Main and
Subordinate Clauses
Main Clauses: The Rules
A main clause is a group of words that contains a verb and a subject which makes
complete sense on its own. Main clauses could also be called
simple sentences.
Can you spot the verbs and subjects in these main clauses?
Karina swam fifty lengths.
The classroom was empty.
The family were trekking.
Subordinate Clauses: The Rules
A subordinate clause is a group of words that is dependant on the main clause
because it doesn’t make sense on its own. When main clauses and subordinate
clauses are used together to form a sentence, it is called a complex sentence.
Can you spot the main clauses and subordinate clauses?
The girls fed the ducks
before they walked around the lake.
The windmill sails turned quickly
because it is very windy today.
Subordinate Clauses: The Rules
Subordinate clauses can often start with a subordinating
conjunction.
after though because so that before until
even
while provided if since once though
whether unless although when as
Subordinate Clauses: The Rules
Where in a sentence?
In the sentences we’ve looked at so far, the subordinate clauses have
been after the main clause e.g.
The snow was thick on the ground
because it had snowed heavily.
The children laughed happily as snowballs flew.
Subordinate clauses don’t always have to be after the main clause.
Subordinate Clauses: The Rules
Where in a sentence?
Look at these sentences where the subordinate clause comes before the
main clause...
Although she hated them,
Jenny ate the sprouts.
Before the campfire was lit,
the children were shivering in the cold.
When we use a subordinate clause at the beginning of a sentence,
we must add a comma before the main clause.
Subordinate Clauses: The Rules
Fronted Adverbials
Subordinate clauses used at the beginning of a sentence can also be called fronted
adverbials. Fronted adverbials can start in many ways including with subordinating
conjunctions, prepositions, -ing verbs or -ed verbs.
As the sun shone, the cows ate the grass.
Out in the field grazing, they mooed happily.
Lying down in the sun, the cows began to snooze.
Summoned by the farmer, Daisy walked towards the milking shed.
The fronted adverbial subordinate clause will always need to be followed
by a comma to separate it from the main clause.
Subordinate Clauses: The Tricky Bits
Subordinate clauses can also split the main clause. This is also called an embedded
clause or (if the clause starts with a relative pronoun) a
relative clause.
Look at these examples...
The Eiffel Tower, which is in Paris, is one of the
busiest tourist attractions in the world.
Which is a relative pronoun so this subordinate clause can also be called a
relative clause.
It contains non-essential information so needs demarcating with commas.
Billy, gasping for air, tried to run from the charging bull.
This subordinate clause could also be called an embedded clause. Embedded means
‘in the middle of’ as it is in the middle of the main clause. It also contains non-
essential information so needs demarcating with commas.
Quiz! Part 1
P u taick in th eco recto lu m n to sh o w w h eth erach g ro u p o fh ig h lig h tedm w
a oin rdcla siauo sesura b o rd in a tecla u
. se.
Main Subordinate
Clause Clause
If it starts to rain,
you can wear your new
gumboots boots.
Neil gasped for breath
before setting off again.
The koala, which
is native to Australia,
is a mammal.
Quiz! Part 2
Rewrite this sentence with the subordinate clause used as a fronted adverbial.
Add a comma if necessary.
David didn’t wear a coat even though it
was cold outside.
Even though it was cold outside,
David didn’t wear a coat.
Quiz! Part 3
Underline the main clauses in the following sentences.
1. Running late for work, Mum frantically searched for her keys.
2. The setting sun, which looked beautiful, glistened in the sky.
3. The guinea pig bit my finger before running back to its cage.
Are you feeling confident with
main and subordinate clauses?
