CLAUSE AND ITS KINDS

What is a clause?

A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.  It can be either independent or dependent (subordinate).
What is an independent or principal clause?
An independent clause can stand alone as a complete grammatical sentence. It contains the main subject and verb of the sentence. It may or may not have an object.  Also remember, in English, the sentence order is Subject, Verb, (Object).  For example:

• The cat is in the room.

          The cat             is                      in the room.
          Subject             Verb                Prepositional Phrase Showing Place

• John hit his sister.

          John                 hit                     his sister.
          Subject             Verb                Object          
What is a dependent (or subordinate) clause?
A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a grammatical sentence because of an extra element that changes an independent clause into a dependent clause.  It must always be connected to an independent clause. For example:

• Because I was late

          Extra element   +       Independent clause                                         = Dependent clause
          Because                       I                       was                  late                
                                             Subject             Verb                Adjective

• When I miss the bus

          Extra element   +       Independent clause                                         = Dependent clause
          When                           I                       miss                  the bus                        
                                             Subject             Verb                Object
The following sentences are examples of dependent clauses connected to independent clauses:

• Because I was late, I had to run all the way to school.

          Dependent clause        +                     Independent clause                             = Complex Sentence
          Because I was late                                I had to run all the way to school.
        

• I must drive to school when I miss the bus.

          Independent clause     +                     Dependent clause                                = Complex Sentence
          I must drive to school                           when I miss the bus.

Further classification of Dependent Clause

Adver­bial Clause: An adver­bial clause func­tions like an adverb in mod­i­fy­ing another clause.

Exam­ples:

• As soon as the Green Knight entered the room, all were astounded.
• In this sen­tence the clause ful­fills the same func­tion as an adverb such as imme­di­ately in the sen­tence imme­di­ately all were astounded.

Noun Clause: A noun clause can be used as both an object and as a subject.

Exam­ples:

• He said that the Green Knight was really orange.
• The clause ful­fills the same func­tion as a noun such as the words in He said the words.

Rel­a­tive Clause

Exam­ples:

• The house, which stands on the hill, is empty.
• Rel­a­tive clauses are adjec­ti­val in nature. The clause ful­fills the same role as an adjec­tive such as high placed in the sentence
• The high-placed house is empty.

Clauses can also be clas­si­fied by whether they con­tain a finite verb.

Finite Clause : A finite clause con­tains a finite verb and, usu­ally, a sub­ject. It can be a prin­ci­pal clause or a sub­or­di­nate clause.

Exam­ples:

• They say nice things about you. (Prin­ci­pal clause)
  When they say nice things about you they are not lying. (Sub­or­di­nate clause)

Non-Finite Clause: A non-finite clause con­tains a non-finite verb but does not con­tain a finite verb and can­not stand alone. A non-finite clause can­not be a prin­ci­pal clause. Non-finite verbs con­sist of par­tici­ples and infinitives.

Exam­ples:

• Singing and danc­ing, he moved slowly up the aisle.
• He gave me an invi­ta­tion to bring you to the party.
• Hav­ing eaten all the cakes, he began to con­sume the biscuits.
• Filled with joy, he left the room.

By: UnIQue-PeaRL