Clauses
Clause
Sentences (Clauses)
1. Simple – I love books. (Principal clause/ Independent/Main)- Has only 1
clause
2. Complex – I love to read books (P) / which are motivating. (Dependent/
Subordinate) – Has 1 Principal clause and 1 or more Subordinate clauses
If you call (S), I will go.(P)
Subordinating conjunctions- who, which, whose, whom, that, if, though,
although, as, because, since, for, so that, after, before, while, when, where,
no sooner,
3. Compound – I love books (P) / and I read a lot.(Coordinate)
Coordinate clause will always come after the Principal clause – Has 1
Principal cl and 1 or more Coordinate clauses. May have a subordinate or
may not have.
Finite and Non-finite Verb
I love books. – Finite verb (the verb can change its tense)
I love to read books. – Non- finite verb (the verb cannot change its tense)
1 clause – 1 finite verb
n clauses – n finite verbs
If a sentence has 5 finite verbs, the sentence has 5 clauses.
Clause – a group of words, has some meaning, (SOMETIMES COMPLETE MEANING) has a subject,
has a finite verb
Phrase – a group of words, has some meaning, has a subject,, but does not have a finite verb
Phrase- a boy having blue eyes
Clause – a boy who has bue eyes
A sentence must have a finite verb. Can have many finite verbs
Coordinating conjunctions- and, but, yet, or, so ,
either– or, neither—nor, however, moreover,
consequently, not only—but also
Subordinate clause
1. Relative clause(Adjective)- Qualifies a noun
2. Adverb clause – Qualifies a verb or an adjective
3. Noun clause – Function as a subject, object,
complement
Adjective Clause (Relative clause)
I have a house / which (Relative pronoun) is black.
I saw man who was blind.
This is the boy whose bag was missing.
I saw a person whom the police arrested.
I have a house that is painted.
The boys chosen for the team were dropped.
Reduced Relative clause= Relative cl-Relative pronoun
Adverb Clause
1. Adverb clause of Time –When I had gone out, he
entered.(when, while, after, before, no sooner)
2. Adv clause of place – I went where he took me.
3. Of Manner - I sang better than my brother did.
4. Of Purpose – We eat so that we can live.
5. Of Reason – I went because I was invited. (as, since, for)
6. Of Concession – Though he worked, he failed. (although)
7. Of Condition – If it rains, we will not play. (unless, until)
Noun Clause (that clause)
Noun function as a
- 1. Subject
- 2. Object
- 3. Complement
1. What he said / (It)was good.
2. He said / that she was innocent.
3. This is (it)/ what he said. (Complement clause)
All complement clauses are noun clauses. But all noun clauses are not
complement clauses.
- 1. I (S) told (V) what he did./ I believed what he said./ I knew that he was innocent.
- 2. What he did was good. ( It was good- Principal clause)/ What he said is true.
- 3. It(S) is (V) a story. (C)
- I am a girl.
- Be, become, feel, seem, appear
- I taught him.
- I am a teacher.
- I am a teacher.
- I am good.
- He is angry.
- Complement normally follows these verbs- Be, become, feel, seem, appear
I told a story.
I told that he was honest.
The story is good.
What he said was good.
It was good. – Principal clause
It is a story.
It is what he said. (Complement clause)
Identify the subordinate clauses
1. The house where we lived (Relative clause) is being renovated.
2. I believed that he would do it.
3. He went there as he was invited.
4. I will not do until you ask me.
5. The language chosen for the work was really good.
6.He is the only boy that can do this.
