What are Fronted Adverbials (Examples and Worksheets)
What are Fronted Adverbials?
Fronted adverbials are words or phrases placed at the beginning of a sentence to describe the action that follows. Here are some examples, categorized by the type of information they convey:
- Time: "As soon as she could, Tracey ran out to play."
- Frequency: "Occasionally, Mum would allow us to select a sweet in the shop."
- Place: "In the distance, he could see the train coming."
- Manner: "As fast as he could, Jack ran home from school."
- Degree: "Completely exhausted, Holly clambered out of the pool."
Top 10 Fronted Adverbial Examples
- In the blink of an eye, the magician disappeared.
- Before the sun rose, the hikers set off on their journey.
- Without a sound, the cat sneaked into the room.
- Every now and then, we would visit the old library.
- At the crack of dawn, the birds started singing.
- With great excitement, the children opened their presents.
- Far beyond the hills, the castle stood tall.
- As carefully as possible, she painted the intricate design.
- Barely awake, he stumbled out of bed.
- During the storm, the power went out.
Fronted Adverbials Explained
Ms. Alison, a primary teacher, explains that an adverb or adverbial can modify a verb or sentence by providing more detail about manner, time, place, frequency, degree, and more.
These modifiers can answer questions like "When?", "Where?", "How?", "In what manner?", and "To what extent?".
A fronted adverbial places this descriptive information at the beginning of the sentence. These words or phrases precede the action they describe, making it easy to remember that they "add to the verb."
Fronted Adverbial Games
Children are often introduced to fronted adverbials in Year 4. Using fronted adverbials can make writing more interesting, add detail, or provide depth. Sometimes a sentence benefits from a fronted adverbial, but sometimes it doesn’t. This is why children are often given games to play with words and phrases to learn what works and what doesn’t. Here are a few examples:
-
Word Mats: Look for a fronted adverbial word mat online. Ask your child (or work with them) to write ten simple sentences such as "John ran for the bus," "Lisa walked to school," or "Jake flew over the clouds." Then, see if they can improve these sentences using a fronted adverbial from the word mat. Discuss different options, what works, and what doesn’t. Why does it work? How does it enrich the sentence?
-
Identify Fronted Adverbials: Write some sentences with fronted adverbials. Can your child identify and underline the words that make up the fronted adverbial? Discuss why you might need a comma. How does the fronted adverbial add to the sentence?
-
Matching: Write ten sentences with fronted adverbials on cards. Cut them up so that the fronted adverbial is separate from the rest of the sentence. Can your child match them up so that they make sense?
-
Spot the Fronted Adverbial: When reading a story with your child, see if they can spot any fronted adverbials as you read. Discuss why the author might have used them and what effect they have.
Worksheets and Practice
These worksheets helps and supports your child get to grips with adverbs and adverbials.
Year 4 – Identify adverbs in sentences 1, 2 and 3.
Year 5 – Use modal verbs and adverbs to show degrees of possibility.
Year 7 – Revise your adverbs.
Further Learning
The BBC has a great video linking fronted adverbials to football;
https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zwsc82p
They also have a clear explanation and activities for younger children;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zp937p3
Book an Assessment Call
To see how we can help your child flourish, book an assessment call with one of our friendly primary teachers at Smart Tuition. Our expert educators are here to provide personalised support and guidance, ensuring your child achieves their full potential. Contact us today to get started on this exciting journey of learning and growth!
