." A semi-colon joins two closely linked sentences that could each stand alone: "It was late; everyone was tired." Semi-colons can also separate items in a long, complicated list.

How to help at home

  • Ask your child to teach you a term from school. Explaining it helps them remember it.
  • Spot features in books, signs and adverts: "Can you find a fronted adverbial on this page?"
  • Play with sentences out loud: make "the cat" longer and longer, or turn an active sentence into a passive one.
  • Don't worry if you weren't taught these terms yourself; many parents weren't. Plain definitions like these, or the glossary on GOV.UK, are all you need.

Questions parents ask

What is a fronted adverbial?

It's a word or phrase at the start of a sentence that says when, where or how something happened, usually followed by a comma, as in "After lunch, we played football." Children usually learn the term in Year 4.

What's the difference between a coordinating and a subordinating conjunction?

Coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or) join two equal parts of a sentence. Subordinating conjunctions (because, when, if, although) start a part that depends on the main clause and doesn't make sense on its own.

Is grammar tested in Year 6?

Yes. The English grammar, punctuation and spelling test on Monday 10 May 2027 has a grammar and punctuation questions paper and a spelling paper. Results are reported as a scaled score, where 100 means the expected standard.

I was never taught these terms. Does that matter?

Not at all. Many parents weren't. Your child can explain what they've learned, and short definitions like the ones on this page are enough to help with homework.

Sources

Related guides

Written by the TapLearn team for parents and carers in England. Schools teach in different orders and ways, so your child's teacher is always the best person to ask about your child. Spotted something out of date? Please email us at [email protected].