Main and Subordinate Clauses (KS2)

E7Main and Subordinate Clauses

Main clauses stand alone; subordinate clauses lean.

Clauses are the building blocks of sentences — and the 11+'s favourite grammar question.

Two clauses, one sentence.

Although the rain fell, the match continued.

subordinate clause (can't stand alone)main clause (complete on its own)

Test: cover the rest — can this clause be a sentence by itself?

Learn the 3-Step Method

1Find the verbs.

Each clause has its own verb: fell · continued. Two verbs → two clauses.

verbs first

2Test each clause alone.

‘The match continued.’ ✓ a sentence. ‘Although the rain fell’ ✗ — it leans, waiting for more.

stand-alone test

3Spot the subordinating word.

Although, because, when, if, while, since — they turn a clause into a leaner.

although · because · if

💡 Key IdeaA subordinate clause can move: ‘The match continued although the rain fell’ — same clauses, no comma needed when the main clause leads.

Worked Example

Identify the main clause: ‘When the bell rang, the children rushed outside.’

Two verbs

rang · rushed → two clauses

→

Stand-alone test

‘When the bell rang’ ✗ leaner
‘The children rushed outside’ ✓

→

✓ Main clause

the children rushed outside

Watch Out! Common Mistakes

Choosing the first clause automatically.

Position isn’t the test! Subordinate clauses often come FIRST. Run the stand-alone test, not the order test.

Counting phrases as clauses.

“in the morning” = clause ✕

No verb! A clause needs its own verb; ‘in the morning’ is a phrase.

Missing the comma after a fronted subordinate clause.

Comma! When the leaner comes first, a comma follows it: ‘When the bell rang, …’.

⬇ Cheat Sheet

MAIN AND SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

Count the verbs — one verb per clause.
Stand-alone test: cover the rest; is it a sentence?
Subordinating words: although, because, when, if, while.
Fronted subordinate clause → comma after it.

Example: 'When the bell rang, the children rushed outside' — main = the second.

📖 Continue Your Journey

✓ E1 Finding Facts (Retrieval)✓ E2 Inference ✓ E3 Vocabulary in Context ✓ E4 Writer's Word Choice ✓ E5 Summarising and Main Ideas ✓ E6 Word Classes E7 Main and Subordinate Clauses E8 Punctuation Essentials E9 Tenses and Agreement E10 Active and Passive Voice E11 Direct and Reported Speech E12 Spelling Rules E13 Homophones and Confusables E14 Synonyms, Antonyms and Shades E15 Figurative Language E16 Writing: Plan, Build, Improve

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Next Lesson: E8 Punctuation EssentialsCommas, apostrophes and inverted commas — the big three.

📄 Free printable: Download the Main and Subordinate Clauses cheat sheet (PDF) — keep it by your child's desk.

Quick summary

A clause has its own verb; count verbs to count clauses.
Main clauses stand alone; subordinate clauses lean on them.
Subordinating conjunctions: although, because, when, if, while, since.
A fronted subordinate clause takes a comma after it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a main and subordinate clause?

A main clause makes sense alone ('the match continued'); a subordinate clause starts with a word like although or because and can't stand alone.

How do you find the main clause?

Cover each clause in turn and ask whether the remainder reads as a complete sentence — the one that stands alone is the main clause, wherever it sits.

What is a fronted subordinate clause?

A subordinate clause placed before the main clause — it needs a comma after it: 'When the bell rang, the children rushed outside.'

E8 Punctuation Essentials