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Clause (grammar)

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Clause

  • = a part of a sentence that has a subject and a verb
    • and may or may not be a complete sentence or thought

What a clause is and is not

  • a clause is part of a sentence
    • a sentence is a grammatically correct and complete thought
      • i.e., it contains a subject and a verb and completes a thought
        • ex. "I go." = a sentence bc it contains and subject and verb and completes a thought
        • whereas, "I send" contains a subject and verb but is not a complete thought
          • "send" is a transitive verb that requires an object, as in "I send a letter"
      • a sentence may contain one or more clauses
    • phrase = a part of a sentence that has two or more words but does not have both a subject and a verb
      • if a sentence part contains a subject and a verb, it is a clause
  • note: Santa is not a clause
Description Grammatical unit Is a clause Is not a clause
a grammatically complete thought without another clause Sentence X
a grammatically complete thought that is part of a larger sentence that contains another clause independent clause Y
the main clause of a sentence is independent clause Y
two independent clauses combined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) coordinate clauses (both independent) Y
a part of a sentence that contains a subject & a verb but is not a complete

thought

dependent clause Y
a part of a sentence that contains two or more words but does not have

both a subject & verb (not a finite verb)

phrase X
Rides a sleigh driven by reindeer through the air to deliver Christmas presents proper noun X

main or dominant clause

  • main or dominant clause = an IC (independent clause)
  • the "main" clause is the clause the creates the "main idea" of the sentence
    • = that part of the sentence that makes the complete and most important, or "dominant" thought of the phrase
      • i.e., the main clause or part of the sentence that states its primary purpose or idea
    • everything else is additional information
  • for the SAT test, the "dominant /main clause" is that core idea of a sentence that is the focus of the sentence
    • SAT tests measure #Emphasis shift
    • emphasis shift measures if the correct form of the sentence "emphasizes" the core or main idea of the sentence
    • passive voice de-emphasizes the dominant clause
      • i.e. OBJECT VERB SUBJECT
    • dominant /main clauses employ direct voice, i.e. SVO

independent clause

  • Independent Clause (IC)
  • = a sentence part that can stand as a complete sentence and thought
    • it is a clause because it is attached to or has another clause/s attached to it (otherwise it'd just be a sentence)
  • IC contains SUBJECT + VERB at a minimum (SV)
  • IC usually contains SUBJECT VERB OBJECT (SVO)
  • since SUBJECT VERB OBJECT form the core of a sentence there is no punctuation separating them, with the following exceptions:
  1. parenthetical information (commas, dashes and parentheses) can separate SVO from each other
    • i.e., S (parenthetical info) V (parenthetical info) O
  • click EXPAND for examples of parenthetical separation of S from V and O:
  • parentheses: S (parenthetical info) V (parenthetical info) O
  • commas: S, parenthetical info, V, parenthetical info, O
  • dashes: S -- parenthetical info -- V -- parenthetical info -- O
  • ex. "Alex, an experienced pilot, landed the plane expertly."
      • S= Alex V= landed O= plane
    • other parenthetical punctuation:
    • "Alex (an experienced pilot) landed the plane expertly."
      • "Alex -- an experienced pilot -- landed the plane expertly."
    • two commas, two dashes or two parentheses = parenthetical phrase
      • ex. Alex, and experienced pilot, landed, for the second time that day, the plane expertly.
          • this is an awkward sentence but using it here to demonstrate how commas can separate a SUBJECT VERB OBJECT if used parenthetically
      • compare this construction:
        • "Alex, an experienced pilot, landed the plane expertly." to:
        • "The experienced pilot, Alex, landed the plane expertly"
        • "The experienced pilot Alex landed the plane expertly"
      • each form creates a different emphasis
        • in this case, the parenthetical construction emphasizes that it was Alex who landed the plane and that
      • if, for example, Alex was an inexperienced pilot, we might prefer a construction that emphasizes it, so,
        • instead of, "Alex, an inexperienced pilot, landed the plane expertly."
        • we might say, "The inexperienced pilot, Alex, landed the plane expertly" or "The inexperienced pilot Alex landed the plane expertly"
  • click EXPAND for example of SVO lists:
  • S, S V O
  • S, S and S V and V O
  • S, S and S V, and V O
  • S, S and S V, V and V O and O
  • S, S and S V, V and V O, O and O
    • note that with commas that separate a subject, verb, and/or object the final word in the list must not be separated from the related S V or O
  • ex.
    • "Alex, Nia, and Joan are all experienced pilots"
    • "Alex, Nia, and Joan relied on, used, and proved their skills by landing their planes expertly"

dependent clause

  • "Dependent Clause" (DC) is a sentence part that contains a subject and a verb but does not complete a thought
  • also called "subordinate clause" (see below)
  • DC clauses are attached to an IC
    • DC clauses add information to but are not necessary for the IC to make sense
  • Note: a sentence part that does not contain both a noun and a verb is a phrase
    • yet some sources call non-IC sentence parts "dependent clauses" when they are actually "phrases" since they do not contain a subject + verb
  • types of DC:
    1. subordinate clause: an IC that has been "subordinated" into a DC by a "subordinating conjunction"
    2. adverb or adverbial clause: a subordinate clause that specifically modifies a verb, usually in terms of time, duration, extent, or condition (if)
    3. noun clause: acts as a noun
    4. relative clause: acts as an adjective to define a noun; can be restrictive or non-restrictive (see below)

Click EXPAND for examples of DC:

  • "Since I ate breakfast late, I'll skip lunch"
    • "Since I ate" = an incomplete thought and so not an IC
  • example of a phrase that is not a clause as it does not contain a verb:
  • Dependent clauses are introduced by a "dependent word"
Type of Dependent Clause Dependent word Dependent word type
Subordinate or Adverb clause after, although, since, etc. subordinating conjunction (adverb)
Relative clause that, which, who, whom, whose relative pronoun
Noun clause that, what, whatever, who, whoever pronoun

subordinate clause

  • a clause that is formed by adding a subordinating conjunction
    • which "subordinates" or turns an IC clause into a dependent clause
  • some sources refer to all dependent clauses as "subordinate clauses"
    • in the sense that a subordinate clause is "subordinate" to an independent clause
  • here will refer to subordinate clauses as those that add additional and not required, or requisite, information to the main clause
    • in this sense, subordinate clauses are preceded by "subordinating conjunctions" (see below)
  • note also that "adverb clauses" are subordinate clauses

subordinating conjunction

Subordinating Conjunctions

after although as as if as long as as much as as though because before by the time even even if even though

if if only if when if then in case in order to just just as now now that

once provided that rather than since so that supposing than though till unless

when whenever were whereas where if whenever wherever whether while whose whoever why

note: that, which and who are relative pronouns that can act as subordinating conjunctions in some cases
  • subordinating conjunction "subordinates" an IC into a DC
    • i.e, (SC) renders or turns an IC into a DC
    • the reason is the the SC creates the need for additional information after the SVO
    • ex. "I love baseball" = a complete sentence and thought
    • by adding a SC to the sentence, it is no longer a complete thought:
    • ex. "Since I love baseball"
      • "Since" = SC and it "subordinates the IC "I love baseball" by creating the need for additional information in order to complete the thought:
      • "Since I love baseball, I watch it every chance I get."

relative or "adjective" clause

  • = a dependent clause that contains a subject-verb, but provides additional information and is not a complete sentence of thought by itself
  • the "subject" of the clause is a pronoun (thus "relative," as pronouns relate to a noun)
  • relative clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun (see table)
relative pronouns
Pronoun For Rule
who people subject (does the action): he, she, we, they
whom people object (acted upon): him, her, us, them
whose people or things possessive form of whom: his, her, us, their
that people or things subject or object: adds required information (no punctuation)
which things subject or object: adds additional information (usually non-restrictive, ie. with a comma)
* Source: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/relative-clauses/

restrictive relative clause

  • goes by various names: necessary, requisite or defining clause
    • technically, also an "adjective clause" since it describes a previously stated (antecedent) noun
  • "necessary" or "requisite" = the idea is the clause or phrase is necessary
  • "defining" = the meaning of the sentence is defined by the clause
    • or: the sentence is not a complete thought without the clause
  • restrictive clauses are not separated by punctuation
    • i.e.: since the information is necessary, there is no pause
    • ex.: "Glue that sticks to both my fingers and the paper is a pain"
      • vs. "Glue, that sticks to both my fingers and the paper, is a pain"
        • since the parenthetical phrase is "non-defining" (can be removed), that would leave us with only "Glue is a pain" which lacks the defining information as to what type of glue is a pain, the kind "that sticks to both my fingers and the paper"
      • "Dogs that are friendly are nice"
        • that are friendly is restrictive because the sentence would otherwise be "Dogs are nice"
          • by adding that are friendly, we have necessary information to make a meaningful sentence
    • non-restrictive clauses do not change the meaning of the sentence:
      • "Friendly dogs, which I like, are nice"
        • the main clause, 'Friendly dogs are nice" is meaning.
          • adding "which I like" does not change the meaning of the sentence

because: when to use a comma

  • because is a subordinating conjunction and not a relative pronoun
    • normally, a subordinate clause preceding the main clause would be separated by a comma:
      • Because it rained, we stayed inside"
    • and, normally, a subordinate clause following the main clause would not be separated by a comma:
      • We stayed inside because it rained
      • the reason is because the subordinate clause is requisite (necessary) information
    • however, there are times with the subordinate clause starting with because and following the main (independent) clause can be separated by a comma
      • if the information following the because is distinct and not directly explanatory (normally, "because" offers an explanation, making it requisite)
      • ex. We didn't play in the rain, because Mom said we might catch a cold
        • here, the speaker may wish for the subordinate clause following "because" to offer additional and not requisite information
      • other examples of because preceded by a comma:
        • Even if it's scary, don't close your eyes, because you'll miss the best part!
        • Playing tennis is fun, because it means the weather is good

non-restrictive relative clause

  • or "Non-defining relative clause"
  • or "non-essential" clause
    • = the additional information added by the clause is not necessary (or essential) for a complete sentence or thought
  • ex.: "Glue, which I hate to use, always sticks to my hands."
    • "which I hate to use" is not essential to the idea that "Glue always sticks to my hands"
  • see Restrictive relative clauses for sources

Other types of clauses

adjective clause

  • = a dependent clause that contains a subject and verb but acts as a modifier or adjective
  • see "relative clause"

adverb clause (or adverbial clause)

  • = a subordinate clause created by a subordinating conjunction and adding information to the action of a sentence:
  • adverbial clauses define or add information as to how, how much, when, where, why (cause/effect):
  • examples:
    • I'm staying until the park closes
    • As my grades sank, my heart sank, as well
    • I will bring my umbrella since it is raining
    • I got a good grade because I studied hard
  • adjunct v. disjuncts
    • adjuncts are integrated in a phrase or clause
    • disjuncts are peripheral (outside or, or on the edge of)

finite and non-finite clauses

  • distinguishes between clauses with finite verbs (subject-verb) and those with an implied but not present verb (represented by a non-finite verb)
    • the verbs in a finite clause show tense (as would any finite verb)
    • the verbs in a non-finite clause do not show tense (as with a non-finite verb)
      • by "tense" we mean its conjugation
        • the non-finite verb will be in the simple present
        • ex. A streetcar named 'Desire' is not necessarily the one you want to take
  • grammarians refer to these clauses in the context of "tense"
  • a finite clause shows tense and is usually an IC
    • ex. "Trey sent that text yesterday"
  • non-finite clause does not show tense and is usually a DC
    • non-finite clause adds information to the main clause (IC), but without marking "tense" (past, present or future)
      • it is the IC that shows the tense:
        • "She watched the little girl play with a hoolahoop"
          • "She watched" = finite-clause
          • "little girl play with a hoolahoop" = non-finite clause
        • note that this non-finite clause may also be expressed as a participial phrase:
          • "She watched the little girl playing with a hoolahoop"
            • (which also creates a potential misplaced modifier, as in this case it becomes unclear who was "playing with the hoolahop, "she" (who watched) or the "girl"
  • for more:

noun clause

  • = a clause that functions as a thing or idea (noun)
  • = usually introduced by what, when, where, wherever, who, whoever
  • = a clause that acts as a subject, object, subject complement or object of a preposition, ex.:
    • subject: "What I love to eat the most is steak"
      • "What I love to eat the most" = a clause that operates as the subject to the verb "is"
      • "Wherever we end up is fine with me"
    • subject complement or object:
      • "The teacher liked what Johnny said"
      • "I taught whoever would listen"
    • preposition:
      • "She recognized him for who he really is"
      • "Saddened by what he read, he cried"
      • "He was startled by what she said"
        • "for" and "by" = prepositions, so the noun clause is the object of the preposition
  • pronouns introducing noun clause
    • pronouns such as that, who, whoever, can introduce a noun clause
      • whereas "that" and "who" would be a relative pronoun, introducing a relative clause
    • if it creates a clause that acts as a noun and not an adjective, it is a noun clause
    • ex.:
      • Whoever wants it the most gets it
      • [noun clause=subject ] verb
    • note the difference between "who" and "whoever" in these sentences:
      • Jesus saves him who believes
        • "who believes" = relative or adjective clause that describes "him"
      • Jesus saves whoever believes
        • "whoever believes" = noun clause acting as direct object of "saves"
    • such noun clauses can also be used in "apposition"
      • appositive = a noun phrase that describes another noun or sentence part
        • Mr. Jones, a farmer, hates rabbits
          • "a farmer" = a noun phrase that tells us who is Mr. Jones
      • using the pronoun "that'
    • see Using Noun Clauses as Appositives (Parenting Patch)
      • note that this article provides examples of a noun clause within a preposition is incorrect:
      • such as, My decision, for you to leave the day after us, stands.
        • "for" is a preposition and "to leave" is an infinitive, so this is not a clause
          • "for you" is a prepositional phrase
          • that is further modified by the infinitive adjective "to leave" and its object, "the day after us"
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