Main and Subordinate Clauses

A clause is

• A group of words that is used as a single part of speech. It does not contain BOTH a subject and a verb.
• A group of words that contains both a subject and a verb. It can stand alone or with another clause.
• a word that takes the place of a noun.
• a word that is the action or state of being in the sentence.

When the day ends, we can all go home and make cookies.

• co-ordinate clause

• main clause

• concessive subordinate clause

• subordinate clause of reason

When the day ends, we can all go home and make cookies.

• temporal subordinate clause

• main clause

• co-ordinate clause

• conditional subordinate clause

Before I went to school, I had a big cup of coffee.

• temporal subordinate clause

• main clause

• co-ordinate clause

• relative subordinate clause

Before I went to school, I had a huge cup of coffee.

• subordinate clause of reason

• main clause

• co-ordinate clause

• relative subordinate clause

I had a huge cup of coffee before I went to school.

• temporal subordinate clause

• main clause

• co-ordinate clause

• conditional subordinate clause

I had a huge cup of coffee because I was starting school early.

• subordinate clause of reason

• main clause

• co-ordinate clause

• conditional subordinate clause

We had a great time after the weather cleared.

• subordinate clause of reason

• main clause

• co-ordinate clause

• temporal subordinate clause

Everything was fine until Sally came along.

• subordinate clause of reason

• main clause

• co-ordinate clause

• conditional subordinate clause

Whenever I have a bad day, I call my best friend.

• conditional subordinate clause

• main clause

• co-ordinate clause

• relative subordinate clause