Explaining main and subordinate clauses: E3-03W

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My sister likes apples.          I know Shanghai well.           We don’t speak German.

 

Unless we use more than one clause per sentence, we are limited to very simple English, as we see in the sentences above. Look again at the sentence I have just written:

 

[Unless] we use more than one clause per sentence, we are limited to very simple English, [as] we see in the sentences above.

 

The main idea here is the one underlined: ‘we are limited’… and this forms the main clause. But I develop this idea in two directions, using ‘subordinating’ clauses introduced by the (subordinating) conjunctions [unless] and [as]. These Subordinating clauses are so-called because they depend on the main clause. Their function is to extend the main idea. Here is another example of extension:

 

I feel fine – the main idea

Despite only having two hours sleep – the subordinate or additional idea

Though I’ll be tired by this afternoon – another subordinate idea.

 

When we put these together, the main clause is usually (though not always) the middle one, because that is how we make the meaning clear:

 

[Despite] only having two hours sleep, I feel fine, [though] I’ll be tired by this afternoon.

 

Finally, two clauses can also be in a co-ordinating relationship, which happens when they are of equal importance.

 

I’m getting the train to Berlin, but I’m flying to Moscow.

 

The co-ordinating conjunctions are [and], [or] & [but]