The clause· is a central· unit· of any language· .

A simple
way· of thinking about clauses is to regard· them as units of
language· which convey· a single message· about some
event· or state· , including information about what kind· of
event· or state it is; who is taking part; where , when , why ,
or how it happened , etc . Here are some very general·
examples of the kinds of messages clauses convey:
Somebody did something at a certain time· .

Somebody did something to someone· else .

Something was the case· at a certain time· .

Something happened for a certain reason· .

Something has a certain property· .

Clauses are analysed in terms of clause· elements, which
can be· understood as shorthand ways or referring to the
parts of the message· conveyed by the clause· . We use·
the following clause· elements:
Predicate verb (V)
Subject (S)
Direct object· (Od)
Indirect object· (Oi)
Subject predicative (Ps)
Object predicative (Po)
Adverbial (A)
Generally speaking , identifying clauses and clause·
elements is done in the same way· , regardless if
the language· analysed is English or Swedish . So ,
if you can do· this in one language· that you know· ,
you can normally do· it in any other language· that
you happen· to know· . Swedish and English have·
the same clause· elements and both languages
have· main· clauses and more or less the same
types of dependent· clauses . What is said about the
clause· elements in English is true· about Swedish
as well , but please· note· the comment· on
predicatives .
 The predicate verb (V)
The central· part· of the clause· is the predicate verb ,
which specifies what kind· of event· or state· we are
talking or writing about . In the following clauses , the
predicate verb is highlighted .
(1) The boys gatheredin the street· .
(2) The road had been blockedby a tree· .
(3) Several accidents had occurred during the
afternoon.
Notice that the predicate verb may consist· of more
than one word· . Thus , the term· 'predicate verb' does
not denote· a special subclass of the word· class· 'verb'
, but specifies a role· or function· that a part of the
clause· has .
The subject· (S)
The subject· of a clause· identifies an important·
participant· in the event· or state· described by the
predicate verb . Depending on the verb , the subject·
identifies who does something; who or what has a
certain property; who or what is in a particular· state· ,
etc . In the following clauses , the subject· is
highlighted .
(4) Boysgathered in the street· .
(5) All the boysgathered in the street· .
(6) Waterhas a higher density· than oil .
To identify· the subject· , it often helps to formulate· a
question· based on what general· situation· the clause·
is about . Thus , the first· clause· above is about
someone· gathering somewhere . To find· the subject·
, we ask· a question· like 'Who gathered somewhere ? '
. The answer· is 'boys' , which thus functions as the
subject· of the clause· . Notice that the subject· can
consist· of many words· , as in the second· example· .
 Objects (O)
A clause· may contain· one or two· objects . In general· terms ,
an object· denotes someone· or something which is affected by
the action· described by the verb . In the following clauses , the
object· is highlighted .
(7) We mixed the two· liquidsin a test· glass . ( 8 ) The
increase· in immigration indirectly affectedthe inflation·
process·. (9) They placed the test· tube·in a steel· container· .
To identify· the object· , we can ask· a question· of the general·
type· 'What/Who did the subject· Verb ? ' Applied to the first·
example· above , the question· would be: 'What did we mix ? '
The answer· is 'the two· liquids' which thus functions as the
object· of the sentence· . The presence· or absence· of objects
is determined by the verb . Thus , some verbs (transitive verbs)
require the presence· of an object· , while others (intransitive
verbs) do· not . Some verbs (ditransitive verbs) require· two·
objects . In the following clause· the two· objects are
highlighted .
( 10 ) The new law· gave the government·full· control· over the
banks.
The first· object· , the government·, is referred to as the
indirect· object·, and the second· object· is referred to as
thedirect· object·. The indirect· object· can also be· in the form·
of a prepositional phrase· , in which case· the direct· object·
precedes the indirect· object· , as in ( 11 ):
(11) She sent some documents to the professor.
Please note· that if there is only one object· in a clause· , this
object· is always a direct· object· , unless the verb actually
requires two· objects , in which case· we may have· ellipsis , as
in ( 12 ):
( 12 ) They often give·to charity.
 Predicatives (P)
Predicatives ascripe properties to the subject· or
object· of a clause· . The most typical· verb that
occurs with a predicative is be·, but there areseveral
other verbs that can create· a similar link to the
subject· . Here are a few examples with the
predicatives highlighted:
(13) Bill is a mathematician. (14) The results were
somewhat surprising. ( 15 ) Several of the members
in the control· group· seemedsurprised. ( 16 ) Over
time· , the impact· of the discovery· becamemore and
more obvious.
These examples all involve subject· predicatives, i . e
. predicatives which ascribe· properties to the
subject· . The following example· illustrate· cases
where the predicative ascribes a property· to the
object· .
(17) Everyone considers James a promising
mathematician. ( 18 ) The research· team all found
the results somewhat surprising.
In the first· example· , James functions as the object·
, and the predicative , a promising mathematician ,
ascribes a property· to Bill . Similarly , in the second·
example· , the results functions as the object· and
somewhat surprising ascribes a property· to the
results . Predicatives that are linked to the object· in
this way· are referred to asobject· predicatives.
 Adverbials
Adverbials perform· a wide range· of functions within a clause· . Some
adverbials specify· circumstances· that accompany· an event· or a
state· . For example· , an adverbial may specify· when , where , why
or how an event· took place· . In the following clauses the adverbials
are highlighted .
(19) After the war, the manufacture of arms was forbidden.
( 20 ) A sensible savings plan· is preferable ,because of the financial
advantage· of saving over borrowing.
( 21 ) The nerve· was dividedwith a pair· of scissors·.
Other adverbials indicate· how a clause· is related to a previous one .
(22) However, the government· recovered 7 billion of the debt· .
(23) Moreover, treatment· with digoxin may precipitate· digitalis
intoxication .
A third group· of adverbials provide· comments on the content· of the
clause· , e . g . with respect· to the speaker's or writer's attitude·
towards the truth· or content of the clause· .
(24) Apparently, large· groups are perceived as more threatening than
small· ones .
(25) Admittedly, the old critics did not question· progress· as such .
A clause· may contain· more than one adverbial . The following
clause· has three· adverbials .
(26) In general·, however, the army would need more funds to
purchase more and better weapons.