1. Understanding Clauses
* Clause: A group of words containing a subject and a verb.
* Main Clause: The core of the sentence, expressing the main idea. It can stand alone as a complete sentence.
* Subordinate Clause: Provides additional information about the main clause. It cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
2. Key Identifying Features
* Subject: The person, place, or thing that performs the action.
* Verb: The action word or state of being.
* Completeness: The main clause will have a subject and verb that express a complete thought.
3. Common Structures to Look For
* Independent Clauses: These are complete sentences and will always have a subject and verb.
* Dependent Clauses: These begin with words like "because," "although," "since," "if," "when," "while," "that," "who," "which," etc. They are not complete sentences on their own.
4. Identifying the Main Clause
* Find the Subject and Verb: Look for the core subject and verb that perform the main action.
* Look for Connecting Words: Subordinate clauses are often connected to the main clause with conjunctions (words like "and," "but," "or," "so") or relative pronouns ("who," "which," "that").
* Test for Completeness: If you remove the dependent clause, does the remaining sentence still make sense? If so, you've found the main clause.
5. Example:
* "While I was walking to school, I saw a beautiful bird singing in a tree."
* Subordinate Clause: "While I was walking to school" (dependent clause)
* Main Clause: "I saw a beautiful bird singing in a tree." (independent clause, complete thought)
Tips:
* Start from the End: Long sentences often end with the main clause.
* Look for Commas and Semicolons: These often separate independent clauses.
Remember: Practice is key! The more you practice, the more confident you'll become at identifying the main clause in complex sentences.