Identifying and punctuating clauses Main and subordinate clauses

Identifying and punctuating clauses

Main and subordinate clauses • A main or independent clause usually contains a subject and a verb. It makes sense on its own. • A subordinate clause adds more information to the main clause but it does not make sense if read on its own. It needs the main clause to help it to make sense. • Subordinate clauses can also be called dependent clauses - can you explain why? • They can also be called embedded or relative clauses.

Underline the main clause in one colour and the subordinate clause in another colour. Label the colours underneath your writing. • 1. The boy, who was only seven, could play the piano. • 2. The beach, which was very crowded, was hotter than ever. • 3. The ball, which was kicked by the goal keeper, flew through the air.

Now punctuate these sentences with commas to mark where the subordinate clause appears. • 1. The music which was too loud gave me a headache. • 2. The old lady who had lots of bags waited for a taxi. • 3. The bus which was empty sped down the street. • 4. The loaf of bread which she bought last week was moldy. • 5. The singer who was on the stage sang to the audience.

Now choose the correct subordinate clause to match the main clause

Now, make up your own subordinate clauses. They must make sense with the rest of the sentence. • 1. The music ______ gave me a headache. • 2. The astronaut _____ climbed into the space rocket. • 3. The ants _______ built their colony. • 4. The elderly man _______ struggled across the road. • 5. The rainbow _______ stretched across a cloudless sky.

Finally create your own main clauses. Then write it again underneath but add a subordinate clause to make it more interesting It can be very simple to start with: 1. a) The man walked down the street. b) The man, who was wearing a red jacket, street. 2. a) The car raced around the corner. b) The car, which was a sports coupe, raced walked down the around the corner.

Now, can you describe what you can see using subordinate clauses? Example: -The old man, who was extremely lonely, sat quivering on the bench. - The lights, which had turned on automatically at nightfall, were glowing in the distance. - Thoughtfully, he sat on the bench, which was made from solid wood and cold iron bars, reflecting on the life he had lived.