Language is a beautifully complex system, and understanding its building blocks is key to both appreciating its artistry and mastering its use. One of those fundamental building blocks is the clause. Perhaps you’ve heard the term before, or maybe you’re just beginning your exploration of grammar. Either way, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will explore everything you need to know about clauses, from their basic definition to more nuanced applications, with plenty of examples along the way.
What is a Clause? A Simple Definition
At its core, a clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. This combination creates a statement, question, command, or exclamation. Essentially, it’s a mini‑sentence, though not all clauses can stand alone as complete sentences.
Here are a couple of quick examples:
- I sing Subject: I, Verb: sing
- The dog barked Subject: The dog, Verb: barked
These are complete clauses because they form complete thoughts. But there’s more to the story.
Types of Clauses
Clauses aren’t all created equal. They fall into two main categories: independent clauses and dependent clauses. Understanding the difference is crucial.
Independent Clauses
An independent clause (also called a main clause) expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. It’s self‑sufficient.
Example:
She loves to read novels.
This clause has a subject (she) and a verb (loves) and conveys a complete thought. You could easily end a conversation with that sentence.
Dependent Clauses
A dependent clause (also called a subordinate clause) cannot stand alone as a sentence. It contains a subject and a verb, but it begins with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun, which makes it reliant on an independent clause to complete its meaning.
Example:
Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
The phrase “Because it was raining” has a subject (it) and a verb (was raining), but it begins with the subordinating conjunction “because”. It leaves you hanging – you want to know what happened because it was raining. This clause needs to be connected to an independent clause to make a complete thought.
Subordinating Conjunctions and Relative Pronouns
Let’s explore what makes a clause dependent. These are the common culprits:
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
- after
- although
- as
- because
- before
- if
- since
- though
- unless
- until
- when
- while
Common Relative Pronouns
- who
- whom
- whose
- which
- that
These words signal the beginning of a dependent clause, indicating it needs to be connected to an independent clause to form a complete thought.
Combining Clauses: Complex and Compound Sentences
Knowing how to combine clauses allows you to create more complex and interesting sentences.
Complex Sentences
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
Example:
Although it was late, we decided to watch a movie.
Here, “Although it was late” is the dependent clause and “we decided to watch a movie” is the independent clause. They are connected by the subordinating conjunction “although”.
Compound Sentences
A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or a semicolon.
Example:
The sun was shining, and the birds were singing.
Both “The sun was shining” and “the birds were singing” are independent clauses, connected by the coordinating conjunction “and”.
Compound‑Complex Sentences
A compound‑complex sentence combines elements of both. It contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
Example:
Because the weather was beautiful, we went for a walk, and we saw many flowers.
Here, “Because the weather was beautiful” is a dependent clause, while “we went for a walk” and “we saw many flowers” are independent clauses, connected by “and”.
More Examples to Illustrate
Let’s look at a few more sentences broken down to show the clauses:
- If you study hard, you will succeed. (Dependent clause + Independent clause)
- She went to the store, but she didn’t buy anything. (Independent clause + Coordinating conjunction + Independent clause)
- The book that I borrowed from the library is fascinating. (Independent clause + Relative clause “that I borrowed from the library”)
- Since it started to rain, we decided to stay inside, and we played board games. (Dependent clause + Independent clause + Coordinating conjunction + Independent clause)
- He is a talented musician who plays the piano beautifully. (Independent clause + Relative clause)
Noun, Adjective, and Adverb Clauses
Dependent clauses can function as different parts of speech within a sentence, adding another layer of complexity.
Noun Clauses
A noun clause functions as a noun – it can be the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.
Example: What she said surprised everyone.
Here, “What she said” is the subject of the sentence.
Adjective Clauses
An adjective clause modifies a noun or pronoun, similar to an adjective.
Example: The woman who lives next door is a doctor.
“Who lives next door” modifies “woman”.
Adverb Clauses
An adverb clause modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, telling how, when, where, why, or to what extent.
Example: She ran because she was late.
“Because she was late” modifies the verb “ran”, explaining why she ran.
Understanding clauses is essential for clear communication and effective writing. It allows you to build complex sentences, convey nuanced meaning, and express yourself with greater precision. By mastering the different types of clauses and how they function, you’ll unlock a deeper appreciation for the artistry of language and enhance your ability to use it with confidence and skill.