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 type of Dependent Clause that modifies a noun or pronoun or give more information about noun or pronoun. So it functions as an adjective. 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 .
Types of Adjective Clause – 1. Essential Adjective Clause and 2 . Non essential Adjective Clause.
1 . Essential Adjective Clause – This type of Adjective Clause gives crucial and essential information to identify the noun.
Example – The person who performed the best got the award.
In this sentence ‘who performed the best’ is the essential part to to identify which person got the award.
2. Non -essential Adjective Clause – This type of Adjective Clause gives extra information about the noun but not necessary to identify the noun.
Example – My friend, who is so brilliant , can do the task easily.
Here ‘who is so brilliant ‘ is providing extra information about the noun and it is not essential to identify the noun.
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, whoever, which, whichever , where, when,why, whose,whom , whomever.
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.
Types of Noun Clause – As per functions of noun clause it can be divided in following types –
1 . As Subject of Sentence –
In this type of sentence a Noun Clause acts as the subject of the sentence and usually comes right before the verb.
Example – What the boy did was unbelievable to everyone.
How the team performed was not expected.
In these sentences ‘ what the boy did’, ‘how the team performed ‘ are Noun Clauses as Subject of Sentence.
2. As a Direct Object of Sentence –
In this type of sentence the Noun Clause acts as a direct object of the sentence in the independent clause and usually comes after verb.
Example – The teacher identified that the answer was wrong.
We must enquire why the incident is happening.
In these sentences ‘that the answer was wrong’ and ‘why the incident is happening ‘ are Noun Clauses as Object of Sentence.
3. As an Indirect Object of Sentence –
In this type of sentence the Noun Clause acts as a direct object of the sentence in the independent clause .
Example – Rimo decided to help whoever was requesting him to assist .
Susan opted to collect information whichever was available in the digital library.
In these sentences ‘whoever was requesting him to assist’ and ‘whichever was available in the digital library ‘ are Noun Clauses as Indirect Object of Sentences.
4 . As Subject Complement –
In this case a Noun Clause can act as a complement to the subject to rename the subject . It is also called Predicate Nominatives or Predicate Nouns. Usually it follows the helping verbs ( be verb, have, do ) in the sentence.
Example – Rohit’s advantage is that he can hit big sixes.
Messi’s one of the best achievement was when he grabbed the football world cup.
In these sentences ‘that he can hit big sixes’ and ‘when he grabbed the football world cup ‘ are Noun Clauses as Subject Complements.
5 . As Object of Preposition –
In Prepositional Phrases , the Noun Clause can act as an object of preposition.
Example – Susan is not solely capable for what we expect to achieve.
I have some information about how he prepared for his success .
In these sentences ‘what we expect to achieve ‘ and ‘how he prepared for his success ‘ are Noun Clauses as Object of Prepositions. In these sentences they are following prepositions ‘for‘ and ‘about’.
6. As Complement to Adjective or
Adverb –
Noun clause can be a complement to adjective and adverb also. In this type of sentence the noun clause comes after the adjective or adverb.
Example – The matter very frustrating that they delivered me the wrong parcel.
Susan performed so well that she defeated the defending champion.
In the first sentence ‘that they delivered me the wrong parcel’ is a Noun Clause as a Complement to the Adjective ‘frustrating’ and in the second sentence ‘that she defeated the defending champion ‘ is a Noun Clause as a Complement to the Adverb ‘well’ .
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.
