Scribd
Upload
449 views12 pages

Types of Clauses

There are four main types of clauses: independent clauses, dependent clauses, relative clauses, and noun clauses. Independent clauses can stand alone as a complete sentence while dependent clauses need to be connected to an independent clause. Relative clauses add more information about a noun and begin with a relative pronoun. Noun clauses function as nouns within a sentence and often begin with pronouns or interrogative words.

Uploaded by

Corazon Reymar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
449 views12 pages

Types of Clauses

There are four main types of clauses: independent clauses, dependent clauses, relative clauses, and noun clauses. Independent clauses can stand alone as a complete sentence while dependent clauses need to be connected to an independent clause. Relative clauses add more information about a noun and begin with a relative pronoun. Noun clauses function as nouns within a sentence and often begin with pronouns or interrogative words.

Uploaded by

Corazon Reymar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 12

TYPES OF CLAUSES

IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR
What is a clause?
• A clause is a part of a sentence.
• A clause is a group of words that has subject and predicate. Every
complete sentence is made up of at least one or more clause(s). Following
are clause examples:-
• John bought a new car. (One sentence, one clause)
• John bought a new car, but he is using his old car. (One sentence, two
clauses)
Types of Clauses
• Every clause has at least a subject and a verb. Clauses have some
characteristics that help to distinguish one type of clause from another.
Clauses are of following types:-
• Independent Clauses (Main Clause)
• Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clause)
• Relative Clauses (Adjective Clause)
• Noun Clauses
Independent Clauses (Main Clause)
• An independent (or main clause) is a complete sentence. It contains a subject and verb and
expresses a complete thought in context and meaning. It expresses a complete thought.
• Independent clause structure: Subject + Verb = Complete Thought.
• For example: She walked. (This sentence contains only two words but it is still complete because
it has subject and predicate)
• Main clauses can be joined by a coordinating conjunction to form complex or compound
sentences.
• COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS: and, but, for, nor, or, yet
• For example: He bought new car but he is still using old one. "but" is used to combine two
independent clauses.
Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clause)

• A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is part of a sentence; it


contains a subject and verb but does not convey complete sense. They can
make sense on their own, but, they are dependent on the rest of the
sentence for context and meaning. A dependent clause is joined to an
independent clause to form a complex sentence. It often starts with a
subordinating conjunction.
Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clause)
SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
after although as because
before even if even though if
once provided that rather than so that
since though than that
until unless whenever when
whereas where whether while

• Dependent clause structure: Subordinate Conjunction + Subject + Verb = Incomplete Thought.


• Examples: Whenever I go to superstore, I buy chips.
• .
Relative Clauses (Adjective Clause)
• A relative clause starts with the relative pronoun at the start of the clause like who, which, whose
etc. To make distinction between an antecedent that is a human "who(m)" and
an antecedent which is a non-human "which". Following will make it clear further.
• Who(m) is used when the antecedent is a person.
That is used to refer to either a person or thing.
Which is used to refer to anything except a person.
• (It is noteworthy that whom is not used much in spoken English.)
• Relative Clauses Examples
• I met my friends yesterday. The friend, who had curly hair, was very intelligent.
• The race was the one that I lost.
Relative Clauses (Adjective Clause)
RESTRICTIVE RELATIVE CLAUSES AND NON-RESTRICTIVE RELATIVE CLAUSES

• Restrictive relative clauses are sometimes called defining relative clauses, or


identifying relative clauses. Similarly, non-restrictive relative clauses are called
non-defining or non-identifying relative clauses and is preceded by a pause in
speech or a comma in writing.
• Restrictive Clause Example:
• The programmer who develops web applications will make a large profit.
• Non-Restrictive Clause Example:
• The programmer, who develops web applications, will make a large profit.
Relative Clauses (Adjective Clause)
RESTRICTIVE RELATIVE CLAUSES AND NON-RESTRICTIVE RELATIVE CLAUSES

Restrictive Non-restrictive
Human Nonhuman Human Nonhuman
Subject who, that which, that who which
Object who, whom, that which, that who, whom which
After preposition whom which whom which
Possessive whose, of whom whose, of which whose, of whom whose, of which
Noun Clauses
• Noun Clauses: It is a dependent clause that works as noun. Noun clauses can act as
subject, direct or indirect objects or predicate nominatives. Some examples are as
under:-
• Tell me who left his book on the table. (direct object)
• I shall tell whoever will listen my interesting story. (indirect object)
• Whoever is the last one to leave turns off the lights. (subject)
• The boy with the curled hair is who I want on my team. (predicate nominative)
• Noun clauses often begin with pronouns or other words. That particular word usually has
a grammatical function in the sentence
Noun Clauses
• Relative pronouns: that, what, who, which, whom, whose
• Indefinite relative pronouns: whoever, whomever, whatever, whichever,
whether, if
• Interrogative adjective: what
• Interrogative adverb: how
• Interrogative pronoun: who
• Subordinating conjunctions: whenever, how, when, if, where, whether, why

You might also like