Conditional sentences. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [300, 50] }}, var pbMobileHrSlots = [ main clause doesn't have a definition yet. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_l", "en"); Examples of simple sentences might include: As you can see, it is not possible to divide any of these up into smaller segments that look like sentences. googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; syncDelay: 3000 { priceGranularity: customGranularity, } A finite clause refers to a clause with a verb that shows tense. name: "idl_env", { There are, however many more ways in which clauses can be connected to each other to form longer sentences. Sentences which are constructed using the linking words and , but , or and the few words which can be used in the same way, like also , too , yet , are called compound sentences . { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346688' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '194852', size: [300, 250] }}, bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776160', position: 'atf' }}, Main clause and subordinate clause are the two main categories of clauses. From the Cambridge English Corpus The main clause consists of a modal, the past tense, the perfect aspect, and the past … The subordinate clause ‘despite the driving rain and wind’ does not make sense on its own and is adding extra information to the main clause. addPrebidAdUnits(pbAdUnits); { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971063', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195467', size: [300, 250] }}, Two main clauses are joined by and, but or or. bidderSequence: "fixed" window.ga=window.ga||function(){(ga.q=ga.q||[]).push(arguments)};ga.l=+new Date; 6. }, 2. Conditional sentences are sometimes confusing for learners of English as a second language. Conditional sentences consist of two clauses: an if-clause and a main clause. Clauses which can stand on their own in this way and have equal importance are referred to as main clauses; this will, of course, also include simple sentences, which contain only one clause. }] Notice the correct way to structure second conditional sentences is to use the simple past tense in the if-clause and an auxiliary modal verb (e.g., could, should, would, might) in the main clause (the one that expresses the unrealistic or unlikely outcome). A compound sentence is one that consists of two main clauses, joined by a word such as and, but, or or, called a coordinating conjunction. { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446381' }}, { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_Billboard' }}, The if-clause uses the present simple tense. An object is a person or thing being talked about in a clause, like a subject, but it's not doing anything. var pbjs = pbjs || {}; For example a native speaker would find the sense of 'although she's the best in the class' to be incomplete without a second clause expressing an unexpected contrast, in this case 'she did badly in the exams'. Here is an example: The main clause here is b since this can be used on its own as a complete sense unit. iasLog("criterion : sfr = cdo_dict_english"); Clauses which can stand on their own in this way and have equal importance are referred to as main clauses; this will, of course, also include simple sentences, which contain only one clause. Where is the if-clause (e.g. storage: { Every sentence has at least one main clause. { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654157' }}, 'min': 0, The clause which can stand alone is called a main clause, while the clause which depends on the main clause is said to be subordinate. cmpApi: 'iab', { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_topslot_728x90' }}, A Subordinate clause is a clause that does not make sense on its own and cannot be a sentence on its own. 'increment': 0.5, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446382' }}, },{ { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [300, 50] }}, name: "pbjs-unifiedid", Matthews defined a main clause as "[a] clause which bears no relation, or no relation other than coordination, to any other or larger clause." {code: 'ad_leftslot', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_leftslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/leftslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[120, 600], [160, 600]] } }, However, sometimes a clause is only defining because it is intended by the author. A main clause can usually stand alone as a sentence, but a subordinate clause can’t. { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971066', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, window.__tcfapi('removeEventListener', 2, function(success){ googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_tc", "resp"); { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_topslot' }}, {code: 'ad_leftslot', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_leftslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/leftslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[120, 600], [160, 600], [300, 600]] } }, bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776130', position: 'btf' }}, There are three main types of conditional sentence. var dfpSlots = {}; }; Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English, 0 && stateHdr.searchDesk ? {code: 'ad_btmslot_a', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_btmslot', adUnitPath: '/2863368/btmslot' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250]] } }, These linking words for compound sentences are known as coordinators since they serve to connect main clauses on an equal footing. iasLog("criterion : cdo_l = en"); { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195451', size: [320, 50] }}, Learn about word order in main clauses with Lingolia’s free online lesson. In these sentences the subject is in bold: One feature of the levels of sentence and clause is that they both need to include a person(s) or thing(s) carrying out some sort of action. }, A main clause contains a subject and an object, they can also make sense on their own. var pbHdSlots = [ window.__tcfapi('addEventListener', 2, function(tcData, success) { name: "pubCommonId", If you take the first bus, you’ll get there on time. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_ei", "main-clause"); { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_topslot' }}]}, userIds: [{ }); googletag.pubads().set("page_url", "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/main-clause"); { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_btmslot' }}]}]; Such a clause is called Subordinate or Dependent clause. ga('require', 'displayfeatures'); A clause can be: a main clause; a subordinate clause – noun, adjectival or adverbial. iasLog("criterion : cdo_pt = ex"); It depends on the main clause to give a complete meaning. A complete thought is also called a main clause or independent clause (IC). However, a subordinate clause always depends on the main clause as it cannot convey a complete thought. bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776130', position: 'btf' }}, A sentence may contain any number of other grammatical units, such as participle phrases, prepositional phrases, subordinate clauses, appositives, etc. 'min': 31, Conditional Sentences If-clauses Typ 1 „Was ist, wenn ....“ onlineuebung.de+ Typ 2 „Was wäre, wenn ....“ Typ 3 „Was wäre gewesen, wenn....“ Bildung: If clause Simple Present Main clause Will + Infinitve Bildung: If clause Simple Past Main clause Would/ could/ might + Infinitive Beispiele Positiver Satz If you stayed I … { bidder: 'onemobile', params: { dcn: '8a969411017171829a5c82bb4deb000b', pos: 'cdo_topslot_728x90' }}, In "The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Linguistics," P.H. 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