KS2 English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (SATs Practice)
The Key Stage 2 grammar, punctuation and spelling test has two papers: a questions paper covering grammar, punctuation and vocabulary, and a spelling paper in which an adult reads out twenty words in sentences for the child to write. The questions paper rewards precise terminology, because many questions ask a child to name a word class or a clause type rather than to use one. The content includes word classes, subordinate and relative clauses, subject and object, the active and passive voice, the subjunctive, formal and informal vocabulary, and the full range of punctuation up to colons, semicolons, dashes, brackets and hyphens. Answers are short, so the whole paper is about accuracy rather than length.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Learn the terminology exactly, because questions use it: determiner, preposition, conjunction, adverbial, subordinate clause, relative clause, subject, object, active, passive, modal verb and subjunctive all appear by name.
- For a word class question, look at the job the word does in THAT sentence, since the same word can be different classes: run can be a verb or a noun, and that can be a determiner, a pronoun or a conjunction.
- For clause questions, find the verb first. A main clause makes sense on its own; a subordinate clause does not and usually starts with a word such as because, although, while or since; a relative clause describes a noun and usually starts with who, which or that.
- For punctuation, work out what the mark is doing. A comma after a fronted adverbial, a pair of commas, brackets or dashes around extra information, a colon before an explanation or a list, and a semicolon between two closely linked main clauses.
- For active and passive, ask who is doing the verb. If the doer comes first it is active; if the thing having it done to it comes first, often with by later, it is passive.
- For the spelling paper, listen to the whole sentence, write the word, then check the ending and any silent letters. If you are unsure, write the version that follows the rule you know rather than leaving a gap.
Worked example
In the sentence 'Although the rain had stopped, the pitch was still too wet to play on', identify the subordinate clause, name the word that introduces it, and explain why a comma is used.
- Find the verbs: had stopped and was.
- Test each part on its own. 'The pitch was still too wet to play on' makes sense alone, so that is the main clause.
- 'Although the rain had stopped' does not make sense on its own, so that is the subordinate clause.
- The word introducing it is Although, which is a subordinating conjunction.
- The subordinate clause comes FIRST in this sentence, before the main clause.
- So the comma is used to separate the subordinate clause from the main clause that follows it. Answer: the subordinate clause is 'Although the rain had stopped', introduced by the subordinating conjunction 'Although', and the comma marks where that clause ends.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1Name the word class of 'quickly' in: She finished her homework quickly.Show answer
Answer: Adverb, because it tells you how she finished.
Q2Name the word class of 'the' and of 'under' in: The cat slept under the table.Show answer
Answer: The is a determiner; under is a preposition.
Q3Write this in the passive voice: The dog chased the ball.Show answer
Answer: The ball was chased by the dog.
Q4Which type of clause is 'who lives next door' in: My neighbour, who lives next door, grows roses.Show answer
Answer: A relative clause, because it describes the noun neighbour and begins with who.
Q5Explain the job of the colon in: We packed everything we needed: tent, stove, torch and map.Show answer
Answer: It introduces the list that explains what everything was.
Q6Rewrite using a subjunctive: If I was you, I would apologise.Show answer
Answer: If I were you, I would apologise.
Q7Name the modal verb in: You must finish before the bell.Show answer
Answer: Must.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a KS1 and KS2 SATs exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
(a) Circle the subordinating conjunction in this sentence: We waited on the platform until the train arrived. (b) Rewrite the sentence so that the subordinate clause comes first, punctuating it correctly. (c) Name the word class of 'platform'.
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Explain the difference in meaning between these two sentences, and name the punctuation feature that creates it: (1) My brother, who lives in Leeds, is a doctor. (2) My brother who lives in Leeds is a doctor.
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the ks2 english grammar, punctuation and spelling (sats practice) worksheet pack - 17 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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