SPaG and sentences: GCSE English Language
Sentence types, punctuation, vocabulary and AO6 accuracy
The short version
Vary simple, compound and complex sentences. Secure commas, apostrophes, colons and homophones.
Key idea
A comma splice is two sentences glued with a comma: “The rain needled the glass, Maya chose a seat.” Fix with a full stop, a semicolon, or a conjunction.
Go a bit deeper
Steal these stems — then fill with THIS extract
Grade 2–3: All my sentences are the same length. Some are comma splices.
Grade 5–6: I use a short sentence after a long one, and I can write a because/although clause.
Grade 9: Sentence length matches meaning: short for shock or punch; longer for thought or weather; no accidental splices.
Worked example
Worked example
Grade 2–3: All my sentences are the same length. Some are comma splices. Grade 5–6: I use a short sentence after a long one, and I can write a because/although clause. Grade 9: Sentence length matches meaning: short for shock or punch; longer for thought or weather; no accidental splices.
Lessons in this topic
- Sentence types
- Commas and apostrophes
- Colons, semicolons and dashes
- Vocabulary and precision
- Common errors
In the app each lesson is video (when we have a real YouTube id) then intro, learn and summary steps.
What the examiner wants
AO6 rewards ambitious vocabulary and punctuation used accurately — not randomly sprinkled semicolons.
Try these questions
Cover the answers and have a go first. Worked solutions are underneath.
A comma splice is
It’s (with apostrophe) means
Its (no apostrophe) means
A complex sentence contains
Common mistakes
- A thesaurus sentence that you cannot punctuate is a lower AO6 than a clear simple sentence.
- “The bin’s arrived” when you mean “bins” is a plural apostrophe — a classic AO6 drop.
- A page of!!! and … is not ambitious punctuation. Full stops are ambitious if they are in the right place.
- Do not “add one more metaphor” in the checking time. Accuracy first.
Answers and working
Frequently asked questions
Does this cover English Literature?
Literature is a separate course. Open GCSE English Literature on ReviseEasy for Shakespeare, the novel, modern texts and poetry.
Which exam board is this SPaG and sentences page for?
The ideas are board-agnostic for AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC and CCEA. Paper lengths and question numbers differ — check your specification.
Is English Language tiered?
No. GCSE English Language is untiered. Everyone sits the same papers; AO5 and AO6 writing marks reward ambitious, accurate writing.
Learn, try, get feedback, fix the mistake
Open the lesson, try the quiz, then use a timed writing prompt with an AO5/AO6 checklist. Nothing is AI-marked — you mark yourself against the bullets.
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