Clauses

Clauses

A clause is a group of related words that contains a subject (a least an understood subject) and a predicate; and all sentences are made up of clauses. In fact, a simple sentence consists of one stand-alone independent clause. There are two types of clauses: independent clauses and dependent clauses.

Independent clause is a subject verb combination that makes a complete sentence.

e.g. Tom fainted

Dependent or subordinate clausescannot stand by themselves and depend upon independent clauses to provide them with full meaning.

e.g.Because he and Sue had an argument over his lack of initiative.

* As Tom carried his suitcases from the house

* That Sue would never forgive him.

Note that each clause contains a subject and a predicate (he and Sue had, Tom carried, Sue would never forgive), but neither clause expresses complete thought. As a result, they must be attached to independent clauses:

e.g. Tom left home because he and Sue had an argument over his lack of initiative.

e.g. Sue cried in frustration as Tom carried his suitcases from the house.

e.g. Tom suspected that Sue would never forgive him.