What is a Clause?
According to the definition of a Clause - A Clause is a pair or group of words that consists of a subject and a predicate (verb). In other words, All Clauses in English have at least two parts: a noun phrase and a verb phrase.
Noun phrase (subject) |
Verb phrase (predicate) |
The children |
cried. |
All the people in the train |
were watching. |
A Clause is the basic unit of English grammar as it functions as a part or all of a complete sentence.
I. Independent Clause – It is a group of words with a subject and verb that can stand alone and make sense. These Clauses expresses a complete thought. They are also known as Main Clause or Principal Clause.
Examples
II. Dependent Clause – It is a group of words with a subject and verb that depends on the Main Clause to give it meaning. These are also known as Subordinate Clause.
Examples of Dependent Clause:
Dependent Clause can be called Adverb or Adverbial Clause if it expresses when, where, why, and how something occurs.
Examples of Adverb or Adverbial Clause:
Types of Dependent Clauses - Dependent Clauses can function as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs:
a) Noun Clause - A Noun Clause performs the work of a noun in a sentence. A Noun Clause can replace any noun in a sentence, functioning as a subject, object, or complement. Noun clauses usually begin with words like how, why, what, where, when, who, that, which, whose, whether, etc. Also words like whoever, whenever, whatever and wherever.
Examples of Noun Clause: The words in Bold are Noun Clauses.
b) Adjective / Adjectival Clause - An Adjective Clause takes the place of an adjective in another clause or phrase. Like an adjective, an Adjective Clause modifies a noun or pronoun, answering questions like "which?" or "what kind of? It will contain a subject and verb. It generally begins with a relative pronoun like who, whom, whose, that, or a relative adverb like - which, when, where, or why. Adjective Clause is also known as Relative Clause when it begins with which, where, when, and why.
Examples of Adjective Clause - The words in Bold are Adjective Clause.
Types of Adjective / Adjectival Clause - Adjectival Clause can be either Restrictive or Non-restrictive.
i) Restrictive Clause – These are also known defining, essential or supplementary Clauses. A restrictive clause provides essential information about the subject of a sentence: it restricts the meaning of a sentence by identifying the specific qualities of the noun or pronoun. A Restrictive Clause begins with a relative pronoun like that or who or sometimes which. A Restrictive clause is not offset with commas.
Examples - The words in Bold are Restrictive Clause.
ii) Non-restrictive Clause – They are also known as non-defining, nonessential or supplementary Clauses. Non-restrictive clauses provide descriptive information that isn't essential to the meaning of the sentence. Non-Restrictive Clauses are enclosed with commas. A Non-restrictive Clause begins with a relative pronoun like which or who. It adds extra information about an already-specific noun.
Examples: The words in Bold are Non-restrictive Clause.