Sentence Terminology * Flashcards
Main Clause
• Can form a complete sentence on its
own
• must contain a verb
e.g. today is Friday
You ate the last biscuitCoordinate Clause
A main clause in a compound or compound-complex sentence.
e.g. I like eating cake and you enjoy them too
Stranded Coordinate Clause
A coordinate clause without another main clause.
e.g. And a dessert to finish
Subordinate Clause
• Doesn’t make sense on its own
• Needs a main clause
• Must contain a verb
e.g. Although it was late
Concessive Subordinate Clause
Concede something (admit, give up something)
e.g. even though I couldn’t afford it
Although I don’t agree with herConditional Subordinate Clause
Provide a condition
e.g. if you don’t
Unless it’s an emergency
Subordinate Clause of Reason
Provide a reason
e.g. because the train was late
Since you didn’t reply
Temporal Subordinate Clause
Relate to time
e.g. when it’s 12 o’clock
After the break
Relative Subordinate Clause
• Add additional information
• Start with a relative pronoun
e.g. who won the big cash prize
who had been off sick for some time
which happened last weekTo-Infinitive Clauses
Begin with to
e.g. to get good marks
to get a good seat
Foreground Clause
Subordinate clauses that start a sentence
e.g. when you get back
to get the best experience
Embedded Clause
Subordinate clauses in the middle of the sentence
e.g. the girls, who had worked really hard, decided to go away
Simple Sentences
• Has one clause
• Must contain a verb
e.g. Charlie ate the sandwich
Compound Sentence
Two or more clauses with conjunctions
e.g. Charlie ate the sandwich but not
the apple
Complex Sentence
• Two or more clauses
• One subordinate clause
• Linked with conjunctions
e.g. Charlie ate the sandwich, when he had finished
the apple
