Introduction
Clauses are groups of words that contain a subject and a verb. A main clause (independent clause) can stand alone as a sentence. A subordinate clause (dependent clause) cannot - it needs a main clause to complete its meaning.
| Type | Can stand alone? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main clause | Yes | She was tired. |
| Subordinate clause | No | because she had worked all day. |
| Together | Yes | She was tired because she had worked all day. |
- Main: I called him. Subordinate: when I arrived. I called him when I arrived.
- Main: She passed. Subordinate: although she was nervous. She passed although she was nervous.
Types of Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses perform different grammatical functions - they can act like nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
| Type | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun clause | Acts as subject or object | What she said surprised me. |
| Relative clause | Acts as adjective (modifies a noun) | The man who called me is my uncle. |
| Adverbial clause | Acts as adverb (modifies verb/sentence) | She left before I arrived. |
Comma Rules with Clauses
Whether to use a comma between clauses depends on the type of clause and its position.
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Adverbial clause first comma | Because she was tired, she went to bed. |
| Adverbial clause last no comma | She went to bed because she was tired. |
| Non-defining relative clause commas | My sister, who lives in Paris, called me. |
| Defining relative clause no commas | The woman who called me is my boss. |
| Two main clauses comma + conjunction | She was tired, but she kept working. |
Practice
Which is a subordinate clause?
'The man who called me is my uncle' - what type of clause is 'who called me'?
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
'My sister, who lives in Paris, called me.' Why are there commas?
Which is a main clause?
'What she said surprised me.' What type of clause is 'what she said'?
'She left before I arrived.' What type of clause is 'before I arrived'?
Which word typically starts a noun clause?
Which word typically starts an adverbial clause?
'The woman who called me is my boss.' - commas?
'I called him when I arrived.' Which two clause types combine here?
Which clause cannot stand alone as a sentence?
'The book that I lent you is overdue.' What kind of clause is 'that I lent you'?
When I got home___ I made dinner.
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