What is the Difference Between Main Clause and Subordinate Clause?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between a main clause and a subordinate clause lies in their ability to express a complete thought and stand alone as an independent sentence.
A main clause (also known as an independent clause) is a clause that can stand on its own as a complete thought. It has a subject and a verb and can be a sentence on its own. For example:
- He did not want to know the content of the letter.
- Ashley often thought about her grandparents.
A subordinate clause (also known as a dependent clause) is a clause that cannot stand on its own as a complete thought. It is dependent on a main clause to convey a complete meaning. Subordinate clauses often begin with a conjunction and have a subject and a verb. For example:
- Although I only started last week.
- That Dave had been late to school.
Subordinate clauses provide informational support to the main clause and help to complete the meaning in the main clause. They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as "after," "although," "as," "because," "before," "if," "since," "than," and "though".
Comparative Table: Main Clause vs Subordinate Clause
Here is a table comparing the differences between main clauses and subordinate clauses:
| Feature | Main Clause (Independent Clause) | Subordinate Clause (Dependent Clause) |
|---|---|---|
| Sentence Standing | Can stand alone as a complete sentence | Cannot stand alone; complements the rest of the sentence |
| Structure | Contains a subject and a verb | Contains a subject and a verb, but cannot stand alone |
| Sentence Role | Provides a basis for the remaining part of the sentence | Plays a subordinate role in relation to the main clause |
| Examples | - I love reading. - She is a teacher. |
- Although it was raining. - When the package was carefully inspected. |
Main clauses, also known as independent clauses, can stand alone as complete sentences because they express a complete thought. They can be used in simple, compound, or complex sentences. On the other hand, subordinate clauses, also known as dependent clauses, cannot stand alone as complete sentences because they do not express a complete thought. They are dependent on the main clause to give a complete meaning or sense.
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