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Understanding Clauses in Sentences

A clause is a group of words with a subject and verb that forms part of a sentence, which can be independent or dependent. Sentences can be classified into simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex based on their structure. Simple sentences have one clause, compound sentences have multiple independent clauses, complex sentences have one main and one or more subordinate clauses, and compound-complex sentences contain at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause.

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4 views2 pages

Understanding Clauses in Sentences

A clause is a group of words with a subject and verb that forms part of a sentence, which can be independent or dependent. Sentences can be classified into simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex based on their structure. Simple sentences have one clause, compound sentences have multiple independent clauses, complex sentences have one main and one or more subordinate clauses, and compound-complex sentences contain at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause.

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sawliii279
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© All Rights Reserved
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Clauses

A clause is a group of words having a subject and a verb of its own, it forms
part of a sentence.
In other words, a clause is a single sentence within a larger sentence, made
of two or more than two clauses which are joined by suitable conjunctions.
Some sentences consist of only one clause.

[Link] cat sat on the mat.

.He saw the beggar and gave him a coin.

[Link] is the girl who won the first prize.

Sentence no. 2 has two clauses joined by ‘and’.

Sentence no. 3 has two clauses joined by ‘who’.

Two Kinds of Clauses

[Link] or Main Clause- Independent clause

[Link] Clause- Dependent clause

1. An independent clause ( Main clause) is a complete sentence that can


stand on its own.

• I love the city where I was born.

• I am confident that she will help you.

• We love India because it is our motherland.

2. Subordinate Clause- Dependent clause

• A dependent or subordinate clause is not a complete sentence for it


cannot stand on its own. Dependent clauses start with subordinating
conjunctions such as: after, because, since, although, even though,
before, unless, whenever etc…

• I know that you are a good boy.

• This is the book which she gave me.


• I shall wait here till you come back

Sentences may be classified into three types according to their grammatical


structure:
1. Simple Sentences 2. Compound Sentences 3. Complex Sentences.

A Simple sentence has only one clause i.e. one subject and one predicate but
it has a complete meaning, e.g.

• The students are playing cricket.

• She ran fast and caught the bus. (simple sentence with compound
predicate)

A Compound sentence has two or more main clauses joined together by


coordinating conjunctions like and, but, so, and so, therefore, for, yet, still,
now, or, otherwise,e.g.

•  Mia cooked dinner, and John washed the dishes.


→ Two subjects (Mia, John) and two independent clauses.
•  The dog barked, and the cat hid under the bed.
→ Each part can stand alone as a sentence

A Complex sentence has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses, e.g.,

• He said that truth wins in the end.

• I know the lady who wrote this novel.

• Let us wait till she arrives.

Compound-Complex Sentence- A sentence that contains at least two


independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Eg: "Because the weather was so beautiful, we decided to go for a hike, and
we packed a picnic"

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