1. Clause
Clause Definition
A clause consists of a subject and a verb and is the smallest grammatical unit that expresses a thought.
What is a Clause in a Sentence?
In its simplest form, a clause in grammar is a subject plus a verb. The subject is the entity “doing” the action of the sentence and the verb is the action that subject completes. A clause creates a complete thought (an idea or a statement that can stand alone).
Kinds of Clause
1. Main or Independent Clause
Main or independent clause is a clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
Example:
S+V
- Harry eat pizza
- Zayn speak loudly
- The teacher asked me a question
2. Subordinate or Dependant Clause
Dependent clauses contain a subject and verb. However, they cannot stand alone as an independent thought. They must be joined with an independent clause to be grammatically correct.
Example:
- He likes Chinese rice which tastes good.
The clause “which tastes good” in above sentence is a subordinate clause because it does not express complete thought and can’t stand as a sentence. It depends on main clause (he likes Chinese rise) to express complete thought.
- I met the boy who had helped me.
- The teacher asked a question but no one answered.
3. Noun Clause
Noun clause is a type of dependent clause that acts as a noun in the sentence. A noun clause will always contain a subject and a verb. However, it cannot stand alone as a complete thought. A noun clause works as a noun that acts as a subject, object, or predicate in a sentence. A noun clause starts with words “that, what, whatever, who, whom, whoever, whomever”.
Example:
- What you said made me laugh.
- He knows that he will pass the test.
4. Adjective Clause
“A dependent clause that functions as an adjective in a sentence is called adjective clause.”
An adjective clause works like adjective in a sentence. The function of an adjective is to modify (describe) a noun or a pronoun. Similarly a noun clause modifies a noun or a pronoun.
An adjective clause works like adjective in a sentence. The function of an adjective is to modify (describe) a noun or a pronoun. Similarly a noun clause modifies a noun or a pronoun.
Relative Pronoun List:
- that
- where
- who
- whom
- which
Relative Adverbs List:
- when
- where
- why
Example:
- An apple that smells bad is rotten.
- The book which I like is helpful in preparation for test.
- The house where I live consists of four rooms.
- The book which I like is helpful in preparation for test.
- The house where I live consists of four rooms.
5. Adverbial Clause
An adverb clause like an adverb modifies a verb, adjective clause or other adverb clause in a sentence. It modifies(describes) the situation in main clause in terms of “time, frequency (how often), cause and effect, contrast, condition, intensity (to what extent).”
The subordinating conjunctions used for adverb clauses are as follows.
Time: when, whenever, since, until, before, after, while, as, by the time, as soon as
Cause and effect: because, since, now that, as long as, so, so that,
Contrast: although, even, whereas, while, though
Condition: if, unless, only if, whether or not, even if, providing or provided that, in case
Example:
- Don’t go before he comes.
- He takes medicine because he is ill.
- Although he tried a lot, he couldn’t climb up the tree.
- Unless you study for the test, you can’t pass it.
- Don’t go before he comes.
- He takes medicine because he is ill.
- Although he tried a lot, he couldn’t climb up the tree.
- Unless you study for the test, you can’t pass it.
2. Sentences
Kinds of Sentences
A. Simple Sentence
A simple sentence is consists of just one independent clause.
Example:
- The boys are singing
- The cat purred
- She read a lot of novels
B. Compound Sentence
A compound sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses. Compound sentence consists of two simple clauses connected by the coordinating conjunction (for, and , nor, but, so, yet) conjunctive adverb (e.g. however, therefore), or semicolon alone.
Example:
- He took the test several times but he couldn’t pass.
- He is famous, yet he is very humble.
- She was angry, still she kept her cool.
C. Complex Sentence
A complex sentence is a sentence that contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
Example:
- While he waited at the train station, Joe realized that the train was late.
- Wherever you go, you can always find beauty.
- The museum was very interesting, as I expected.
-After twenty years, he still had feelings for her.
D. Compound-Complex Sentence
Compound complex sentence is made up of more than one sentence joined by a conjunction, and at least one of those sentence is complex. In other words, it is a compound sentence with a dependent, or subordinate clause.
Example:
- When I grow up, I want to be a ballerina, and my mom is proud of me.
- Sarah cried when her cat got sick, but he soon got better.
- When I grow up, I want to be a ballerina, and my mom is proud of me
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