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The main clause can always stand by itself as a complete sentence. Subordinate clauses cannot, as they include words such as 'after', 'when', 'because' and so on, which leave them hanging in the air. You need to strip out any clause that can't stand alone. What you are left with is the main clause.

For example: 'After they had finished their shopping, and once they had reassured themselves that they still had plenty of money left, they decided to look for somewhere to have lunch, but they couldn't agree on whether a pub would be better, or a cafe.'

Go through each clause and see if it could stand alone as a complete sentence.

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βˆ™ 14y ago
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βˆ™ 2w ago

To identify the main clause in a long sentence, look for the subject and verb that form a complete thought independently. It will often contain the central idea of the sentence and can sometimes stand alone as a complete sentence. Other clauses may provide additional information but the main clause is essential for the sentence's meaning.

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Q: How can you identify the main clause in a long sentence?
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Identify the subordinating conjunction Where there is smoke there is fire.?

The subordinating conjunction in the sentence "Where there is smoke there is fire" is "where." It introduces the dependent clause "where there is smoke," which provides additional information about the main clause "there is fire."


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What part of speech is a preposition?

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How do you Identify the complete adverb clause We're moving to Abilene if we sell our house.?

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Related questions

Identify the main clause in the sentence below. Then decide if the subordinate clause is used as noun adjective or adverb. After we have read the story we will talk about it. Main clause Subordinate c?

Identify the main clause in the sentence below. Then decide if the subordinate clause is used as noun adjective or adverb. After we have read the story we will talk about it. Main clause Subordinate c?


How do you find a main clause in a sentence?

Identify the subject and the verb and make sure their is a clear thought.


Where can you find the subordinate in a passage?

The subordinate clause in a passage typically adds extra information to the main clause and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. You can identify a subordinate clause by looking for words like although, because, when, if, or which that signal the clause's dependency on the main clause.


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The main clause or the principal clause in a complex sentence; is a key sentence.


Identify the subordinating conjunction Where there is smoke there is fire.?

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What is main clause and subordinate clause give an example?

A main clause = it is independent, i.e. it does not depend on any other sentence. A subordinate clause = a sentence depending on/subordinated to a another sentence, either a main clause or another subordinate clause. (you ask the main clause a question and you answer with the subordinate). e.g. "Can you tell me/ (the main clause) when the book was written?" ( the subordinate clause = a Direct Object). or "This is the book/ that I told you about". (the second clause is an Attributive or a Relative Clause). or If she had know this, / she wouldn't have trusted him." (the first sentence is an If Clause or a Conditional).


Which is a main clause?

A clause that forms a complete sentence


A clause that could be a sentence by itself is a?

main clause; subordinate clause


A clause that depends on another clause for meaning is a and could not be a sentence by itself A clause that could be a sentence by itself is a n?

Its Main cause; Subordinate Clause- Just got it right for apexx


A sentence with one main clause and one or more dependent clauses is a what sentence?

A sentence with one main clause and one or more dependent clauses is a complex sentence. This type of sentence has one independent clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence, along with one or more dependent clauses that rely on the main clause for meaning.


Is a clause and a sentence similar?

They are only partially similar. A sentence is complete in itself, a clause - whether a main clause or a subordinate clause - may not be complete.


What part of speech is a preposition?

A preposition is a part of speech used to show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. It typically indicates location, direction, time, or the relationship between nouns or pronouns.