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Clauses

The document explains clauses, which are combinations of words containing a subject and a verb. It details the types of clauses, including main (independent) clauses that can stand alone and subordinate (dependent) clauses that cannot. Additionally, it describes sentence structures: simple sentences with one independent clause, compound sentences with two or more independent clauses, and complex sentences that combine independent and dependent clauses.

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Vaishu Mehta
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4 views3 pages

Clauses

The document explains clauses, which are combinations of words containing a subject and a verb. It details the types of clauses, including main (independent) clauses that can stand alone and subordinate (dependent) clauses that cannot. Additionally, it describes sentence structures: simple sentences with one independent clause, compound sentences with two or more independent clauses, and complex sentences that combine independent and dependent clauses.

Uploaded by

Vaishu Mehta
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CLAUSES

A clause is a combination of words that makes up a sentence. It consists of a subject and a


predicate. It can also be said that a clause should have a subject and a verb.
Clauses= Subject+ Verbs

Types of Clauses
Main Clause or Independent Clause – A main Subordinate Clause or Dependent Clause –
clause is a group of words with a subject and a A subordinate clause is a group of words that
verb. It is one that can stand alone and makes consists of a subject, a verb and a subordinating
complete sense. That is why it is called an conjunction or a relative pronoun.
independent clause.
Unlike main clauses, subordinate clauses cannot
Examples of Independent Clauses stand alone or convey complete meaning when
taken separately from the sentence it is a part of.
 I know how to drive a car, but I enjoy
riding bikes. Examples of Dependent Clauses
 I was not keeping well, so I took a day
 After we reached home, we watched a
off work.
movie.
 It was my sister’s birthday yesterday;
 Everybody knows the boy who won the
however, she did not want to celebrate.
Best Outgoing Student Award.

Sentences based on their structure are of three types.

A simple sentence is one which has only one subject and one predicate. That is, it has only
one finite verb (a verb which can change its form depending the time that the action happens
or on the subject that controls it).

Suresh eats lunch at noon every day.

A compound sentence has at least two parts (clauses), and each part is itself capable of being
an independent sentence. A compound sentence is a sentence having two or more
independent (or main) clauses, that is joined using a Coordinating Conjunction. (FANBOYS)

Ravi picked up the chair, and he took it to his bedroom.


A complex sentence is one which has only one main (independent) clause and one or more
subordinate (dependent) clauses. A subordinate clause is a clause which cannot stand by
itself; it is dependent on the main clause for its complete meaning. They are joined using a
Subordinating conjunction. (A WHITE BUS)

We entered the classroom when we saw the teacher arriving.

How to make Complex sentences

An embedded clause doesn’t make sense on its own. You can’t just say: battling against the
wind and rain. You need the main clause as well!

TOP TIP
1. A SIMPLE SENTENCE has one independent clause.
2. A COMPOUND SENTENCE has two independent clauses joined by using a coordinating conjunction.
(FANBOYS)
3. A COMPLEX SENTENCE has one dependent clause (headed by a subordinating conjunction or a
relative pronoun ) joined to an independent clause. (A WHITE BUS)

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