cases theyhaveto be kept together or the sense is lost. Some
examples are:
clear off clear up fall over fly away
kick off jump up pick up run away
throw away
Hejumped up in alarm.
Shethrew away the wrapping paper.
When the babyfell over, she cried.
The boyran away from school.Identifying main clauses
A simple sentence contains onemain clausewhich can be
constructed in various ways. However, it must contain only
one finite verb. A main clause can be constructed in various
ways. Some are suggested below.
Subject and finite verb
It (subject) rained (finite verb).Subject, finite verb and direct object
Kay (subject) watched (finite verb) television (direct
object).Subject, finite verb, indirect object and direct object
His parents (subject) gave (finite verb) Brian (ind. object)
a bike (dir. object).LEARNING ABOUT SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION / 35