What is Clause ?
Clause is a group of words that includes a subject and verb and it can be a complete sentence or a part of a sentence .
Types of Clause –
1 . Main Clause or Independent Clause or Principal Clause –
This is a clause which includes a subject and a verb , and can form a complete meaningful sentence by itself without depending on any other parts of the sentence.
Example –
The boy goes to school by bus.
I know the boy who became first in your class .
In this sentence ‘ I know the boy ‘ is the Main Clause.
2 . Subordinate clause or Dependent Clause – This clause can’t make a meaningful and complete sentence by itself and they need help from a main Clause to make a sentence. This can’t be a stand alone sentence, even if it contains subject and verb.
This clause links with the main clause with the help of Subordinating Conjunctions like what, when , who, where etc .
Examples –
He is the man who has done the job.
Here , ‘who has done the job‘ is subordinate clause because it can’t form a stand alone sentence by itself.
Looking at the river, I was feeling the beauty of nature .
Here , ‘ Looking at the river ‘ – this part is a subordinate clause because this can’t form a stand alone sentence by itself.
The place, where we visited yesterday, was very nice .
Here , ‘ where we visited yesterday ‘ is a subordinate clause because this can’t form a stand alone sentence by itself. In this sentence ‘ The place was very nice ‘ is a main clause .
3 . Coordinating Clause – When we connect two independent or main clauses together with equal importance by the help of Coordinating Conjunctions, this is called Coordinating Clause .
Examples –
He is my friend and he is very helpful .
They want to win the trophy, but their opponents are tough.
He has not done well in the examination, yet he is so casual .
They need to win the match, or they will be out of the tournament.
In these sentences two main clauses linked with each other by and, but , yet , or . These are Coordinating Conjunctions.
4. Adjective Clause – This a clause which can’t form a complete stand alone sentence by itself and this includes a Relative Pronoun or Adverb with a subject and / or a verb . This can begin with Relative Pronouns like that, whom, which, whose or Relative Adverbs like why, when, where. This is also called Relative Clause .
Examples –
The book which was gifted by my teacher is my favourite.
The students whose projects are enlisted will join the seminar .
The man who has curly hair is singing .
He is driving the car which belongs to his father .
The boy , who is observing seriously, can lead the seminar .
5. Noun Clause or Nominal Clause – This is a clause which can act as a noun and if we replace the clause with a noun it will still make sense . It contains a subject and a verb, but can’t form a sentence on its own .
These Clauses often start with that, how, if, whether, WH words like what, who, which, where, when,why, whose,whom .
Examples–
I know what I practiced .
Do you know what works to do ?
Can you tell me where your office is ?
You will say that it is not your fault.
6 . Adverbial Clause – This is a clause modifies or describes a Verb, Adjective or other Adverb in a sentence and acts as an Adverb . This is also a type of Dependent Clause because this also can’t form a stand alone sentence by itself .
Examples –
He worked as if he was completing the whole work in a day .
Rohit completed the task at a lightning speed.
She practiced gymnastics until her coach stopped her .
The boy watched the movie till he became hungry .
He works with great interest.
7. Non – finite Clause – This is the Clause containing a Participle or an Infinitive Verb that makes the Subject and Verb evident even though hidden .
Examples –
1 . To – infinitive–
He is the first competitor to reach the finishing line .
Here the word ,’ to‘ is indicating ‘ who is ‘ .
To find the solution you need to plan properly.
2 . Present Participle –
Listening to the music, he cheered up.
Feeling the beauty, he was amused.
They noticed the man running down the lane.
Here the word ‘ running ‘ is indicating who was .
I need a some water before starting .
3 . Past Participle –
When verified , your profile will be updated .
Your project, if approved, will be entitled in our list .
4. Bare infinitive – This can be used to form non- finite clauses to show that someone helped to do something or caused something .
Examples –
I solved his problem , rather than provide some advice.
I made her remember the happy moments by giving her a trip.
