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We need clauses. We need them to express our thoughts, and we need them to express our
feelings. We need them to say things like, 'That lasagna we had last night was delicious' or 'Gary
should join the choir, no matter what his friends say.' We need clauses to express our likes and
dislikes. We need them to say things like 'I love a good curry, especially with coconut milk' or
'Ghost stories are a lot of fun, if you tell them late at night with the lights off.' We need clauses to
express ourselves, and communicate that expression to others.
A clause is a group of related words containing a subject that tells readers what the
sentence is about, and a verb that tells readers what the subject is doing. A clause comes in four
types; independent, dependent, relative or noun clause.
Types of clauses
In English grammar we learn the rules that govern the art of putting words together.
Words are grouped together to express the ideas that we wish to convey to our
audience or our readers.
There are various groups of words that are known by different names. We call them
sentences, clauses, and phrases. Within these groups, there are different kinds of
sentences, clauses, and phrases. Well focus on clauses and consider the different
types of clauses.
A clause is a group of words consisting of a subject and a predicate.
A predicate is the other major part of a sentence (or a clause) after the subject. It
modifies the subject, and it includes the verb, the objects, and any phrases governed
by the verb.
Sometimes, a clause is a sentence. Often, it forms part of a sentence.
Under each of the following subheadings, you will find a sentence or sentences that
will be used to identify the various clauses.
The independent clause, the main clause, the verb clause, and the coordinate
clause
I returned my library book before I could incur a fine, but my sister returned her book
after she received an overdue notification.
The independent clause (a verb clause) can stand on its own as a complete sentence:
I returned my library book
The main clause of this compound-complex sentence is the independent clause:
I returned my library book
The coordinate clause (also a verb clause) is an independent clause that can stand as
the equivalent to the main clause:
my sister returned her book
The coordinating conjunction but alerts us to the presence of a coordinate clause:
but my sister returned her book
The subordinating conjunctions before and after, in this example, introduce us to the
subordinate clauses. If a clause begins with a subordinating word, it cannot be an
independent clause.
Besides a subordinating conjunction, the other subordinating word that introduces a
subordinate clause is the relative pronoun (that, which, who, whom, whose).
Justin wrote a short story for his friend who was ill in hospital.
Justin wrote a short story for Ryan, who was ill in hospital.
In these two examples, we have the same subordinate clause introduced by the relative
pronounwho: who was ill in hospital.
Later, well use these two sentences again to see the difference between them.
In this instance, the sentential clause modifies all that precedes it, not merely a single
word. It is sentential. It relates to a sentence.
The verb had dropped was omitted in the second independent clause, but the meaning
is obvious. The second clause is an elliptical clause.
The following example has an elliptical subordinate clause. The missing words are
italicized in the repetition below.
Although sometimes nervous about knitting, Emma produced work that won prizes.
Although she was sometimes nervous about knitting, Emma produced work that won
prizes.
subject complements;
3.
direct objects;
4.
object complements;
5.
indirect objects;
6.
appositives;
7.
prepositional complements;
8.
3.
Emmas problem was that she doubted her abilities. (as subject complement or
predicate nominative);
Ryan did not know that Justin was a good writer. (as direct object);
4.
Justin considers his greatest challenge that a blank page terrifies him. (as object
complement);
5.
Have you given how you want to propose to Heather any thought? (as indirect
object);
6.
The problem, that you dont know how to propose to Heather, is affecting you.
(as appositive);
7.
Emma is thinking about what the judges said of her work. (as prepositional
complement or object of a preposition);
6
8.
Heather is sad that Ryan does not know how to propose to her. (as adjectival
phrase complement)
10.
11.
Washington, D. C., which was not the first capital of the United States, has
been the seat of Congress for more than two hundred years. (modifying
Washington, D.C.)
12.
13.
14.
If you remember this, you will easily identify an adverbial clause, especially as
you find it modifying a verb in the main clause of a sentence.
15.
16.
17.
You may play computer games when you have finished your assignment.
(adverbial clause of time modifying the verb play in the main clause; some
other subordinating conjunctions introducing adverbial clauses of time
are before, after, while, since, whenever, as);
7
18.
19.
Justin put the story where Ryan could find it. (adverbial clause of place
modifying the verb putin the main clause; wherever is another subordinating
conjunction introducing adverbial clauses of place);
20.
21.
Justin outlined his story beforehand so that he could write it more easily.
(adverbial clause of purpose modifying the verb outlined in the main clause; so
that and in order that introduce adverbial clauses of purpose);
22.
23.
24.
A strong wind raged through the valley so that the fire became difficult to
control. (adverbial clause of result or consequence modifying the verb raged in
the main clause);
25.
Emma is such a modest girl that she will not boast of her abilities. (adverbial
clause of result or consequence modifying the adjective modest in the main
clause);
26.
27.
28.
29.
If the wind blows too strongly, it will not be safe on the lake. (adverbial clause
of condition modifying the [adverb] adjective [not] safe in the main clause;
some other subordinating conjunctions introducing adverbial clauses of
condition are whether and unless);
30.
31.
For Heather, it was later than Ryan had thought. (adverbial clause of
comparison of degree modifying the adjective later in the main clause);
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
Identifying clauses