Clauses and conjunctions: main, subordinate and relative
A clause is the building block of a sentence. Once children can spot a clause and the word that joins it, they can write longer sentences that still make sense.
Quick answer
- Key terms
- clause, main clause, subordinate clause, co-ordination, subordination, conjunction, relative clause
- Key idea
- A clause has a verb. A main clause can stand alone; a subordinate clause cannot.
- Years
- Subordination and co-ordination from Year 2; relative clauses in Year 5.
What is a clause?
A clause is a group of words with a verb and a subject. The dog barked is a clause. A main clause makes sense on its own. A subordinate clause adds information but needs a main clause to complete it: because the postman came.
Put them together: The dog barked because the postman came.
Two ways to join clauses
Co-ordination joins clauses of equal weight with and, but, or, so. I wanted to play but it was too wet.
Subordination joins a subordinate clause to a main clause with a word such as because, although, when, if, while, after, before. Although it was wet, we played outside.
A subordinate clause can come first or second. When it comes first, put a comma after it.
Relative clauses
A relative clause adds detail about a noun and begins with a relative pronoun: who, which, that, whose, where, when. The girl who won the race smiled. Sometimes the pronoun is left out: The book I borrowed was funny.
A quick test
Try to say the group of words on its own. If it makes sense, it is a main clause. If it leaves you waiting for more (when the bell rang), it is subordinate.
Quick quiz
8 questions. Answer them all, then check your score.
Questions
Can a sentence start with a conjunction?
Yes. A subordinating conjunction such as although or because can begin a sentence, as long as the sentence also has a main clause.
Related
Spelling lists and grammar terminology: Department for Education, National curriculum in England: English programmes of study, Appendices 1 and 2 (Crown copyright 2013), reproduced under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example sentences, tips, explanations and questions are by Litlings.