Clauses

This section helps you understand main and subordinate clauses. In English, sentences are often made up of different parts, called clauses. A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. There are two types of clauses that are commonly used in sentences: main clauses and subordinate clauses. Both serve different purposes and help make sentences more interesting and complex.

Main Clauses (Independent Clauses)

A main clause (also known as an independent clause) contains a subject and a verb, and it expresses a complete thought. This type of clause can stand alone as a complete sentence because it presents a fully formed idea.

Examples of Main Clauses:

• The cat mewed.
• His car broke down at the station.
• The girl laughed loudly.

In each of these examples, the sentence is complete on its own, as the main clause provides a clear subject, verb, and idea. A main clause is capable of functioning independently, meaning it does not require any additional information to make sense.

Subordinate Clauses (Dependent Clauses)

A subordinate clause (also called a dependent clause) is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb, but it does not express a complete thought. Subordinate clauses cannot stand alone as a sentence because they are incomplete; they rely on a main clause to form a full, understandable idea.

Subordinate clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions such as because, although, if, when, which, who, and whose. These words signal that the clause is not independent and adds additional information to the main clause.

Examples of Subordinate Clauses:

• The cat, which was balanced on the fence, mewed.
• His car, described by his girlfriend as a ‘rust-bucket’, broke down at the station.
• The girl, whose name he could never remember, laughed loudly.

In these examples, notice how the subordinate clause provides extra information, but without the main clause, the sentence would not make sense on its own.

Complex Sentences

A complex sentence is made up of at least one main clause and one subordinate clause. The subordinate clause adds additional detail or explanation to the main clause. When these two types of clauses are combined, they form a sentence that is richer in meaning and more detailed than a simple sentence.

Examples of Complex Sentences:

• The cat, which was balancing on the fence, mewed loudly.
  • Main clause: The cat mewed loudly.
  • Subordinate clause: which was balancing on the fence
• His car, described by his girlfriend as a ‘rust-bucket’, broke down at the station.
  • Main clause: His car broke down at the station.
  • Subordinate clause: described by his girlfriend as a ‘rust-bucket’
• The girl, whose name he could never remember, laughed loudly.
  • Main clause: The girl laughed loudly.
  • Subordinate clause: whose name he could never remember

In these examples, the subordinate clause gives additional information about the subject or action of the main clause, but it does not stand alone as a complete sentence.

Identifying Main and Subordinate Clauses

To practise recognising the difference between main and subordinate clauses, try identifying the clauses in the following sentences:

Examples:

The cat ate the food, which had been left for it.

• Main clause: The cat ate the food
• Subordinate clause: which had been left for it

Bex took a step towards the cliff, even though it scared her.

• Main clause: Bex took a step towards the cliff
• Subordinate clause: even though it scared her

Johnston, who was only fifteen years old, was already a brilliant footballer.

• Main clause: Johnston was already a brilliant footballer
• Subordinate clause: who was only fifteen years old

Key Differences Between Main and Subordinate Clauses

• A main clause expresses a complete idea and can stand alone as a sentence.
• A subordinate clause adds extra information to the main clause but cannot stand alone. It needs the main clause to make sense.

More Examples:

• She went to the store. (Main clause: complete sentence)
• When she went to the store. (Subordinate clause: incomplete idea)
  • When she went to the store, she bought some milk. (Now a complex sentence)

Using Commas with Subordinate Clauses

When a subordinate clause comes in the middle or at the beginning of a sentence, it is often set off by commas. This helps to clarify the relationship between the clauses and makes the sentence easier to read.

Examples:

• Although it was raining, they decided to go for a walk.
  (Subordinate clause at the beginning: Although it was raining)
• The concert, which was delayed for an hour, finally began at 9pm.
  (Subordinate clause in the middle: which was delayed for an hour)

Summary

• Main Clauses: Contain a subject, a verb, and express a complete thought. They can stand alone as a sentence.
• Subordinate Clauses: Contain a subject and verb but cannot stand alone. They rely on a main clause to make sense.
• Complex Sentences: Formed by combining a main clause with one or more subordinate clauses.

By understanding how to use main clauses and subordinate clauses effectively, you can create more sophisticated and detailed sentences in your writing.