3.5 Clauses

 

CLAUSES

  A Clause is a group of words which contains a subject and a predicate. Some sentences contain only one clause, while some contain more than one clause.

A Clause which can stand by itself, makes good sense, and can express a complete thought, is called an Independent/Main/Principal Clause. It can form a sentence by itself. A Dependent Clause cannot stand by itself and is usually a part of a sentence.

There are 2 main kinds of Clauses : Coordinate Clauses and Subordinate Clauses.

1. Coordinate Clauses : Some sentences contain two or more clauses joined together by coordinate conjunctions like 'and' but ‘or' etc. Each clause contains a subject and predicate of its own and makes complete sense. Each is therefore independent of the other, and is of equal rank and order. Such clauses, joined together by coordinate conjunctions, are called Coordinate Clauses.

e.g. (1) (She wrote a letter]           and        [(she) posted it.)     

                          ⇓                                                           ⇓

            coordinate clause                             coordinate clause

Coordinate conjunction-and.

 (2) (The plan looks easy)             but          (it is difficult to implement]

⇓                                                                        ⇓

    coordinate clause                                              coordinate clause

Coordinate conjunction - but.

2. Subordinate Clauses : Some clauses do not make sense by themselves. They are dependent on some other clauses. Such dependent clauses are called Subordinate Clauses.

Subordinate Clauses are of three kinds :

(1) Noun Clauses   (2) Adjective Clauses    (3) Adverb Clauses

(1) Noun Clauses : A subordinate clause that acts like a Noun in a sentence is known as a Noun Clause. It may take the position of Subject, Object, Complement or Object of a Preposition or Participle or Infinitive. Noun clauses are also used in apposition to nouns.

e.g. (1) What you said is not true. (Subject of the Verb)

(2) He promised that he would come again. (Direct Object of the Verb)

(3) You should be satisfied with what you have. (Object of the Preposition)

(4) He wants to know how many marks you scored. (Object of the Infinitive)

(5) I don't mind taking whatever you give. (Object of the Participle)

(6) My hope is that your health improves. (Complement of the Linking Verb 'is')

(7) The news that he intended to come gave us much pleasure. (In apposition to the Noun 'news'.)

(2) Adjective Clauses : A subordinate clause that qualifies a noun or pronoun is called an Adjective Clause.

e.g. (1) Someone stole the jewels that were in the safe.

(2) The child who finishes first will win the prize.

(3) Mary, whose mother is a doctor, will speak about diseases.

(4) The people whom I have mentioned are very rich.

(5) The roads, which were being repaired, were not open for normal traffic.

(3) Adverb Clauses : A subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adverb or an adjective is known as an Adverb Clause.

e.g. (1) We arrived after the show had begun.

(2) The food was so stale that no one could eat it.

(3) Unless he agrees, we cannot go.

(4) Although he likes ice cream, he didn't eat any.

Types of Adverb Clauses :

     Like an Adverb, an Adverb Clause says something more about a Verb, an Adjective, or another Adverb. Also, like an Adverb, the Adverb Clauses tell us when, where, with what purpose, why, or on what condition an action was done. Accordingly they are grouped into Adverb Clauses of Time, Place, Purpose, Cause and Condition, etc.

e.g. (1) Finish your studies before you go to sleep. (Time)

        (2) Don't sit where there are ants. (Place)

        (3) I shall not fight with you because I believe in tolerance. (Reason)

        (4) You must study hard so that you may win a scholarship. (Purpose)

        (5) If you play in the rain, you will fall ill. (Condition)

         (6) It rained so hard that we had a minor flood. (Result)

        (7) Do as I tell you. (Manner)

       (8) Even though he fell twice, he managed to come first. (Concession)

      (9) That boy is as intelligent as he is hardworking. (Comparison)

Sample Questions

1. Identify the underlined subordinate clause :

 The bridge, which was damaged, will be repaired soon.

(1) Noun Clause       (2) Adjective Clause

(3) Adverb Clause   (4) None of these

Explanation : The subordinate clause qualifies the noun 'bridge'. Hence it is an Adjective Clause. Option (2) is the answer.

2. Identify the type of adverb clause in the following sentence :

I shall purchase the clothes if they are cheap.

(1) Concession    (2) Cause

(3) Condition      (4) Manner

Explanation : The clothes will be purchased only on the condition that they are cheap. Hence option (3) is the answer.

3. Identify the sentence that contains the given clause :

Noun Clause

(1) The man who looks after the cash has vanished.

(2) He went home early as he was feeling ill.

(3) Why he came here is not clear.

(4) He is so weak that he cannot stand.