Main and Subordinate Clauses

Front

What is a main clause?

Back

A main clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence.

Front

What is a subordinate clause?

Back

A subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Front

Identify the main clause in the sentence: 'I first met her in Paris where I lived as a child.'

Back

The main clause is 'I first met her in Paris.'

Front

Identify the subordinate clause in the sentence: 'While Bailey slept on the sofa in front of the television, Samson, the family dog, gnawed on the leg of the coffee table.'

Back

The subordinate clause is 'While Bailey slept on the sofa in front of the television.'

Front

What is the function of a subordinate clause in a sentence?

Back

A subordinate clause adds additional information to the main clause but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Front

Provide an example of a sentence with both a main and a subordinate clause.

Back

Example: 'When I get to the beach, I'm going to jump right into the ocean.' (Main clause: 'I'm going to jump right into the ocean'; Subordinate clause: 'When I get to the beach').

Front

What punctuation is often used to separate a subordinate clause from a main clause?

Back

A comma is often used to separate a subordinate clause from a main clause when the subordinate clause comes first.

Front

Can a main clause contain a subordinate clause?

Back

Yes, a main clause can contain a subordinate clause, which adds more information to the main idea.

Front

What is the difference between an independent clause and a main clause?

Back

An independent clause is another term for a main clause; both can stand alone as complete sentences.

Front

Identify the main clause in the sentence: 'Even though the broccoli was covered in cheddar cheese, Emily refused to eat it.'

Back

The main clause is 'Emily refused to eat it.'