English Basics

Main Clause & Subordinate Clause

Main Clause & Subordinate Clause

Main Clause & Subordinate Clause

A clause is a combination of related words containing a subject and a verb. It can be a simple sentence or a part of a compound sentence.

Examples:

  • She laughed.                                                    (one clause)
  • I waited for him, but he didn’t come.            (two clauses)

Clauses have two major types:

  1. Independent Clause       (Main Clause)
  2. Dependent Clause          (Subordinate Clause)

Understanding ‘Main Clauses & Subordinate Clauses’

Read the following sentence:

  • I saw a man who was crying.

The above sentence has two clauses: ‘I saw a man’ and ‘who was crying’. The first clause ‘I saw a man’ gives a complete meaning and can alone stand as a complete sentence. Such a phrase is called Main or Independent clause.

On the other hand, the second clause ‘who was crying’ does not give a complete meaning and cannot (as alone) stand as a complete sentence. It depends on the main clause to give a complete meaning. Such a clause is called Subordinate or Dependent clause.

1⇒ Main or Independent Clause:

Main clause or Independent clause is that clause which expresses a complete meaning. It alone can stand as a sentence.

Examples

  • I saw a man who was crying.
  • The professor asked many questions but no one could answer.
  • I met a friend who helped me a lot.
  • They contacted the customer who had not paid the bill.
  • He does not like the people who smoke.
  • We met a man who could speak many languages.
  • She loves her husband, who never tells a lie.

2⇒ Subordinate or Dependent Clause:

Subordinate clause or Dependence clause is that clause which (as alone part) cannot express a complete meaning. It alone cannot stand as a sentence because it depends on the other clause (independent clause) to give a complete meaning. It serves a subordinate role in the sentence.

Examples:

  • I saw a man who was crying.
  • The professor asked many questions but no one could answer.
  • I met a friend who had helped me a lot.
  • They contacted the customer who had not paid the bill.
  • He does not like the people who smoke.
  • We met a man who could speak many languages.
  • She loves her husband, who never tells a lie.

Dependent Clauses have further three types:

  1. Noun Clause
  2. Adjective Clause
  3. Adverb Clause

To read the types of subordinate clauses, click on “Types of Subordinate Clause”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *