While learning English grammar, clauses are the primary topic and the first step towards understanding the language rules before you delve into the complex topics. Thus, Clauses in English Grammar plays an important role in making the sentences more meaningful and understandable. However, if you are burning the midnight oil to bifurcate, which sentences are phrases and clauses? Then, we are here to guide you. Therefore, read our blog to explore what are clauses, their types, how they work with other parts of speech and more. Also, solve the worksheet in the end to clear all your doubts. So let’s get started.
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Clause is a group of words that comprise a subject and a verb. Additionally, they are a fundamental part of English grammar. Clauses describe a state of a being or an action in a sentence and convey information about what the subject is doing.
For example: -
The brown squirrel flitted up a tree.
In this example subject of the clause is “brown squirrel” and the verb is “flitted”.
Also, it can be created alone as a complete sentence or can be connected to others to make a meaningful sentence. Thus, you can consider clauses as building blocks for framing a sentence.
Hence, this was the clauses meaning that you might have understood. Now, let’s move to the next section to explore its types briefly.
It is crucial to understand how clause performs in a sentence. It can be classified by understanding the two types of clauses that is
These two types acts differently on its place. Let's comprehend these two types of Clauses along with its examples in detail through the next section. So, let's move ahead.
The foremost type of clause is the Independent clause (Main Clause). It is a collection of words containing a subject and a verb. This main clause can be stand-alone and form a single meaningful sentence. Hence, it functions as a separate sentence on its own. That is why it is called an independent clause. Let's understand the clause examples mentioned below.
As you have evaluated, independent clauses are not so long and complex. However, it can be complex in certain sentences at that time it will be define as simple sentence. Thus, you can use two main clauses together.
This is all about the independent clause (main clause). Let's have a glimpse of dependent clauses in the next part.
Another clause type is the dependent clause (Subordinate clause), which is also a group of words consisting of subjects, verbs, and a relative pronounce or subordinating conjunction. However, just like the main clause, this subordinate clause doesn't convey the complete meaning of the sentence. That is why it cannot stand alone and needs an independent clause to make a complete sentence. Or you can say it depends on the independent clauses to express the meaning and idea of a sentence. To understand it more clearly have a look at the clauses examples given below.
This is the incomplete sentences, right? So, to turn this subordinate clause into a proper sentence, you need to assimilate it with the main clause.
These are examples of dependent clauses being used in sentences. A dependent clause can't stand alone—it needs an independent clause to complete the meaning.
Also, remember this rule: if a dependent clause comes before the main sentence, use a comma to separate them.
This is what we call a subordinate clause. It's simple to use and works with other grammar rules like tenses.
Now, let's see how it fits with other part of speech in English!
Clauses play different roles in English grammar. They can function as nouns, adverbs, adjectives, relatives, conditionals, and even coordinate structures. But how does each type work? Let's explore their meanings and see examples to understand them better.
A noun clause is a set of words that acts like a noun in a specific sentence. It reflects the name of a thing, place, person, idea, etc. However, it cannot stand alone to make a complete sentence. For that, they depend on the main clause to make a sentence meaningful. It acts as a subject, object, and complement of the verb. Also, the noun clause begins with "what", "that", "who" or "whether".
Example – What he said surprised everyone
"What he said" – subject in the example, work as noun clause (dependent clause)
"Surprised everyone" – object and independent clause used to complete the sentence.
An adverbial clause is a group of words that describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It tells us when, how, where, why, or under what conditions something happens. These clauses usually begin with subordinating conjunctions, and they need an independent clause to make a complete sentence. Also, the adverbial clause begins with "where," "when," "because," "since," "as," "although," "if," "after," "before," "so that," "until," "while," "once," "unless," "that" and "how,".
Example - When the rain stopped, we went outside to play
"When the rain stopped" – Adverbial clauses (dependent clause)
"We went outside to play" – independent clause used to make it complete.
The adjective clause is a dependent clause that acts as an adjective and assists in providing information regarding the noun and pronoun in a sentence. Moreover, adjective clause usually begin with a relative pronunciation such as" "whom," "whose," who," "which," "that," or "where" to pair to the noun its specifics.
Example - The van that is parked in the driveway is mine
here "That is parked in the driveway" is an adjective clause; inline, it defines the noun "van". It works as an adjective to express which car we are talking about.
The relative clause is a kind of subordinating clause that functions like an adjective. It helps to modify nouns and pronouns. Thus, the relative clause begins with the "who," "whose," "whom" "which," or "that,".
Example – The novel that I brought is interesting and motivational
"That I brought" is a relative clause
Here, this part of the sentence is the relative clause that provides additional details about the noun "book." Hence, it expresses which novel the speaker prefers to read.
The conditional clauses are used to provide information regarding the condition and its significance. It is also known as "if clauses," which are subordinate clauses that can't stand alone in making a complete sentence. The conditional clauses mostly start with the "unless" and "if".
Example – If it rains, the road trip will be cancelled.
"If it rains" - this is a conditional clause that expresses the condition and also acts as a dependent clause.
"The road trip will be cancelled" – It is the main clause used to complete the sentence.
The coordinate clause is a sort of independent clause that can stand alone and make a meaningful sentence. Hence, it expresses the complete idea of the sentence, and by using two main clauses, you can make a whole sentence. Thus, the coordination clause begins with "for," "nor," "or," "yet," "and," "but," and "so,".
Example- He enjoys watching movies, and she prefers reading books
"He enjoys watching movies".
"She prefers reading books".
Both are coordinate clauses combined by adding "and." Thus, each coordinate clause can stand alone.
These are the types of clause that are used differently in the English grammar. Thus, use these clauses in your sentences carefully to express the right meaning and make it significant. Now, let's move ahead and understand how to combine the clauses.
When writing a sentence containing two or more independent clauses, you must have combined them by using any conjunction to form a proper verdict. Right? If yes, then always keep in mind that every sentence includes at least one independent clause. So that other sentences can express how you combined the second sentence with the first sentence.
Therefore, a sentence encompassing two or more independent clauses is called a compound sentence. In this type of sentence formation, clauses are connected by a comma and linked with a coordinating conjunction, colon, or semicolon. This type of combination is recognized as coordination.
Additionally, when all the clauses are independent clauses, you can join them by using “coordinating conjunction”. These coordinating conjunctions are:
Let’s understand with the clauses examples combine with the coordinating conjunctions.
In this way, you can combine independent clauses with dependent clauses. Thus, you can practice this by solving the clauses worksheet from the next section. So let’s have a look.
For each sentence, identify if the clause is independent (I) or dependent (D).
In short, clauses are a collection of words consisting of subjects and verbs. Clauses are the fundamental part of English grammar and are usually learned before moving on to topics like tenses, nouns, and adverbs. There are two types of clauses: independent and dependent. One can stand alone and form a complete sentence, while the other one requires an independent clause to make a complete sentence. Thus, we hope this guide might have cleared all your doubts, but if you want to learn another part of speech, like future tense. Then you connect to Gradding.com as experts here will guide you to become proficient.
Clauses are a group of nouns consisting of subjects and verbs. Moreover, it is an essential building block of sentences used to make meaningful sentences. Its example is the cat sat on the mat; here, the cat is the subject and sat is the verb.
The simple way to identify the clause is by its core components that is the subject and verb.
A clause is a collection of words that requires a subject and verb; on the other hand, a phrase is a group of words that don't have both a subject and verb. Look at the example.
Clause – She ran to the shop (she is an object, and ran is a verb)
Phrase – Running to the shop (no subject is doing any action here)
Independent clauses can stand alone and form a complete sentence, such as "I like baking." On the other hand, a dependent clause makes sentences that are not completely thoughtful and can't stand alone. For example, "When I grow up" is a dependent clause that will be completed like this: "When I grow up, I want to become a doctor. "Thus, to complete a sentence, an independent clause is required.
Yes, a sentence can have more than one clause. It can contain one independent clause with one or more dependent clauses, forming a complex or compound-complex sentence. For example: I stayed home because it was raining, but my friends went out.
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