Level 1 — Foundation · Sentence Accuracy
Task 4: Joining a Main Clause to a Dependent Clause
Write sentences that pair a main clause with a reason, time, condition, or contrast clause — producing the exact clause relationships Lesson 4 teaches you to recognize while reading.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this task, you should be able to:
- Write one sentence using a reason clause (because) and one using a time clause (when)
- Write one sentence using a condition clause (if) and one using a contrast clause (although)
- Correctly place a comma when the dependent clause comes first
Introduction
Lesson 4 taught you to tell a reason clause from a time clause, a condition clause, and a contrast clause by the small word that introduces it. This task asks you to produce all four on purpose, so that because, when, if, and although stop being labels you recognize and become tools you reach for.
Four Clauses, Four Jobs
Core Concept
Each subordinating word commits you to a specific relationship: because answers why — "I left early because the ferry was leaving." when answers at what point — "I left when the ferry was leaving." if states a condition — "I will leave if the ferry is on time." although signals a surprising contrast — "Although the ferry was late, I still made it." Swap one for another without checking the relationship, and the sentence claims something you didn't mean.
Important
When the dependent clause comes first, it needs a comma before the main clause: Because the ferry was late, I missed my connection. When the main clause comes first, no comma is needed: I missed my connection because the ferry was late.
Your Turn
Your Turn
Write four sentences about a real event from your work or daily life: one with because, one with when, one with if, and one with although. Put the dependent clause first in at least two of them, and punctuate the comma correctly.
Vocabulary in Context
dependent clausenountechnical
a clause with its own subject and verb that cannot stand alone as a full sentence (অধীন খণ্ডবাক্য)
Often with begin a dependent clause, dependent clause with because, attach a dependent clause
“In 'Because the crane failed, the vessel waited', the first clause is a dependent clause.”
conditionnounneutral
something that must be true before something else can happen (শর্ত)
Often with meet a condition, on condition that, necessary condition
“Payment is released on condition that the goods pass inspection.”
Model Answer
Show a model answer
Because the ferry was late, I missed my connection to the port office.
I usually check the schedule again when the weather turns bad.
If the delay continues, we will have to reroute the shipment.
Although the delay cost us an hour, the cargo still arrived undamaged.
Self-Check
Self-Check
- Does each sentence use the connector that matches the relationship you actually meant, not just the closest-sounding one?
- Did you add a comma when the dependent clause came first, and leave it out when it came second?
- Could you point to the main clause and the dependent clause separately in each sentence?
Next: Writing 5 — writing accurately about past, present, and future events, following Lesson 5.