MAIN

and
SUBORDINATE
CLAUSES
 OBJECTIVES
• Define ‘clause’

• Define and identify the main clause

• Define and identify the subordinate

clause
 Read this sentence.

The boy grabbed a box of

marbles.
 E

A clause is a group of words that

contain a subject and a verb.
 Is this a clause?

The boy grabbed a box

of marbles.
 Is this a clause?

when he found a girl

staring at him
 Both groups of words
are clauses.
The boy grabbed a box of
marbles.
when he found a girl staring at
him
 Mainse Clause
wn
se n s o
et e it
p l es o n
m t a k n d
Co ugh m St a
th o

The boy grabbed a box

of marbles.
 Mainse Clause
wn
se n s o
et e it
p l es o n
m t a k n d
Co ugh m St a
th o

Gertie practises soccer

everyday.
 Mainse Clause
wn
se n s o
e t e it
p l es o n
m t a k n d
Co ugh m St a
tho

The phone rang.

 Subordinate
ss
a Clause
n
p r e t s d o
ex g h ke a n
ot o u m a s t
s n e t oth o t
oe et s n n n
l
D mp oe C a w n
co D s e s o
se n i t

when he found a girl

staring at him
 Subordinate
ss
a Clause
n
p r e t s d o
ex g h ke a n
ot o u m a s t
s n e t oth o t
oe et s n n n
l
D mp oe C a w n
co D s e s o
se n i t

If you finish on time

 Subordinate
ss
a Clause
n
p r e t s d o
ex g h ke a n
ot o u m a s t
s n e t oth o t
oe et s n n n
l
D mp oe C a w n
co D s e s o
se n i t

that Dad cooked for us

 Name that Clause!

We decorated the
house for his party.
Main Clause
 Name that Clause!

while Dad was

sleeping
Subordinate Clause
 Name that Clause!

Just as Emilio came

inside
Subordinate Clause
 Name that Clause!

The phone rang.

Main Clause
 Name that Clause!

He did not hunt.

Main Clause
 Name that Clause!

because it was raining

Subordinate Clause
 Is this a clause?

in the fridge
No!
 Is this a clause?

down the road

No!
 E

A clause is a group of words that

contain a subject and a verb.
 Mainse Clause
wn
se n s o
et e it
p l es o n
m t a k n d
Co ugh m St a
th o

Gertie practises soccer

everyday.
 Subordinate
ss
a Clause
n
p r e t s d o
ex g h ke a n
ot o u m a s t
s n e t oth o t
oe et s n n n
l
D mp oe C a w n
co D s e s o
se n i t

when he found a girl

staring at him