Learn · English · Class 7

Clauses & Conjunctions

Building longer sentences that stay clear, and punctuating them correctly.

10 parts
Scroll to begin ↓
Main clause + subordinate clauseThe match was cancelledMAIN — stands alone ✅because it rainedSUBORDINATE — cannot ❌Together they make a complex sentenceThe comma ruleSubordinate clause FIRST → use a comma:Because it rained, the match was cancelled.Main clause first → usually no comma:The match was cancelled because it rained.
A main clause stands alone; a subordinate one cannot.
🧩 The partsFour sentence typesPart 2 of 10
🔍 In detailConjunctions come in two kindsPart 3 of 10
✏️ Worked exampleThe comma rulePart 4 of 10
✏️ Worked exampleFixing a comma splicePart 5 of 10
🔍 In detailRelative clausesPart 6 of 10
🌍 In the real worldWhy this improves your writingPart 7 of 10
⚠️ Common mistakesWhere it usually goes wrongPart 8 of 10
✅ SummaryWhat to rememberPart 9 of 10
✏️ Worked exampleWatch one worked throughPart 10 of 10
1📘 DefinitionPart 1 / 10

What a clause is

A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.

  • A main (independent) clause makes sense alone: The match was cancelled.
  • A subordinate (dependent) clause does not: because it rained.

A phrase has no verb at all: in the morning, with great difficulty.

Knowing which you have is what tells you where the punctuation goes.

2🧩 The partsPart 2 / 10

Four sentence types

  • Simple: one main clause. The bell rang.
  • Compound: two main clauses joined by and, but, or, so. The bell rang and we left.
  • Complex: a main clause plus a subordinate one. When the bell rang, we left.
  • Compound-complex: two main clauses plus a subordinate one.

Good writing mixes them. All simple sentences sound childish; all complex ones become exhausting. Variety is what makes prose readable.

3🔍 In detailPart 3 / 10

Conjunctions come in two kinds

Coordinating: join two equal main clauses.

and, but, or, so, yet, for, nor

Subordinating: introduce a subordinate clause, and signal the relationship.

time: when, before, after, while, until
reason: because, since, as
contrast: although, though, whereas
condition: if, unless, provided that

Choosing the right subordinating conjunction does real work: although and because connect the same two facts in opposite ways.

4✏️ Worked examplePart 4 / 10

The comma rule

One rule covers most complex sentences, and it depends only on order.

Subordinate clause first → comma.

Although he was tired, he finished the work.

Main clause first → usually no comma.

He finished the work although he was tired.

Why? When the subordinate clause comes first, the reader does not yet know where the main idea begins. The comma marks the handover. When the main clause is already established, no marker is needed.

For compound sentences, put the comma before the conjunction:

It was raining, so we stayed inside.
5✏️ Worked examplePart 5 / 10

Fixing a comma splice

A comma splice joins two main clauses with only a comma. It is one of the most common errors in student writing.

❌ It was late, we went home.

Four ways to fix it, each with a different effect:

  • Full stop, It was late. We went home. Blunt and clear.
  • Conjunction: It was late, so we went home. Shows the reason.
  • Semicolon: It was late; we went home. Links them closely.
  • Subordinate clause: Because it was late, we went home. Most sophisticated.

How to spot one: if both sides of the comma could be full sentences on their own, a comma alone is not enough.

6🔍 In detailPart 6 / 10

Relative clauses

A relative clause adds information about a noun, introduced by who, which, that, whose, where.

Two kinds, and the commas change the meaning.

Defining: identifies which one. No commas.

The students who studied hard passed.
(only those students passed)

Non-defining: extra information. Commas.

The students, who studied hard, passed.
(they all studied hard, and they all passed)

Two commas change the claim entirely. This is the clearest example in English of punctuation carrying meaning rather than decorating it.

7🌍 In the real worldPart 7 / 10

Why this improves your writing

It fixes the two commonest problems at once: sentences that are all the same length, and run-ons.

Complex sentences show your reasoning. "It rained. The match stopped." states two facts. "The match stopped because it rained" states the connection, which is what an argument needs.

In every other subject. History and science answers are judged on whether you explain why, and subordinating conjunctions are the tools for that: because, therefore, although, whereas.

The practical habit: read your work aloud. Where you run out of breath, the sentence is too long; where it sounds like a list, combine some.

8⚠️ Common mistakesPart 8 / 10

Where it usually goes wrong

  • Comma splices. Two main clauses need more than a comma.
  • A subordinate clause alone as a sentence. Because it rained. is a fragment.
  • Missing the comma when the subordinate clause comes first.
  • Commas around a defining relative clause, which changes the meaning.
  • Long sentences with no punctuation.
9✅ SummaryPart 9 / 10

What to remember

  • A clause has a subject and verb; main stands alone, subordinate does not.
  • Simple · compound · complex, vary them.
  • Subordinate first → comma. Main first → usually none.
  • Commas around a relative clause change the meaning.
10✏️ Worked examplePart 10 / 10

Watch one worked through

Here is one done slowly, with the reason for every move. Then one for you.

Watch one first

Join these with a suitable conjunction and say what kind of clause you made: "It was raining." "We went outside."

  1. Check each one is a full clause with a subject and a verb.
    It (subject) was raining (verb) ✓ We (subject) went (verb) ✓
    A clause needs both. Joining two full clauses is a different job from adding a phrase.
  2. Notice the meaning. The second is surprising given the first.
    raining → you would expect to stay in
    Choose the conjunction from the meaning, not from a list. Contrast needs although, but or even though.
  3. Join them with "although" at the front.
    Although it was raining, we went outside.
    Although makes the first clause subordinate: it can no longer stand alone as a sentence.
  4. Name the parts.
    Although it was raining = subordinate we went outside = main
    The main clause is the one that still makes sense by itself. Test by reading each half alone.

Answer: Although it was raining, we went outside. The first part is a subordinate clause and the second is the main clause.

Now you try

In "She stayed home because she was ill", which word is the conjunction? One word.

Show the answer

because

Practise Clauses & Conjunctions

Everything on QuizByt for Class 7 English that goes with this lesson: read it first, then test yourself while it is fresh.

🧠 9 quizzes on Clauses & Conjunctions (6 easy, 2 medium, 1 hard)

Work up from easy to hard: the hard quiz asks the Class 7 exam-style questions on Clauses & Conjunctions.

🖨️ Printable worksheet

Clauses & Conjunctions on paper for Class 7, with room to write the working out. Preview the first page free.

🎮 Games for Class 7 English

Word games at the right level for Class 7. Passing a quiz on Clauses & Conjunctions earns the credits that open them.

Next in Class 7 English

All English lessons · Every subject

Now test yourself

You have read the whole lesson. Take the quiz on this topic to see how much stuck,a free account is all it takes.

  • 📊 Your score is saved, so you can see progress over time
  • 🔍 See exactly which questions you got wrong, and why
  • 💎 Earn credits for every quiz you pass, and spend them on games
Create a free account →I already have one

In a hurry? Try a free English quiz with no account.