A clause is a part of a sentence. There are two main types: independent (main clauses), dependent (subordinate clauses).
Independent Clauses
An independent clause is a complete sentence; it contains a
subject and verb and expresses a complete thought in both context and
meaning.
For example: The door opened.
Independent clauses can be joined by a coordinating conjunction to form complex or compound sentences.
Independent Clauses |
||
---|---|---|
and | but | for |
or | nor | so |
yet |
For example: Take two independent clauses and join them together with the conjunction and: " The door opened." "The man walked in." = The door opened and the man walked in.\
Dependent Clauses
A dependent (subordinate) clause is part of a sentence; it
contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought.
They can make sense on their own, but, they are dependent on the rest of
the sentence for context and meaning. They are usually joined to an
independent clause to form a complex sentence.
Dependent clauses often begin with a a subordinating
conjunction or relative pronoun (see below) that makes the clause unable
to stand alone.
after | although | as | because |
---|---|---|---|
before | even if | even though | if |
in order that | once | provided that | rather than |
since | so that | than | that |
though | unless | until | when |
whenever | where | whereas | wherever |
whether | while | why |
Relative Pronouns |
||
---|---|---|
that | which | whichever |
who | whoever | whom |
whose | whosever | whomever |
For example:
The door opened because the man pushed it.
A nominal clause (noun
clause) functions like a noun or noun phrase. It is a group of words
containing a subject and a finite verb of its own and contains one of
the following: that | if | whether
For example:
- I wondered whether the homework was necessary. Noun clauses answer questions like "who(m)?" or "what?"
An adverbial clause (adverb clause) is a word or expression in the sentence that functions as an adverb; that is, it tells you something about how the action in the verb was done. An adverbial clause is separated from the other clauses by any of the following subordinating conjunctions: after | although | as | because | before | if | since | that | though | till | unless | until | when | where | while
For example:
- They will visit you before they go to the airport.
Adverbial clauses can also be placed before the main clause without changing
the meaning.
For example:
- Before they go to the airport, they will visit you.
!Note - When an adverb clause introduces the sentence (as this one does), it is set off with a comma.
Adverb clauses answer questions like "when?", "where?", "why?"
An adjectival clause
(adjective clause or relative clause) does the work of an adjective and
describes a noun, it's usually introduced by a relative pronoun: who | whom | whose | that | which
For example:
- I went to the show that was very popular.
This kind of clause is used to provide extra information about
the noun it follows. This can be to define something (a defining
clause), or provide unnecessary, but interesting, added information (a
non-defining clause).
For example:
- The car that is parked in front of the gates will be towed away. (Defining relative clause.)
Information contained in the defining relative clause is
absolutely essential in order for us to be able to identify the car in
question.
- My dog, who is grey and white, chased the postman. ( Non-defining relative clause)
A non-defining relative clause is separated from the rest of
the sentence by commas. If you take away the non-defining clause the
basic meaning of the sentence remains intact.
For example:
- My dog chased the postman.
Adjective clauses answer questions like "which?" or "what kind of?"