Main clauses
You learn to find the main clause: the part of a sentence that makes sense on its own.
How to do the test
- Split the sentence at the joining word.
- Say each part on its own.
- The part that makes sense alone is the main clause.
A worked example
Tap the main clause. When the bell rang, the children lined up.
- Say it on its own: "the children lined up" makes sense.
- The rest starts with the conjunction when and needs the main clause.
- The children lined up is the main clause.
More examples
Tap the main clause. If you finish early, you can read a book.
- Say it on its own: "you can read a book" makes sense.
- The rest starts with the conjunction if and needs the main clause.
- You can read a book is the main clause.
Tap the main clause. Dad waited until the train arrived.
- Say it on its own: "Dad waited" makes sense.
- The rest starts with the conjunction until and needs the main clause.
- Dad waited is the main clause.
Watch out
You tap the clause that comes first, thinking the first part is always the main clause.
Say each part on its own. The main clause can come first or last. The part that makes sense alone is the main clause.
Tips
- A subordinating conjunction, like because or when, starts the clause that is not the main one.
Why it works
A main clause is a clause that can stand alone as a sentence. When you say each part of a sentence on its own, only one of them makes sense by itself.