11/20/2018 Main Clause & Subordinate Clause - Types of Clause

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Main Clause & Subordinate Clause

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11/20/2018 Main Clause & Subordinate Clause - Types of 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. Dependant 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.

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.

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:

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11/20/2018 Main Clause & Subordinate Clause - Types of Clause

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"

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Types of Subordinate Clause
Restrictive & Non-restrictive Clause
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Phrasal Verb
Prepositional Verb

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