Clauses

A clause is a group of words that contains at least one subject and one verb.

Example:
main clause

Uzma plays football.

subject verb

A main clause is a complete sentence that makes sense by itself.

Subordinate clauses still have a subject and a verb but they start with a
subordinating conjunction and so do not make sense on their own.
They need to be paired with a main clause.

Example:
subordinate clause main clause

Although she was tired, Uzma played football.

conjunction subject verb

Warm up
1 Copy each sentence, and underline the main clause.

a) The baby drank some milk.

b) The boy sat down until the bus arrived.

c) Because he was tired, Jonah went to bed.

d) I must wear my hat, as it is a hot day.

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Test yourself
2 Draw the table below. Decide if each clause is a main or subordinate clause and
write it in the correct place in the table.

before we left I baked a cake because we are on holiday

we will have a BBQ our dog can perform tricks despite the heat

Main clauses Subordinate clauses

Challenge yourself
3 Copy and complete these sentences by adding a main clause.

a) After a long day at work,

b) Although it was his birthday,

c) because he was slow.

d) while she ate her tea.

4 Copy and complete the sentence below by adding a

subordinate clause.

The girl cried .

How did you do? 9

 Answers
Pages 8–9
1. a) The baby drank some milk.
b) The boy sat down until the bus arrived.
c) Because he was tired, Jonah went to bed.
d) I must wear my hat, as it is a hot day.
2.
Main clauses Subordinate clauses

• we will have a BBQ • before we left

• our dog can perform • despite the heat
tricks • because we are on
• I baked a cake holiday

3. a)–d) Accept any grammatically correct main clauses.

For example: After a long day at work, he read a book.
4. Accept any grammatically correct subordinate clause. For
example: The girl cried because she hurt her knee.
 Clauses
Learning objective
We are learning to recognise main clauses and subordinate clauses in writing and to use them correctly in
our own writing.

What pupils already know

• Pupils will have learned how to join clauses using ‘and’ in Year 1, and learned about subordination and
coordination in Year 2.
• They should be familiar with the term subject as the person, place or thing that is doing or being
something in a sentence.

Key vocabulary
clause, main clause, subject, subordinate clause, subordinating conjunction, verb

Teaching notes
• Ask pupils if they can remember what a clause in a sentence is. If they do not know, use the
following example: Theresa likes apple pie.
• Explain that a clause is a group of words that contains at least one subject (Theresa) and one verb (likes).
• If the clause makes sense as a complete sentence, we call it a main clause. In the example, the whole
sentence is a main clause.

Example 1: Underline the subject and the verb in the sentence.

We enjoyed the show.

Ask pupils to find the subject (we) and the verb (enjoyed). Then ask them if this sentence is a main
clause (yes) and if so, how do we know? (because it is a complete sentence and makes sense).

• Write up the following words: though, because, when, unless, until, while. Remind pupils that we can use
these words to join clauses in longer sentences. Clauses that begin with these words are called subordinate
clauses.

Example 2: Underline the subordinate clause in the sentence.

We went back inside when it started to rain.

Ask pupils to identify the subordinate clause and point out how it starts with a subordinating
conjunction (joining word), when.

• Explain that a subordinate clause does not make sense on its own. It needs to be paired with a main
clause in order to make sense (when it started to rain has a subject it and a verb started but it does not
make sense by itself).
• Show the class how the sentence can be rewritten with the subordinating conjunction at the beginning
of the sentence (When it started to rain, we went back inside.). Point out where the comma is placed.

Independent activity

Refer pupils to the Year 5 Grammar and Punctuation Pupil Book, pages 8–9.

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 Clauses
Use and apply
Task A: Subordinate clauses
Read the sentences below and identify the subordinate clause in each one.
a) Unless we have sunshine in July, we won’t have a summer at all.
b) I paid the fare when I got on the tram.
c) Before he opened the letter, Holmes carefully examined the envelope.
d) We decided to have our picnic even though it was raining.
e) Jessie rode his bicycle on the pavement, despite the fact that he had been told not to.
• Now rewrite the sentences by moving the subordinate clause to a different part of the sentence.
Task B: Clause confusion
With a partner, choose the correct subordinate or main clause to complete the sentences.
a) Eat your dinner quickly Freda checked the postmark.
b) Since the doorbell was broken, they’ll miss the best bit.
c) You will never see them again unless you apologise.
d) Before she opened the parcel, so we can go out.
e) Unless they come soon, I didn’t hear the delivery man.
Task C: Code breaker
• Choose the most suitable subordinate conjunction to complete the sentence.
• Rearrange the letters next to the correct sentences to find the hidden word.

A While he was having breakfast, Rob noticed the toaster was on fire.
B Unless he was having breakfast, Rob noticed the toaster was on fire.
T Don’t bother to turn up when you bring a gift.
U Don’t bother to turn up unless you bring a gift.
S Since it was still light, we went out to play after dinner.
T Though it was still light, we went out to play after dinner.
C Come out, wherever you are!
D Come out, even though you are!
K Because you leave tonight, would you come to my office?
L Before you leave tonight, would you come to my office?
E Just as we were about to give up, the bus came.
F Despite we were about to give up, the bus came.

© 2015 Keen Kite Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd. You may photocopy this page. 9
Answers
Page 9
Task A
a) Unless we have sunshine in July, we
won’t have a summer at all. / We won’t
have a summer at all unless we have
sunshine in July.
b) I paid the fare when I got on the tram. /
When I got on the tram, I paid the fare.
c) Before he opened the letter, Holmes
carefully examined the envelope. /
Holmes carefully examined the envelope
before he opened the letter.
d) We decided to have our picnic even
though it was raining. / Even though
it was raining, we decided to have our
picnic.
e) Jessie rode his bicycle on the pavement,
despite the fact that he had been told
not to. / Despite the fact that he had
been told not to, Jessie rode his bicycle
on the pavement.
Task B
a) Eat your dinner quickly so we can go out.
b) Since the doorbell was broken, I didn’t
hear the delivery man.
c) You will never see them again unless you
apologise.
d) Before she opened the parcel, Freda
checked the postmark.
e) Unless they come soon, they’ll miss the
best bit.
Task C
The hidden word is CLAUSE