In English grammar, a clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate (a verb). There are two main types of clauses:
# Independent Clauses
- Have a subject and a predicate
- Express a complete thought
- Can stand alone as a sentence
Example: "I went to the store."
# Dependent Clauses
- Have a subject and a predicate, but do not express a complete thought
- Cannot stand alone as a sentence
- Must be combined with an independent clause to form a complete sentence
Example: "Because I forgot my wallet."
There are several types of dependent clauses, including:
*Adverbial Clauses*
- Provide additional information about time, place, manner, or condition
- Typically begin with subordinating conjunctions like "because," "although," or "if"
Example: "I went to the store because I needed milk."
*Adjective Clauses*
- Modify or describe a noun or pronoun
- Typically begin with relative pronouns like "which," "who," or "that"
Example: "The book, which is on the table, is mine."
*Noun Clauses*
- Function as nouns within a sentence
- Can be subjects, objects, or complements
- Typically begin with words like "that," "what," or "how"
Example: "What I want for my birthday is a new bike."
Clauses can be combined to form complex sentences, which can provide more interesting and nuanced expressions of ideas.
