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Main clause and subordinate clause are the two main categories of clauses. A main clause can convey a complete meaning; thus, it can stand alone as an independent sentence. However, a subordinate clause always depends on the main clause as it cannot convey a complete thought. This is the basic difference between main clause and subordinate clause.
What is meant by a subordinate clause?
A subordinate clause (or dependent clause) is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought. Like all clauses, a subordinate clause has a subject and verb. Examples of Subordinate Clauses Here are some examples of subordinate clauses (shaded).
What are some examples of subordinate clauses?
Let’s look at some more examples of Subordinate Clauses to give us a clear understanding :
- Because they said so (They=subject; said=verb)
- When they were five (They=subject; were=verb)
- Since it would be cold today (it=subject; would be cold=verb)
- In case you pass the exam. (you=subject; pass=verb)
What is true of a subordinate clause?
Subordinate clauses are a set of words that have both subject and verb in it. But subordinate clauses cannot stand alone as a sentence. Generally, subordinate clauses are attached to the main clause or embedded in the matrix clause.
What does subordinate clauses mean?
A subordinate clause is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; it merely complements a sentence's main clause, thereby adding to the whole unit of meaning. This main clause will be independent: it can stand on its own as a complete sentence. We can all go for ice cream.
What is a main clause and subordinate clause examples?
This example is called a complex sentence, as it features a main clause (I walked past the park) and a subordinate clause (where I used to play). In the main clause, 'I' is the subject and 'walked' is the verb. It contains both ingredients of a main clause and makes sense on its own.
What is main clause with example?
The predicate is the part of the sentence (the verb) that shows the action. For example, in the sentence, "The angry bear howled ominously," the word "bear" is the simple subject and the predicate is "howled" so the main clause of the sentence would be, "The bear howled."
How do you identify a subordinate clause and a main clause?
Main clauses have a subject and verb and can stand on their own. Subordinate clauses begin with a conjunction and therefore cannot stand on their own.
What are 5 examples of subordinate clause?
Examples of Subordinate Clauses:Because I said so (I=subject; said=verb)When I was five (I=subject; was=verb)Since it will rain today (it=subject; will rain=verb)Who is my best friend (not written as a question-who=subject; is=verb)If you pass the test (you=subject; pass=verb)
What are the 3 subordinate clauses?
3 Types of Subordinate Clauses Subordinate clauses fall into three categories: direct objects, a noun modifier, or a verb modifier.
How do you find the main clause in a sentence?
How do you find the main clause in a sentence? To find the main clause in a sentence, look for a subject and a verb. Once you've identified these, see if the clause would make sense as a stand-alone sentence. If this is the case then you've probably found the main clause.
What is the difference between main and subordinate?
A main clause is a clause that makes sense on its own and can also exist in a sentence on its own. A Subordinate clause is a clause that does not make sense on its own and cannot be a sentence on its own. The subordinate clause explains or completes the meaning in the main class.
How do you find the subordinate clause in a sentence?
Identifying Subordinate Clauses Subordinate clauses begin with certain words or short phrases called subordinating words (also known as dependent words, or subordinating/subordinate conjunctions). If a clause begins with a subordinating word, that clause is a subordinate clause and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
What are two main clauses?
An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause is a sentence. Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz. A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought.
What is a main clause also known as?
An independent clause is also known as a main clause. An in- dependent clause is a group of words that contains both a sub- ject and a predicate and can stand alone as a complete sen- tence.
Is a main clause a simple sentence?
A main clause is a clause that contains a subject and an object. Main clauses make sense on their own. 'I like bananas. ' is a simple sentence which is made up of a main clause.
What are the types of main clause?
There are four basic types of main clause: declaratives (statements), interrogatives (questions), imperatives (orders/instructions) and exclamatives (used for exclamations).
Main or Independent Clause
Main or independent clauses can stand alone as a sentence because it can express a complete meaning. It is called an independent clause because it is not dependent on the remaining part of a sentence to give a complete meaning. This means it can give a complete meaning even if written or spoken without the remaining part of the sentence.
Subordinate or Dependent Clause
A subordinate or dependent clause cannot stand alone as a sentence because it (as an alone part) cannot express complete meaning or sense. It is called a dependent clause because it depends on the main clause to give a complete meaning.
How will these issues show up on the ACT?
There are two types of questions for which you will need to be able to identify main and subordinate clauses: complete sentences and punctuation.
How will they try to make main and subordinate clauses hard on the exam?
Once you practice it, the concept of finding subjects and verbs will come like second nature to you. The way the test typically tricks test-takers in the section is with really long sentences. Look at the following:
Words That Begin Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses will often begin with subordinating conjunctions, which are words that link dependent clauses to independent clauses, such as for, as, since, therefore, hence, consequently, though, due to, provided that, because, unless, once, while, when, whenever, where, wherever, before, and after.
Why Do I Need to Know Which Clauses Are Subordinate?
Now that you can identify a subordinate or dependent clause, you may wonder how this information can be helpful to you. The answer to that is simple. It will help you to avoid hearing the words (from a teacher, editor, or coworker), “You should put a comma there.” Or the equally delightful, “You shouldn’t have put a comma there.”
Comma Placement Level 2: Restrictive vs. Nonrestrictive Clauses
Punctuating subordinate clauses only gets tricky when they begin with relative pronouns such as that, which, who, when, where, and whose. Conveniently, this type of subordinate clause can be referred to as a relative clause. There are two types of relative clauses: restrictive and nonrestrictive.
What Is a Subordinate Clause? (with Examples)
A subordinate clause (or dependent clause) is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought.
Examples of Subordinate Clauses
Here are some examples of subordinate clauses (shaded). You will notice that none of the shaded clauses could stand alone as a sentence. This is how a subordinate clause (or a dependent clause) is different from an independent clause .
The Link between a Subordinate Clause and an Independent Clause
When a subordinate clause is used as an adjective or an adverb, it will usually be part of a complex sentence (i.e., a sentence with an independent clause and at least one subordinate clause).
Why Should I Care about Subordinate Clauses?
Here are two questions often raised by writers about subordinate clauses.
Key Points
Edited (i.e., you can delete questions and play with the order of the questions).
