1.1.2
Key Terms - Sentence and Clause Types
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Key Terms for English Language - Sentence and Clause Types
You need to know the following key terms for your English Language exam:

Complex sentence
- A complex sentence is formed when you join a main clause and a subordinate clause with a connective.
- Some connectives include: when, if, because, although.
- E.g. While the wind blew, people stayed indoors.

Compound sentence
- A compound sentence is formed when you join two main clauses with a connective.
- Some connectives include: and, but, so, or.
- E.g. The sand was rough on my skin but the sun was gleaming brilliantly off the water.

Main clause
- A main clause is a clause that contains a subject, verb and an object. Main clauses make sense on their own.
- E.g. I like bananas.

Simple sentence
- A simple sentence has one clause. It only has a verb and a subject.
- E.g. She picked up the brown box.

Subordinate clause
- A subordinate clause is one that relies on a main clause to make sense - it contains a subject and a verb, and adds extra information to the sentence. It needs to be attached to a main clause because it cannot make sense on its own.
- E.g. After she noticed it was missing… (What happened?)
1Key Terms
1.1Key Terms
2Language Devices
3Writing Structure
4Section B: Reading & Writing
4.1Writing Formats
4.2Writing to...
4.2.1Writing to Inform4.2.2Writing to Inform - Example4.2.3Writing to Explain4.2.4Writing to Explain - Example4.2.5Writing to Persuade4.2.6Writing to Persuade - Example4.2.7Writing to Argue4.2.8Writing to Argue - Example4.2.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue4.2.10Writing to Advise4.2.11Writing to Advise - Example4.2.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
5Section C: Writing
Jump to other topics
1Key Terms
1.1Key Terms
2Language Devices
3Writing Structure
4Section B: Reading & Writing
4.1Writing Formats
4.2Writing to...
4.2.1Writing to Inform4.2.2Writing to Inform - Example4.2.3Writing to Explain4.2.4Writing to Explain - Example4.2.5Writing to Persuade4.2.6Writing to Persuade - Example4.2.7Writing to Argue4.2.8Writing to Argue - Example4.2.9Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue4.2.10Writing to Advise4.2.11Writing to Advise - Example4.2.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...
5Section C: Writing
Practice questions on Key Terms - Sentence and Clause Types
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1Which of these are main clauses?True / false
- 2What type of clause does NOT make sense by itself?Multiple choice
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