Clause
Meaning and Definition
A clause is a combination of words that makes up a sentence. It consists of a subject and a predicate. It can also be said that a clause should have a subject and a verb. Now, take a look at the definitions of clauses given by different dictionaries to understand what a clause is.
According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, a clause is defined as “a group of words that includes a subject and a verb, and forms a sentence or part of a sentence.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a clause as “a group of words, consisting of a subject and a finite form of a verb.” “A clause is a group of words containing a verb”, according to the Collins Dictionary. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a clause is defined as “a group of words containing a subject and predicate and functioning as a member of a complex or compound sentence
Types of Clauses
According to how a clause behaves in a sentence, they can be classified into two types. They are:
Main Clause or Independent Clause
– A main clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. It is one that can stand alone and makes complete sense. That is why it is called an independent clause.
Subordinate Clause or Dependent Clause
–A subordinate clause is a group of words that consists of a subject, a verb and a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. Unlike main clauses, subordinate clauses cannot stand alone or convey complete meaning when taken separately from the sentence it is a part of. Dependent clauses can be divided into types based on their function. The types of dependent clauses are noun clauses, adjective clauses, adverb clauses, conditional clauses, relative clauses, comparative clauses, verbless clauses and complementary clauses.
Examples of How to Use a Clause in a Sentence
Clauses can be placed in the different parts of a sentence. Take a look at the following examples to understand how clauses are formed and can be used.
Examples of Independent Clauses
I know how to drive a car, but I enjoy riding bikes.
Today is Wednesday.
I was not keeping well, so I took a day off work.
When I met you, I did not think we would get this close. It was my sister’s birthday yesterday; however, she did not want to celebrate.
Examples of Dependent Clauses
After we reached home, we watched a movie.
Everybody knows the boy who won the Best Outgoing Student Award. My mom asked me to call her as soon as I boarded the bus. While we were waiting at the bus stop, we saw a monkey snatching a snack from a little boy. Though Malcom did not find the movie interesting, he stayed until the end of the movie.