This document defines and provides examples of different types of clauses in English grammar. It discusses independent clauses, dependent clauses, relative clauses, and noun clauses. Independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences, while dependent clauses are incomplete and must be attached to independent clauses. Relative clauses add information about a noun and are introduced with relative pronouns. Noun clauses function as nouns and can be subjects, objects, or predicates.
2. 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)
3. 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
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clause)
• Dependent clause structure: Subordinate Conjunction + Subject + Verb = Incomplete Thought.
• Examples: Whenever I go to superstore, I buy chips.
• .
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
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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
10. 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
