Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
A clause is a group of related words that contains a subject and a verb. There are two types of
clauses:
Independent or Main Clause: A group of related words containing a subject and verb -
and makes sense all by itself. (Sounds like a sentence, right? It is!)
Dependent or Subordinate Clause: A group of related words containing a subject and
verb - but it does not make sense by itself. A dependent or subordinate clause needs the
independent clause to make sense.
Examples:
Both clauses have subjects and verbs: "children clapped" and "John came." However, in the
second one, that word, "when" makes that group of words a dependent or subordinate clause.
"When" is a subordinate conjunction, which you will learn about in the miscellaneous
subheading in the clause section. Subordinate or dependent clauses are introduced by either a
relative pronoun (see pronoun section) or a subordinate conjunction.
Exercise Directions: Write down the independent clause in the following sentences; then, write
down the dependent or subordinate clause. BE CAREFUL! Sometimes the dependent clause
will separate the independent clause, as shown in this sample sentence....
6. Our travel plans were changed since the plane was canceled.