Main and Subordinate Clauses Grammar & Language

Goal: I understand the difference between main and subordinate clauses.  I don’t know much about this topic.  I know a little about this topic.  I know a bit about this topic and have used it.  I could explain this topic to my peers and assist them. G A N A G

APK G A N A G

What is a Main Clause? A main clause (sometimes called an independent clause) can be a sentence on its own and does not need any detail added to it. It usually shows the most important information. A main clause must contain a subject and a verb. For example, “a giant spider made its home behind the shampoo bottle in Kath’s shower” Spider = the subject. Has made = the verb. It is a main clause because it makes sense on its own G A N A G

Identify the Subject & Verb The Bombers defeated the Magpies. –Subject= ___________ (Who?) –Verb= ____________ (What did they do?) Matt addressed the whole school. –Subject= ___________ (Who?) –Verb= ____________ (What did he/she do?)

Identify the Subject & Verb The Bombers defeated the Magpies. –Subject= Bombers –Verb= defeated Matt addressed the whole school. –Subject= Matt –Verb= addressed

What is a Subordinate Clause? A subordinate clause does not express a complete thought and adds more detail to a main clause. The subordinate clause isn’t always at the end of the sentence. A subordinate clause usually starts with words such as after, because, before, if, once, since, that, when, while, which, and who. For example, “because I went to Tony’s house” is a subordinate clause because it does not express a complete thought.

Main clauses are in green. Subordinate clauses are in red. When I am older I will ride in a hot air balloon. I have a fun granny because she teaches me how to paint. ‘When’ and ‘because’ are clues to tell you which part of the sentence is the subordinate clause.

Application Exercise 1 Can you write a subordinate clause to tell me more about these sentences? Eight enormous gorillas ran through the forest _______________________ I went to the football and had a great time _______________________ Now can you write a main clause to go with these subordinate clauses? _______________________ if they go on holiday in France. Grandma said I could go out to play _______________________

Application Exercise 2 Get out your draft book and read through a piece of your writing. Identify 4 times where you have only used a main clause and re-write the sentence in your INB, adding a subordinate clause to make the writing more interesting. Find 4 examples where you have used a main and subordinate clause in your writing, and identify each clause. G A N A G

Reflection Draw a comic strip where the characters use a main and subordinate clause.

Goal: I understand the difference between main and subordinate clauses.  I don’t know much about this topic.  I know a little about this topic.  I know a bit about this topic and have used it.  I could explain this topic to my peers and assist them. G A N A G