Two types of clause,

including subordinate
clauses

English

Unit: Simple, Compound, Adverbial and Relative Complex

Sentences
Outcome

I can identify different types of clause.

Keywords

clause

main clause

subordinate clause
Keywords

A clause is a group of words that contains a verb.

A main clause is a group of words that contains a verb and

makes complete sense.

A subordinate clause is a group of words that contains a verb

and does not make complete sense.
Lesson outline

Two types of clause, including subordinate clauses

Main clauses

Subordinate clauses

Types of subordinate clause

Main clauses
Let’s listen to some examples.
the girl watched anxiously
snow fell gently from the sky
what a racket the dog is making
how was your day
Explanation
All of these are
clauses because they
These are all verbs.
are all groups of
words that contain
verbs.
Main clauses
Check

Which of the following are clauses?

a at that moment,

b he walked away

c my cousin’s dog

d sing for me
Main clauses
Explanation

These examples are not clauses.

How are these
different to the
just then, clauses we saw
before?
oh dear!
They do not contain
a small, wooden toy with wheels a verb. They are
phrases, not clauses.
Main clauses
Check

True or false?
a delicious slice of moist cake is a clause.

T True F False

Justify your answer

a A phrase is a group of words.

b There is no verb in a phrase.

Main clauses
Explanation

There are different types of clause. Here are

two main clauses:

torrential rain fell onto the murky lake

there are 4 nations in the United Kingdom

A main clause is a group of words that contains a verb and

makes complete sense all on its own.
Main clauses
Explanation

A main clause has a superpower - it could be

a sentence on its own!

Torrential rain fell onto the murky lake.

There are 4 nations in the United Kingdom.

Main clauses
Explanation Check

Decide if each of these examples is Decide if each of these examples is

a main clause. a main clause:

● Does it contain a verb?

1. all of a sudden
● Does it make sense on its own?
2. the soft, cooling breeze
1. she ran away swiftly
3. the trees swayed gently
2. a tired old man
4. Aisha noticed everything
3. Sofia sat down quietly

4. in an instant
Main clauses
Explanation Check

Decide if each of these examples is Decide if each of these examples is

a main clause. a main clause:

● Does it contain a verb?

1. all of a sudden
● Does it make sense on its own?
2. the soft, cooling breeze
1. she ran away swiftly
3. the trees swayed gently
2. a tired old man
4. Aisha noticed everything
3. Sofia sat down quietly

4. in an instant
Main clauses
Explanation

Sometimes, verbs can be tricky to spot. Are these

main clauses?

what’s wrong? what is wrong?

I’ve finished I have finished

what a loud noise that is! what a loud noise that is!

These are all main clauses.

Verbs can show ‘being’ or ‘having’ as well as ‘doing’.
Main clauses
Check

Which of the following are main clauses?

where is
a where’s the nearest shop?

we have
b we’ve just finished

c all through the night,

Main clauses
Check

Which of the following are main clauses?

where is
a where’s the nearest shop?

we have
b we’ve just finished

c all through the night,

Task A Main clauses Practice

Tick if the purple section is a main clause. Cross if it is

not. Circle any verbs that helped you decide.

1. All of a sudden, Jun froze.

2. Sam watched the geese glide away. How beautiful!
3. At that moment, the bell rang loudly.
4. Wait! Where are you going?
5. Oh no! We’re too late.
6. As the stars glistened, we gazed up in delight.
7. It’s not fair! You lied to us!
Task A Main clauses Feedback

Tick if the purple section is a main clause. Cross if it

is not. Circle any verbs that helped you decide.

1. All of a sudden, Jun froze.

2. Sam watched the geese glide away. How beautiful!
3. At that moment, the bell rang loudly.
4. Wait! Where are you going?
5. Oh no! We’re too late.
6. As the stars glistened, we gazed up in delight.
7. It’s not fair! You lied to us!
Lesson outline

Two types of clause, including subordinate clauses

Main clauses

Subordinate clauses

Types of subordinate clause

Subordinate clauses
Explanation

Let’s listen to a different type of clause:

as the door slammed shut

because we were tired of waiting How are these similar
or different to the main
when the flood hit the town clauses we just heard?
so she could hardly see

These are subordinate clauses.

Subordinate clauses
Explanation

A subordinate clause is similar to a main clause

in two ways:

as the door slammed shut ● it is still a group of

words
because we were tired of waiting
● it still contains a
when the flood hit the town verb
so she could hardly see

However, it does not make complete sense so it

cannot form a sentence by itself.
Subordinate clauses
Check

True or false?
as the rain began to fall is a subordinate clause

T True F False

Justify your answer

a It is a group of words that contains a verb and it could
be a sentence on its own.
b It is a group of words that contains a verb, but it could
not be a sentence on its own.
Subordinate clauses
Explanation

A subordinate clause must join to a main clause to

make sense.
Subordinate clauses
Explanation

Let’s listen to some complete sentences:

● We all sat up as our teacher entered the room.

● Izzy was disappointed when the party was over.

● Andeep practised hard so he could improve his drawing.

● The dogs were barking because they smelt a squirrel.

Which colour shows the main clause?

Which shows the subordinate clause?
Subordinate clauses
Explanation

We all sat up as our teacher entered the room.

This could be a This could not be a

sentence on its own. sentence on its own.

It is a main clause. It is a subordinate

clause.
Subordinate clauses
Check

Which part of the sentence is green: main clause or subordinate

clause?

main
1. We all roared with laughter when Laura told her joke.
subordinate
2. The furious cat howled as the water hit her.
subordinate
3. Jacob ran home because he wanted to play outside.
main
4. The man was very frail so he walked slowly.
Subordinate clauses
Explanation

The subordinate clause can also go at the start of

the sentence:

As Alex watched, the bird took flight.

When we were finished, we read quietly.

Because I was hungry, I ate lunch early.

subordinate main
clause clause
Subordinate clauses
Check

Match the subordinate clause to the main clause.

Because the work was hard, I went out to play.

As we crossed the road, we took great care.

When I had eaten, Aisha asked for help.

Subordinate clauses
Explanation

When a subordinate clause is joined to a main

clause, it creates a complex sentence.

complex complex
sentence sentence
Subordinate clauses
Check

Which two does a complex sentence always contain?

a main clause

b subordinate clause

c question mark
Task B Subordinate clauses Practice

Make a complex sentence by writing a main clause that could follow

the subordinate clause. The first word has been done for you.

1. Because it was snowing heavily, we ________________.

2. When it was time for bed, Lucas ___________________.

3. As the headteacher walked into Miss Ofoedu’s room, we ___

______.
Task B Subordinate clauses Feedback

Here are some example answers:

1. Because it was snowing heavily, we ran outside to play.

2. When it was time for bed, Lucas brushed his teeth and put on
his pyjamas.
3. As the headteacher walked into Miss Ofoedu’s room, we all sat
up smartly.
Lesson outline

Two types of clause, including subordinate clauses

Main clauses

Subordinate clauses

Types of subordinate clause

Types of subordinate clause
Explanation

A conjunction is a word that joins words, phrases or clauses.

One type of conjunction is a subordinating conjunction:

as when so because

If a subordinate clause starts with a subordinating conjunction, we

call it an adverbial clause. There are other types of subordinate
clause which are made in different ways.
Types of subordinate clause
Check

Which of these are true for an adverbial clause?

a It is a type of subordinate clause.

b It begins with a subordinating conjunction.

c It makes complete sense on its own.

Types of subordinate clause
Explanation

The subordinating conjunction comes at the start of

the adverbial clause.

subordinating conjunction

The stars glowed brightly as the moon glistened.

main clause adverbial clause

Types of subordinate clause
Explanation

The adverbial clause can come before or after the

main clause.

subordinating conjunction

As the moon glistened, the stars glowed brightly.

adverbial clause main clause

Types of subordinate clause
Explanation

We can find the adverbial clause in a sentence by

looking for the subordinating conjunction.

● As the children stepped into the forest, they shuddered in fear.

● Andeep gripped his torch tightly so it wouldn’t fall from his hand.

● Jun nervously took the lead because he was holding the map.

as when so because
Types of subordinate clause
Check

What part of this sentence is the adverbial clause?

How do you know?
subordinating conjunction

Aisha was eating ravenously when Sofia walked in.

a Aisha was eating ravenously

b when Sofia walked in

Task C Types of subordinate clause Practice

For each sentence, underline the adverbial clause and

circle the subordinating conjunction it begins with.

1. Jacob and Alex chuckled happily as they watched cartoons.

2. Because Mum was sleeping soundly, I tiptoed downstairs silently.

3. Sofia’s adorable puppy barked wildly when she got home from
school.

4. We used effective sun-cream so we didn’t get burnt.

5. As rain pelted down in torrents, lightning struck the stone tower.

Task C Types of subordinate clause Feedback

Check your sentences are annotated correctly:

1. Jacob and Alex chuckled happily as they watched cartoons.

2. Because Mum was sleeping soundly, I tiptoed downstairs silently.

3. Sofia’s adorable puppy barked wildly when she got home from school.

4. We used effective sun-cream so we didn’t get burnt.

5. As rain pelted down in torrents, lightning struck the stone tower.

Summary Two types of clause, including subordinate clauses

● a clause is a group of words that contains a verb

● a main clause is a clause that makes sense on its own

● a subordinate clause is a clause that does not make sense on

its own

● a subordinate clause joins to a main clause to make a

complex sentence