Clause (grammar): Difference between revisions

no edit summary
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 3: Line 3:
** and may or may not be a complete sentence or thought
** and may or may not be a complete sentence or thought


=== What a clause is and is not ===
== What a clause is and is not ==
* a clause is part of a sentence
* a clause is part of a sentence
** a ''sentence'' is a grammatically correct and complete thought
** a ''sentence'' is a grammatically correct and complete thought
Line 54: Line 54:
*** this source is interesting as it addresses precision in language in terms of court cases and the law
*** this source is interesting as it addresses precision in language in terms of court cases and the law


=== main or dominant clause ===
== main or dominant clause ==
* main or dominant clause = an IC (independent clause)
* main or dominant clause = an IC (independent clause)
* the "main" clause is the clause the creates the "main idea" of the sentence
* the "main" clause is the clause the creates the "main idea" of the sentence
Line 67: Line 67:
** dominant /main clauses employ direct voice, i.e. SVO
** dominant /main clauses employ direct voice, i.e. SVO


=== independent clause ===
== independent clause ==
* ''Independent Clause (IC)
* ''Independent Clause (IC)
* = a ''sentence part'' that can stand as a complete sentence and thought
* = a ''sentence part'' that can stand as a complete sentence and thought
Line 112: Line 112:
</div>
</div>


=== dependent clause ===
== dependent clause ==
* "Dependent Clause" (DC) is a sentence part that contains a subject and a verb but does not complete a thought
* "Dependent Clause" (DC) is a sentence part that contains a subject and a verb but does not complete a thought
* also called "subordinate clause"
* also called "subordinate clause"
Line 135: Line 135:
** [https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/difference-between-dependent-independent-clause The Difference Between Dependent and Independent Clauses (merriam-webster.com)]
** [https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/difference-between-dependent-independent-clause The Difference Between Dependent and Independent Clauses (merriam-webster.com)]


=== subordinate clause ===
== subordinate clause ==
* subordinate clause is another name for a DC
* subordinate clause is another name for a DC
** we usually think of a subordinate clause as one that is formed by adding a subordinating conjunction
** we usually think of a subordinate clause as one that is formed by adding a subordinating conjunction
Line 145: Line 145:
** in this sense, subordinate clauses are preceded by "subordinating conjunctions" (see below)
** in this sense, subordinate clauses are preceded by "subordinating conjunctions" (see below)


=== subordinating conjunction ===
== subordinating conjunction ==
* Subordinating conjunction "subordinates" an IC into a DC
* Subordinating conjunction "subordinates" an IC into a DC
** i.e, (SC) renders or turns an IC into a DC
** i.e, (SC) renders or turns an IC into a DC
Line 156: Line 156:
* Click here for list of and more on [[Grammar#subordinating_conjunctions (see Grammar entry)]]
* Click here for list of and more on [[Grammar#subordinating_conjunctions (see Grammar entry)]]


=== Relative clause ===
== Relative clause ==
{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; margin-left: 10px; width:40%"
{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; margin-left: 10px; width:40%"
|+ relative pronouns
|+ relative pronouns
Line 188: Line 188:
** [https://www.softschools.com/examples/grammar/essential_and_nonessential_adjective_clauses_examples/81/# Essential and Nonessential Adjective Clauses Examples (softschools.com)]
** [https://www.softschools.com/examples/grammar/essential_and_nonessential_adjective_clauses_examples/81/# Essential and Nonessential Adjective Clauses Examples (softschools.com)]


==== restrictive relative clause ====
== restrictive relative clause ==
* goes by various names: necessary, requisite or defining clause
* goes by various names: necessary, requisite or defining clause
** technically, also an "adjective clause" since it describes a previously stated (antecedent) noun
** technically, also an "adjective clause" since it describes a previously stated (antecedent) noun
Line 199: Line 199:
*** vs. "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"
**** 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"
==== because: when to use a comma ====
=== because: when to use a comma ===
* ''because'' is a subordinating conjunction and not a relative pronoun
* ''because'' is a subordinating conjunction and not a relative pronoun
** normally, a subordinate clause preceding the main clause would be separated by a comma:
** normally, a subordinate clause preceding the main clause would be separated by a comma:
Line 214: Line 214:
**** ''Playing tennis is fun, because it means the weather is good''
**** ''Playing tennis is fun, because it means the weather is good''


==== non-restrictive relative clause ====
=== non-restrictive relative clause ===
* or "Non-defining relative clause"
* or "Non-defining relative clause"
* or "non-essential" clause  
* or "non-essential" clause  
Line 222: Line 222:
* see Restrictive relative clauses for sources
* see Restrictive relative clauses for sources


=== Other types of clauses ===
== Other types of clauses ==


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


==== adverbial clause ====
=== adverbial clause ===
* = a subordinate clause created by a subordinating conjunction and adding information to the action of a sentence:
* = 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''
* adverbial clauses define or add information as to ''how, how much, when, where, why''
Line 235: Line 235:
** '''''As my grades sank''', my heart sank, as well''
** '''''As my grades sank''', my heart sank, as well''


==== finite and non-finite clauses ====
=== finite and non-finite clauses ===
* refer to types of clauses with verbs that either show or do not show "tense" (past, present future)
* refer to types of clauses with verbs that either show or do not show "tense" (past, present future)
** = not an important category, but one that grammarians refer to in the context of "tense"
** = not an important category, but one that grammarians refer to in the context of "tense"
Line 247: Line 247:
* see https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/clauses-finite-and-non-finite
* see https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/clauses-finite-and-non-finite


==== noun clause ====
=== noun clause ===
* = a clause that functions as a thing or idea (nouns)
* = a clause that functions as a thing or idea (nouns)
** ex.: "What I love to eat the most is steak"
** ex.: "What I love to eat the most is steak"