CLAUSES                                                        

Types of Clauses in English Grammar

What is a clause?

A clause is a part of a sentence.

A clause is a group of words that has subject and predicate. Every complete sentence is made up of at least one or more clause(s). Following are examples of clauses.

John bought a new car. (One sentence, one clause)
John bought a new car, but he is using his old car. (One sentence, two clauses)

Types of Clauses

Every clause has at least a subject and a verb Clauses has some characteristics that help to distinguish one type of clause from another. Types of clauses are:

1.      Independent Clauses (Main Clause)

2.      Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clause)

3.      Relative Clauses (Adjective Clause)

4.      Noun Clauses

 

Types of Clauses

Independent Clauses (Main Clause)

An independent (or main clause) is a complete sentence. It contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought in context and meaning. It expresses a complete thought.

Independent clause structure: Subject + Verb = Complete Thought.

For example, She walked. (This sentence contains only two words but it is still complete because it has subject and predicate)

Main clauses can be joined by a coordinating conjunction to form complex or compound sentences.

COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
and	but	for
nor	or	yet

For example: He bought a new car but he is still using an old one. “but” is used to combine two independent clauses.

 

Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clause)

A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is part of a sentence; it contains a subject and verb but does not convey the complete sense. They can make sense on their own, but, they are dependent on the rest of the sentence for context and meaning. A dependent clause is joined to an independent clause to form a complex sentence. It often starts with a subordinating conjuction.

Subordinating Conjunctions

after	although	as	because
before	even if	even though	if
once	provided that	rather than	so that
since	though	than	that
until	unless	whenever	when
whereas	where	whether	while

Dependent clause structure: 
Subordinate Conjunction + Subject + Verb = Incomplete Thought.

 

 

 

Examples: Whenever I go to the superstore, I buy chips.

Relative Clauses (Adjective Clause)

A relative clause starts with the relative pronoun at the start of the clause like who, which, whose etc. To make a distinction between an antecedent that is a human “who(m)” and an antecedent which is a non-human “which”. Following will make it clear further.

Who(m) is used when an antecedent is a person.
That is used to refer to either a person or thing.
Which is used to refer to anything except a person.

(It is noteworthy that whom is not used much in spoken English.)

Relative Clauses Examples 

§  I met my friends yesterday. The friend, who had curly hair, was very intelligent.

§  The race was the one that I lost.

Restrictive Relative Clauses and Non-Restrictive Relative Clauses

Restrictive relative clauses are sometimes called defining relative clauses or identifying relative clauses. Similarly, non-restrictive relative clauses are called non-defining or non-identifying relative clauses and is preceded by a pause in speech or a comma in writing.

Restrictive Clause Example:

The programmer who develops web applications will make a large profit.

Non-Restrictive Clause Example:

The programmer, who develops web applications, will make a large profit.

	Human	Nonhuman
RESTRICTIVE
Subject	who, that	which
Object	who, whom, that	which
After preposition	whom	which
Possessive	whose, of whom	whose, of which
NON-RESTRICTIVE
which, that	who	which
which, that	who, whom	which
which	whom	which
whose, of which	whose, of whom	whose, of which

Noun Clauses

Noun Clauses: It is a dependent clause that works as a noun. Noun clauses can act as a subject, direct or indirect objects or predicate nominatives. Some examples are as under:-

§  Tell me who left his book on the table. (direct object)

§  I shall tell whoever will listen to my interesting story. (indirect object)

§  Whoever is the last one to leave turns off the lights. (subject)

§  The boy with the curled hair is who I want on my team. (predicate nominative)

Noun clauses often begin with pronouns or other words. That particular word usually has a grammatical function in the sentence.

1.      Relative pronouns: that, what, who, which, whom, whose

2.      Indefinite relative pronouns: whoever, whomever, whatever, whichever, whether, if

3.      Interrogative adjective: what

4.      Interrogative adverb: how

5.      Interrogative pronoun: who

6.      Subordinating conjunctions: whenever, how, when, if, where, whether, why

 

 

 

Isn't it marvelous that a finite system like the English language can be manipulated in an infinite number of ways? Grammar clauses help make this true, and they're particularly helpful for students as they learn more about writing and reading comprehension. Teachers can also focus on clauses to call attention to specific problems in their students' writing. Let's learn about the different types of clauses in grammar and how they work.

Define Clause vs. Phrase

Words and phrases make up clauses. Clauses are units of grammar that contain at least one predicate (verb) and a subject. This makes a clause different than a phrase, because a phrase does not contain a verb and a subject.

In fact, the essential component of a clause is the verb -- and a clause only contains one verb or verb group. A verb group can consist of a single word (such as "played," "cooked," and "swam") or contain helping verbs (as in "will excel" and "has been dreaming").

If we look at a simple sentence, we see it only contains one clause. Here are some examples of simple sentences that consist of just a single clause:

·         Darby played.

·         Jamie cooked the dinner.

·         A man in Cincinnati swam in the river.

·         Sammy will excel on the varsity team.

·         Jennifer has been dreaming during class.

Types of Clauses in Grammar

We'll begin with the two main types of clauses: independent and dependent clauses. Then, we'll dive into the various parts of speech that can also band together to form clauses.

Independent Clauses

An independent clause can stand as a sentence by itself or it can be combined with other clauses. These clauses will always contain a subject and a predicate. They can join with a dependent clause or other independent clauses to make a complex sentence. Here are some examples, with the independent clause in bold:

·         I love opening the windows while the warm breeze blows.

·         Since we enjoyed this book, we'll be sure to pay it forward.

·         She walked to the grocery store to buy a bouquet of flowers.

Dependent Clauses

By itself, a dependent clause can't be considered a sentence. Standing alone, it would be considered a sentence fragment, or an incomplete sentence. It needs to be combined with an independent clause to form a complete thought.

Let's take a look at some examples with the dependent clause in bold:

·         If that's a burrito, I'm having it.

·         He's mean mainly because he's unhappy.

·         Let's go for a walk while the sun's still out.

More specifically, dependent clauses take three forms: adverb clauses, adjective clauses, and noun clauses.

Adverb Clauses

Adverb clauses are groups of words that function like an adverb. They modify verbs, other adverbs, or adjectives. These clauses are typically used to elaborate when, where, why, how, how much, or under what condition the action of the sentence took place.

Here are some example sentences using adverb clauses:

·         Since it's just me, I'll eat in tonight.

·         My dog, although she is shy, loves people.

·         I keep a suitcase packed, in case I find a great flight to Ireland.

For more, explore these Examples of Adverb Clauses.

Adjective Clauses

Adjective clauses are groups of words that modify nouns and pronouns. These clauses tend to begin with pronouns such as:

·         who

·         whose

·         that

·         which

Here are some adjective clauses in sentences:

·         The winners, whose names are posted on the bulletin board, will receive round trip airfare to Mexico City.

·         Money that is well spent will last forever.

·         Exercise, which many people dislike, is good for you.

For a deeper dive, enjoy these Examples of Adjective Clauses.

Noun Clauses

A noun clause is a group of words that band together and act like a noun. Nouns clauses are used when a single word isn't enough. They're always dependent clauses; they cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and they often begin with words like:

·         how

·         that

·         what

·         when

·         where

·         which

·         who

·         why

Here are some sentence examples using noun clauses:

·         How he behaved was not acceptable.

·         She didn't know where she was.

·         Her favorite part of the book was when the dragon turned into a boy.

These clauses are quite common and work well in many types of sentences. For more, be sure to read Noun Clause.

Connecting Independent Clauses

You might've noticed that many clauses can be joined simply by adding a comma. Let's talk about some of the other ways you can connect the various types of clauses. Independent clauses can be connected in several different ways.

Adding a Comma and a Conjunction

One of the best ways to work with a conjunction is to include a comma. This indicates a pause, and then the conjunction can help continue your thought.

·         And - She stepped into the room, twirled around once, and cartwheeled in delight.

·         But - The boy wanted to go to the movies, but he had already spent his allowance.

·         Or - You can start a fire with a lighter, make a wish, or you can use a charcoal chimney starter.

·         Yet - The woman was late for the meeting, yet she still stopped to freshen her lipstick.

·         So - The little girl wanted to please her parents, so she did everything they told her to do.

For more on this, enjoy 8 Times Commas Were Important.

Using a Semicolon

Semicolons are another nice way to indicate a pause while still connecting your thoughts. Semicolons are best suited for joining two independent clauses.

·         I didn't eat the last cookie; I ate the last french fry.

·         That is a rose quartz; it's meant to attract love into your life.

·         She picked up the old postcard; the date matched her wedding anniversary.

·         Today, life begins anew; choose wisely.

·         Cork is a county in Ireland; if you're lucky enough to travel there, you're lucky enough.

Using a Semicolon and a Conjunctive Adverb

Conjunctive adverbs connect two independent clauses or two complete sentences. They work nicely with semicolons because they connect two complete ideas within one sentence. These adverbs help us compare and contrast items, list events, or illustrate cause and effect. Here are some examples:

·         I went to the park; however, the rain dampened my mood.

·         You will enjoy this book; moreover, it will change your life.

·         She was invincible; nevertheless, he tried to steal her joy.

·         He made the wrong move; as a result, she vowed never to see him again.

·         We took a wrong turn; consequently, we lost an hour in our drive time.

·          

·         Connecting Dependent Clauses

Dependent clauses can connect to independent clauses with no punctuation or with a comma. You may want to review 8 Times Commas Were Important. It addresses pertinent times when commas (or their absence) are important. One of the first times they're important is wrapping around clauses. For example:

·         If you're going to cry about it, I'm leaving.

·         I'd like to make it clear that, while I understand your concern, you are abjectly wrong.

·         She was tired, despite her best efforts, and oh so disappointed.

Here are example sentences where a comma isn't necessary:

·         He's leaving because you're crying.

·         Life is not worth living without a wish in your heart.

·         I know it'll happen since we've been working so hard.

The more you read, the more you write, and the more commas around clauses will flow naturally for you.

Importance of Clauses (EXTRA HELP)

By using clauses correctly, you can quickly improve the quality of your writing as well as your ability to communicate with an audience. Clauses can help you direct the attention of the reader so that your sentence is understood. Proper usage will also help you avoid dreaded sentence fragments.

Of course, the opposite of a sentence fragment is a run-on sentence. This is a sentence that's missing appropriate punctuation and, perhaps, has too many clauses. Take a look at Run-on Sentences to learn more about the components of a sentence.

 

A clause is a group of words that contains a verb (and usually other components too). A clause may form part of a sentence or it may be a complete sentence in itself. For example:

He was eating a bacon sandwich.

[clause]

 

She had a long career	but she is remembered mainly for one early work.
[clause]	[clause]

Main clause

Every sentence contains at least one main clause. A main clause may form part of a compound sentence  or a complex sentence, but it also makes sense on its own, as in this example:

He was eating a bacon sandwich.

[main clause]

 

Compound sentences are made up of two or more main clauses linked by a conjunction such as, and, but, or so, as in the following examples:

I love sport	and	I’m captain of the local football team.
[main clause]	[conjunction]	[main clause]

 

She was born in Spain	but	her mother is Polish.
[main clause]	[conjunction]	[main clause]

Subordinate clause

A subordinate clause depends on a main clause for its meaning. Together with a main clause, a subordinate clause forms part of a complex sentence. Here are two examples of sentences containing subordinate clauses:

After we had had lunch,	we went back to work.
[subordinate clause]	[main clause]

 

I first saw her in Paris,	where I lived in the early nineties.
[main clause]	[subordinate clause]

 There are two main types of subordinate clause: conditional clauses and relative clauses.

Conditional clause

A conditional clause is one that usually begins with if or unless and describes something that is possible or probable:

If it looks like rain	a simple shelter can be made out of a plastic sheet
[conditional clause]	[main clause]

 

I'll be home tomorrow	unless the plane's delayed for hours.
[main clause]	[conditional clause]

Relative clause

A relative clause is one connected to a main clause by a word such as which, that, whom, whose, when, where, or who:

I first saw her in Paris,	where I lived in the early nineties.
[main clause]	[relative clause]

 

She wants to be with Thomas,	who is best suited to take care of her.
[main clause]	[relative clause]

 

I was wearing the dress	that I bought to wear to Jo's party.
[main clause]	[relative clause]

Using relative clauses

Have you ever wondered about when to use that and when to use which or who in this type of sentence? In fact, for much of the time that is interchangeable with either of these words. For example:

√ You’re the only person who has ever listened to me.

√ You’re the only person that has ever listened to me.

√ It’s a film that should be seen by everyone.

√ It’s a film which should be seen by everyone

When referring to something, rather than someone, that tends to be the usual choice in everyday writing and conversation in British English. However, there is one main case when you should not use that to introduce a relative clause. This is related to the fact that there are two types of relative clause: a restrictive relative clause and a non-restrictive relative clause.

Restrictive relative clause

A restrictive relative clause (also known as a defining relative clause) gives essential information about a noun that comes before it: without this clause the sentence wouldn’t make much sense. A restrictive relative clause can be introduced by that, which, whose, who, or whom. You should not place a comma in front of a restrictive relative clause:

√ She held out the hand	which was hurt.
√ She held out the hand	that was hurt.
[main clause]	[restrictive relative clause]

 

You can also leave out that or which in some restrictive relative clauses:

√ It reminded him of the house	that he used to rent in Oxford.
√ It reminded him of the house	which he used to rent in Oxford.
√ It reminded him of the house	he used to rent in Oxford.
[main clause]	[restrictive relative clause]

Non-restrictive relative clause

A non-restrictive relative clause (also called a non-defining relative clause) provides extra information that could be left out without affecting the meaning or structure of the sentence. Non-restrictive relative clauses are normally introduced by which, whose, who, or whom, but never by that. You should place a comma in front of them:

She held out her hand,	which Rob shook.
[main clause]	[non-restrictive relative clause]

 

If a non-restrictive relative clause is in the middle of a sentence, you should put commas before and after it:

Bill,	who had fallen asleep on the sofa,	suddenly roused himself.
	[non-restrictive relative clause]