A Comprehensive Guide from Primary to Master level Clauses in English

 

A Comprehensive Guide from Primary to Master level Clauses in English

 

 

 

 

 

The English language is full of clauses that both native and non-native speakers should master in order to effectively communicate. Clauses are fundamental units of any language and mastering them can help you to better understand and use English. In this comprehensive guide, we will explain the definition and examples of a clause, types of clauses, how to combine clauses, and other tips to help you understand and use them in English. So, let's get started! 

 

Definition of Clause 

A clause contains a subject and a predicate. A clause can function as a sentence on its own, or it can be part of a larger sentence. 

Example

 "I like to play cricket" is a clause because it contains a subject ("I") and a predicate ("like to play cricket"). 

         

·             The dog ran through the park. "The dog" is the subject, and "ran through the park" is the predicate. 

·             Because it was raining, we stayed inside. "Because it was raining" is a clause with the subject "it" and predicate "was raining", and "we stayed inside" is another clause with subject "we" and predicate "stayed inside". 

 

 

  

Classification of clauses in English  

 Clauses can be classified into several types depending on how they are structured. Learning to classify, identify and use these three types of clauses is a key step in mastering the English language. With a little practice, you will be able to use clauses confidently and accurately in your writing and speech. Let’s explore its types. So In English, there are four types of clauses:

·          independent,

·           dependent,

·           Relative

·           noun  

 

Ø  Independent clauses are complete sentences in themselves and make sense on their own. They have a verb, a subject, and a predicate, and can be combined with other independent clauses using the conjunctions, like “and”, “but”, or “or”. 

Ø  Dependent clauses, also known as subordinate clauses, are incomplete ideas and cannot make sense on their own. To make sense, they must be combined with an independent clause. Dependent clauses are introduced by subordinate conjunctions, such as “since”, “although”, and “because”. 

Ø  Relative clauses are clauses that describe or modify a noun or pronoun in the same sentence. They are expressed by relative pronouns, such as “whom”, “which”, and “that”.  

 

 

Independent Clauses 

 

Independent Clauses are the most basic type of clause in English. They are complete, stand-alone units of idea that can convey meaning completely. They contain a subject and a verb, and convey a complete thought. Examples of independent clauses include:

·         I went to the store.

·         She sang a song

·         The cat ran away.

 Independent clauses can be combined with other clauses by using conjunctions like 'and' or 'but' to form compound or complex sentences. 

 

Subordinate Clauses 

 

Subordinate clauses, also known as dependent clauses, are clauses that are unable to stand alone as a complete sentence but still contain a subject and a verb. These types of clauses are dependent on another clause to make complete sense. Subordinate clauses are typically introduced by a subordinating conjunction, such as “because”, “although”, “if”, “when”, and “since”.

 

 Examples:

 “I will leave the office when I hang up the phone. The clause “when I hang up the phone " is incomplete and need further information to make sense. By combining main and subordinate clauses, the sentences become more complex, complete and interesting to the reader.  

 

 

 

Classification of subordinate clauses

 

Subordinate clauses have three basic types:  

·             adverbial clauses 

·             adjective clauses 

·             (Noun) nominal clauses. 

 

 

Adjective Clauses

 

 

The adjective clause is a clause that modifies or clarifies a noun or pronoun in the main clause. They are used when more information or clarification is needed in a sentence. Adjective clauses can be found in just about any sentence, and it is important to be able to identify them and understand how to use them correctly.

 

An adjective clause is usually composed of a relative pronoun (which, that, who, whom, whose, and sometimes, when and where). It usually modifies or describes a noun or pronoun in the main clause, but it can also modify a phrase or provide additional information.  

 

Examples:

 

 

·          The book that she was reading was quite interesting. (modifies “book”) 

 

·          I grew up in a house which was the on the other side of town. (modifies “house”) 

 

·          My mom, whom I admire, is a teacher. (modifies “Mom”) 

 

In each of these examples mentioned, the adjective clause is providing more information and clarification about the noun or pronoun that it is modifying.  

 

 

Adverbial Clauses

 

Adverbial clauses are one of the most commonly used types of clauses in English. An adverbial clause can be used to modify a sentence by providing additional context or to answer questions such as when, why, how, etc.  

 

Example:

While I was going to the market, I saw an injured dog on the road. 

In this sentence, the adverbial clause “while I was going to the market” modifies the main clause by providing the additional context of when the speaker saw the injured dog. 

    

·          Because I was running late, I decided to skip the breakfast.  

 

In this sentence, the adverbial clause "because I was running late" answers the question of why the speaker decided to skip the breakfast. These examples show how to use adverbial clauses to modify a sentence by providing additional context or answer a question. It is important to remember that adverbial clauses must always be connected to a main clause to form a complete sentence.  

 

Noun Clauses and examples 

 

Noun clauses are a type of subordinate clause which functions just like a noun in a sentence. They may serve as object, subject, and object of a preposition in a sentence. Noun clauses provide extra information that is important to the main clause. These clauses begin with words like what, who, whom, whose, why, when, where, if and that. Noun clauses are used to give additional information in a sentence and to help explain, expand, or modify the main clause.  

 

 

 

Examples

 

• Mary found out who was responsible.

 

• I know where I can find the book.

 

• She doesn’t understand that I need help.

 

  

 

How to combine clauses?

  

Ø  The most common is to join them with a coordinating conjunction such as “and”, “but”, “or”, “for”, “so”, “yet” and “nor”. This is done to show how each clause is related to each other.

 For example,

“I left the house late but I still made it to the presentation on time” is a series of two clauses joined together by the “but” coordinating conjunction.  

 

Ø  Clauses can also be joined together with a subordinating conjunction such as “after”, “if”, “because”, “although” and “when”. This is done to create a clause that depends on the main clause.

For example,

“I went to the party if my friends were going” is a single clause joined together with the “if” subordinating conjunction.  

 

Ø  Clauses can also be combined with a relative pronoun such as “who”, “which”, “that” and “whose”. This is done to show how the clause is related to something else in the sentence.

For example,

 “The girl whose textbooks I borrowed is my best friend” is a single clause using the “whose” relative pronoun to connect it to the noun “girl”. 

 

Ø  It is also possible to join two independent clauses without any conjunction. This is known as a “run-on sentence” and is not considered good English. For example, “I woke up late I still made it to school on time” is an example of a run-on sentence. 

 

By understanding and mastering the different ways to combine clauses, anyone can become a classier writer and be able to communicate their ideas more effectively. 

 

 

 How to identify Clauses? 

 

It is important to properly combine the clauses so that they make sense within the sentence. The main clause should always come before the subordinate clause and the sentence should have only one main clause. When combining subordinate and main clauses, the two should be connected with a subordinating conjunction. If a sentence contains multiple subordinate clauses, the conjunctions should be used to join them. 

 

 

In a nutshell, understanding the various types of clauses in English and how to use them can help you create more complex and interesting sentences. With this comprehensive guide, you now have a better understanding of the classification of clauses and the different types of clauses in English. Mastering clauses in English can be a tricky but worthwhile endeavor. With the right knowledge and approach, anyone can have a better grasp of clauses and how to use them in English correctly.