{ bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_topslot' }}]}, 'min': 3.05, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195466', size: [728, 90] }}, }; Yes, you can; but you need to be a rather good writer to pull it off. What Is an Independent Clause in English? { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_Billboard' }}, A main clause can form a complete sentence on its own. { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_btmslot' }}, "—From "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter," by Carson McCullers. The subordinate clause is, as such, dependent on the independent clause to provide the complete meaning. By definition, a compound sentence has two independent clauses connected by a conjunction. },{ { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971081', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_btmslot_300x250' }}, American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. }], syncDelay: 3000 A complex sentence consists of one or more clauses which could be a combination of two or more main clauses, or a combination of main and subordinate clauses. {code: 'ad_btmslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_btmslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/btmslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250], [320, 50], [300, 50]] } }, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195466', size: [728, 90] }}, googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { if (!event.isEmpty && event.slot.renderCallback) { event.slot.renderCallback(event); } }); Also called independent clause. Matthews defined a main clause as "[a] clause which bears no relation, or no relation other than coordination, to any other or larger clause." window.ga=window.ga||function(){(ga.q=ga.q||[]).push(arguments)};ga.l=+new Date; googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_pt", "ex"); The predicate is the part of the sentence (the verb) that shows the action. { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_topslot' }}]}, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a9690ab01717182962182bb50ce0007', pos: 'cdo_topslot_mobile_flex' }}, 2. Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346698' }}, { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_topslot' }}, You also need to follow different tips for using each relative clause properly. { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_leftslot' }}, The following are sentences, since they contain at least one main clause. For example: A noun clause is a dependent clause that acts as a noun. The main clause is 'I shall worry': it is, I think, rather feeble in view of what precedes it, a sad anticlimax to what was promising to be a fairly arresting sentence. For example, in the sentence, "The angry bear howled ominously," the word "bear" is the simple subject and the predicate is "howled" so the main clause of the sentence would be, "The bear howled.". var pbDesktopSlots = [ bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162050', zoneId: '776358', position: 'atf' }}, bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776140', position: 'atf' }}, },{ var pbjs = pbjs || {}; Since the terminal position in the sentence carries the most weight and since the main clause is more emphatic than a subordinate clause in a complex sentence, writers often place the subordinate clause before the main clause to give maximal emphasis to the main clause. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_topslot_728x90' }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_btmslot' }}]}]; { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_leftslot_160x600' }}, Main clauses are not dependent on any other clause in the sentence, and a sentence must have at least one main clause. googletag.pubads().set("page_url", "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/main-clause"); { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971080', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, From the Cambridge English Corpus The main clause consists of a modal, the past tense, the perfect aspect, and the past … dfpSlots['leftslot'] = googletag.defineSlot('/2863368/leftslot', [[120, 600], [160, 600]], 'ad_leftslot').defineSizeMapping(mapping_leftslot).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'top').setTargeting('hp', 'left').addService(googletag.pubads()); 2. {code: 'ad_btmslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_btmslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/btmslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250]] } }, iasLog("criterion : cdo_l = en-us"); bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776130', position: 'btf' }}, Since "when I was 12 years old" and "When I finished the class" are modified by "when," yet another subordinate conjunction, they are both subordinate clauses. ga('send', 'pageview'); These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. iasLog("exclusion label : resp"); I don’t know him from Adam: phrases containing names. { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654157' }}, A main clause is a clause (group of words with a subject and verb in) that contains a subject and an object. ga('require', 'displayfeatures'); var pbMobileHrSlots = [ Click on the arrows to change the translation direction. "sign-out": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/auth/signout?rid=READER_ID" 'min': 31, bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162050', zoneId: '776358', position: 'atf' }}, expires: 365 Without a main clause, a group of words is a fragment, a major error in writing. "authorizationFallbackResponse": { Main Clause & Subordinate Clause A clause is a combination of related words containing a subject and a verb. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '194852', size: [300, 250] }}, { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_btmslot' }}, iasLog("setting page_url: - https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/main-clause"); {code: 'ad_topslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_topslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/topslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 50], [320, 50], [320, 100]] } }, Please choose a part of speech and type your suggestion in the Definition field. { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654208' }}, var pbAdUnits = getPrebidSlots(curResolution); If opportunity knocks, open the door. Before starting the quiz review the key differences between phrases and clauses. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '387233' }}, ga('create', 'UA-31379-3',{cookieDomain:'dictionary.cambridge.org',siteSpeedSampleRate: 10}); googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_l", "en-us"); { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_topslot_728x90' }}, "—From Charlotte's Web by E.B. (one clause) { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '387233' }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_leftslot' }}]}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195464', size: [300, 600] }}, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446381' }}, Noun clauses are dependent clauses that must be paired with an independent (main) clause. In writing, a sentence typically begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop: She spoke to me. "Dinner always took a long time, because Antonapoulos loved food and he was very slow. pbjs.que = pbjs.que || []; iasLog("criterion : cdo_pt = ex"); You can’t be shy if you want to make friends. "loggedIn": false if(refreshConfig.enabled == true) { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654174' }}, {code: 'ad_btmslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_btmslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/btmslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250], [320, 50], [300, 50]] } }, },{ { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11653860' }}, Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors. a clause that can stand alone as a sentence, containing a subject and a predicate with a finite verb, as I was there in the sentence I was there when he arrived. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346688' }}, pbjs.que.push(function() { A main clause is a clause that makes sense on its own and can also exist in a sentence on its own. In its simplest form, a clause in grammar is a subject plus a verb. { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_btmslot' }}]}]; { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_HDX' }}, { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_HDX' }}, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446382' }}, userIds: [{ { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971065', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, Here are some examples: 1. params: { The independent clause and subordinate clause are not equal because the latter cannot form a sentence on its own. { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_btmslot' }}]}]; iasLog("criterion : sfr = cdo_dict_english"); main clause doesn't have a definition yet. 'increment': 1, Ans: The clause has to be the main clause or an independent clause. The best writers not only know how to identify essential elements of sentences, they also learn to shape their words into catchy, creative clauses. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_pc", "dictionary"); },{ // FIXME: (temporary) - send ad requests only if PlusPopup is not shown A complete thought is also called a main clause or independent clause (IC). googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_dc", "english"); 'pa pdd chac-sb tc-bd bw hbr-20 hbss lpt-25' : 'hdn'">. 'cap': true "—From "The Writing Life," by Ellen Gilchrist. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_btmslot_300x250' }}, { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_topslot' }}, googletag.cmd.push(function() { In sentence structure, the simple subject is the "who, what, or where" that comprises the main focus of the sentence. { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654208' }}, "I learned to type when I was 12 years old. Conditional sentences consist of two clauses: an if-clause and a main clause. In … }] if(!isPlusPopupShown()) googletag.pubads().disableInitialLoad(); "authorization": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/auth/info?rid=READER_ID&url=CANONICAL_URL&ref=DOCUMENT_REFERRER&type=&v1=&v2=&v3=&v4=english&_=RANDOM", bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776160', position: 'atf' }}, The order of the clauses can be very important for the meaning. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195467', size: [320, 50] }}, Compare →... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776160', position: 'atf' }}, The word in the example sentence does not match the entry word. A main clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb which makes complete sense on its own. }, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195467', size: [300, 50] }}, } } { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [320, 50] }}, 3. In the following examples, notice the main clause does not necessarily include modifying words. }, 'min': 8.50, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_btmslot' }}]}]; storage: { { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a9690ab01717182962182bb50ce0007', pos: 'cdo_topslot_mobile_flex' }}, iasLog("criterion : cdo_pc = dictionary"); { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971063', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, 'increment': 0.5, Matthews, P. H. "Main Clause," cited from "The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics." German Word Order in Main Clauses (Hauptsätze)The following description of German word order is based on the structure of main clauses, also called independent clauses.A "main clause" has a subject and a predicate and can form a complete sentence that is able to stand alone. If it is acting as a noun, it is a noun clause (as opposed to an adjective clause, for example). iasLog("criterion : cdo_ptl = entryex-mcp"); { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, name: "unifiedId", Because a subordinate clause is dependent upon a main clause to be meaningful, it is also referred to as a dependent clause. storage: { For a sentence to be complete, rather than a fragment, it must include a main clause. { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_topslot_728x90' }}, The word denoting the action in a sentence or clause is called a verb, while the person or thing performing the action is typically a noun acting as the subject. n. A clause in a complex sentence that contains at least a subject and a verb and can stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence. In English grammar, a main clause (also known as in independent clause, superordinate clause, or base clause) is a group of words made up of a subject and a predicate that together express a complete concept. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [300, 50] }}, You cannot create a complex sentence without using a subordinate clause in it. }); If you love me, let me go! You can help! Main clause examples include: The lion roared at its prey 'increment': 0.01, { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a9690ab01717182962182bb50ce0007', pos: 'cdo_btmslot_mobile_flex' }}, What is an object? enableSendAllBids: false, var mapping_topslot_a = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([746, 0], []).addSize([0, 550], [[300, 250]]).addSize([0, 0], [[300, 50], [320, 50], [320, 100]]).build(); 'buckets': [{ pid: '94' }, A sentence may contain any number of other grammatical units, such as participle phrases, prepositional phrases, subordinate clauses, appositives, etc. Main clause and subordinate clause are the two main categories of clauses. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446381' }}, In other words, a clause with an object in it as well. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '194852', size: [300, 250] }}, params: { The order of the clauses can change. type: "html5", They include a subject, a verb and an object and express a complete thought. "login": { bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776160', position: 'atf' }}, The independent clause, also called the main clause, is the type which can stand on its own. An object is a person or thing being talked about in a clause, like a subject, but it's not doing anything. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("sfr", "cdo_dict_english"); { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346688' }}, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346693' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195467', size: [320, 100] }}, Q: A sentence has only one clause. { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971066', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, A subordinate clause is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; it merely complements a sentence’s main clause, thereby adding to the whole unit of meaning. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [300, 50] }}, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446382' }}, { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_leftslot' }}]}, The subject is the entity “doing” the action of the sentence and the verb is the action that subject completes. var mapping_topslot_b = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([746, 0], [[728, 90]]).addSize([0, 0], []).build(); Each whole sentence is a larger clause (a main clause), which contains a subordinate clause as part of it. {code: 'ad_leftslot', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_leftslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/leftslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[120, 600], [160, 600], [300, 600]] } }, The indicative is indifferent to the realis/irrealis distinction, with irrealis being suggested only by the semantics of the, These data are not instances of parenthetical insertions, as there was no audible pause before or after the, This is because of a structural relationship that exists between the embedded clause and the, A notable property of such relative clauses is that they resemble a, Utterances with a relative clause but without a completed, Syntactically, they belong to the same tree structure, but they do not have semantic effects on the proposition expressed by the, Together with their arguments, they express a distinct proposition (a subordinate clause) which functions as a modifier of the proposition denoted by the, The next fragment illustrates the canonical word order in which a subordinate clause precedes the, For every item of this test, participants were given the, Conditional sentences consist of two clauses: an if-clause and a, As in previous studies, children did make the relative clause refer to the, These are clauses marked by the infinitive particle to, in which the subject is the same as that of the, This hypothesis predicts that comprehension is easier when the head noun has the same grammatical role in the, The relative can contain information concerning the physical possibility of the event in the, However, if one clause served as an argument of another, only the, The test sentences were read without a marked pause between the. 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