We all know that sentences are essential when speaking, reading, and writing in English, but sentences are made up of smaller parts called clauses. To better understand how we form sentences, we must learn how and when to use a clause. This lesson will explain each type of clause and how each is used effectively.

WHAT IS A CLAUSE?

A clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb and forms a sentence or part of a sentence.

A clause must also have meaning on its own; it does not need any additional modifiers or information to make sense. A simple sentence can be made of just one clause, but most sentences have more than one.

subject + verb = clause

The dog runs.

‘the dog’ is our subject and ‘runs’ is our verb

1.It is a group of words that has a subject and a verb

2.It has meaning on its own

TYPES OF CLAUSES

There are two basic types of clauses in English: an independent clause and a dependent clause

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

An independent clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb and can form a sentence. It does not require the support of other clauses.

subject + verb

Examples

Erica reads. They play. We sit.

DEPENDENT CLAUSE

A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, is a group of words that is not a sentence but adds information to the main part of a sentence.

A dependent clause is typically introduced with a conjunction, words like: before, because, so, if.

conjunction + subject + verb

Examples

before she goes to sleep and we ate but it fell

These examples cannot stand on their own as independent sentences; thus, they are dependent clauses. We call them ‘dependent’ because they depend on an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + DEPENDENT CLAUSE

Erica reads before she goes to sleep.

Erica reads: independent clause

before she goes to sleep: dependent clause

TYPES OF DEPENDENT CLAUSES

Noun Clause

A noun clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb, but the entire clause acts as a single noun.

Many noun clauses start with: that, how, who, what, where, when, or why.

Examples

She knew how it broke. how it broke is a noun clause We saw where they went. where they went is a noun clause

 

Adverb Clause

An adverb clause is a dependent clause that acts as an adverb in a sentence. They help to qualify the meanings of verbs, adjectives, clauses, and other adverbs.

Adverb clauses help to answer when, where, why, how and by how much.

Adverb clauses often start with one of the subordinating conjunctions: after, as, though, since, because, etc.

These clauses are quite flexible and can be used at the beginning, end, or middle of a sentence to add more detail.

Examples
adverb clause	in a sentence
if you pay for the snacks	If you pay for the snacks, I’ll get the pizza.
because she was early	Paula had to help set up because she was early.

 

Adjective Clause

An adjective clause is a group of words that acts as an adjective in a sentence. They are dependent clauses that give more information about a noun or pronoun.

Adjective clauses typically come directly after the noun they modify.

We often use words like that, which, whom, and whose with adjective clauses.

Examples
adjective clause	in a sentence
whose birthday is tomorrow	Constantine, whose birthday is tomorrow, is going to be late.
which we are going to visit in spring	Mum’s hometown, which we are going to visit in spring, is very far away.