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Clauses and its types

Clause Definition: A clause consists of a subject and a verb and is the smallest grammatical unit that expresses a thought.

What is a Clause in a Sentence?

What is a clause? In its simplest form, a clause in grammar is a subject plus a verb. The subject is the entity “doing” the action of the sentence and the verb is the action that subject completes. A clause creates a complete thought (an idea or a statement that can stand alone).

A complete thought is also called a main clause or independent clause (IC).

Examples of clauses:

• Subject + verb. = complete thought (IC)
• I eat. = complete thought (IC)
• Sharon speaks. = complete thought (IC)

A clause may include the verb predicate as well. But, it must include at least the subject and verb to be considered a clause.

Examples of clauses:

• Subject + verb (predicate). = complete thought (IC)
• I eat bananas. = complete thought (IC)
• Sharon speaks loudly. = complete thought (IC)

It should be noted, too, that a clause in a sentence is different from a phrase in that it must contain a subject and a verb.

What is an Independent Clause?

Independent clause definition: An independent clause can stand alone in a sentence. It contains a subject and a verb in its smallest form. A clause may also include modifiers and a verb predicate. It is a complete thought and the smallest unit of grammar that is syntactically accurate.

Example of Independent Clauses:

• Subject + verb (predicate). = complete thought (IC)
• I eat bananas. = complete thought (IC)
• Sharon speaks loudly. = complete thought (IC)

In writing, words and modifiers can be rearranged in independent clauses to create interest.

Example of Independent Clauses:

• I eat bananas in the kitchen.
• In the kitchen, I eat.

Here, “I eat” is the subject and verb. An object (“bananas”) and a prepositional phrase (“in the kitchen”) have been added to the clause to make it more specific. The entire sentence is an independent clause because it is a complete thought statement.

Outside Examples of Independent Clauses:

• While Uber says it is profitable in the US, Lyft has reportedly told investors it will lose $50 million a month this year. –New York Post

In the above example, Lyft has reportedly told investors it will lose $50 million a month this year is an independent clause.

For more information on independent clauses, click here.

What is a Dependent Clauses?

Dependent clause definition:Dependent clauses contain a subject and verb. However, they cannot stand alone as an independent thought. They must be joined with an independent clause to be grammatically correct.

Example of Dependent Clause:

• Every night before I go to bed, I eat bananas.

This example contains the IC, “I eat bananas.” However, a dependent clause now opens the sentence. While the dependent clause contains a subject and a verb (“I go”), the dependent clause itself cannot stand alone a complete thought.

Example of Dependent Clause:

• Every night before I go to bed

This is not a complete thought and therefore not a sentence in English. Every night before I go to bed…what happens? This idea must be joined with an independent clause to be grammatically correct.

Outside Examples of Dependent Clauses:

• While American forces will not be leading the ground war in Syria, they will be involved in military operations and working without proper authorization from Congress. –The New York Times

In the above example, While American forces will not be leading the ground war in Syria is a dependent clause.

For more information on dependent clauses, click here.

More Types of Clauses

What is a Noun Clause?

Noun clause definition: A noun clause is a type of dependent clause that acts as a noun in the sentence. A noun clause will always contain a subject and a verb. However, it cannot stand alone as a complete thought.

Example of Noun Clause:

• I remember what you said yesterday.

Here, the underlined portion is the independent clause that can stand alone. The italicized words, “what you said yesterday,” serve as a dependent noun clause.

The noun clause is acting as the object of the sentence. In the noun clause “you said” is a subject plus a verb. This creates the clause (a subject plus a verb). However, “what you said yesterday” cannot stand alone and therefore must be paired with an independent clause.

Additional noun clause examples:

• I thought what she wore was so chic.
• Whomever you confide in is a person you can trust.

What is an Adjective Clause? (Also called Relative Clause)

Adjective clause definition: An adjective clause is a type of dependent clause that acts as an adjective in the sentence. An adjective clause will always contain a subject and a verb. However, it cannot stand alone as a complete thought.

An adjective clause will always begin with one of the following words:

Relative Pronouns List:

• that
• where
• who
• whom
• which

Relative Adverbs List:

• when
• where
• why

Example of Adjective Clause:

• The boy who you saw at the storecommitted a robbery.

The adjective clause is acting as an adjective in this sentence. The adjective clause describes the boy. It contains a subject and a verb, “you saw.” However, it cannot stand alone as a complete thought. “Who you saw at the robbery” is not a complete statement.

Additional adjective clause examples:

• The store that the boy robbed is on the corner.
• The corner of the street where my family lives is surrounded by investigators.

For more information on adjective / relative clauses, click here.

What is an Adverbial Clause?

Adverbial clause definition: An adverbial clause is a type of dependent clause that acts as an adverb in the sentence. An adverbial clause will always contain a subject and a verb. However, it cannot stand alone as a complete thought.

Example of Adverbial Clause:

• You will continue driving north until you see a stop sign.

The adverbial clause is acting as an adverb in this sentence. The adverbial clause modifies how you will drive. The adverbial clause contains a subject and verb, “you will continue.” However, it cannot stand alone as a complete thought. “Until you see a stop sign” is not a complete statement.

Additional adverbial clause examples:

• After the movie ended, we ate ice cream.
• Beth visits her grandfather whenever she is in town.

Summary: What are Clauses in Grammar?

To sum up:

• Define clause: A clause is a subject plus a verb.
• Two types of clauses are main/independent clause and dependent clause.
• An independent clause can stand alone as a complete thought.
• A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone.

Phrases and its Types

Articles

Articles

There articles in English i.e. ‘a’, ‘an’ and ‘the’. In fact there are certain situations where no article is needed. We have to follow certain guidelines in order to decide which article to use before a noun in the sentence.

First of all we have to categorize the noun as countable and uncountable. Countable nouns are those that refer to something that can be counted. They have both singular and plural forms (e.g. flower/flowers; man/men; country/countries). In the singular, they can be preceded by ‘a’ or ‘an’. Uncountable nouns are those that cannot be divided into separate elements and thus cannot be counted. For example- milk, oil, hair etc.

Rules for using articles ‘a’ and ‘an’.

1. Indefinite articles includes - ‘a’ and ‘an’. Articles ‘a’ and ‘an’ are called indefinite articles because they refer to any member of a group, rather than to a particular member of the group. We use them before a singular countable noun. Example: a pen, a boy, a plant, a building, a man, a red umbrella, a camel, a swimming pool, a university, etc.

2. We use ‘a’ and ‘an’ depending upon the sound with which a countable noun begins. Noun may begin with a consonant sound or a vowel sound.

3. We use ‘an’ if the following word begins with a vowel sound although they begin with a consonant. Example: an apple, an elephant, an hour, an MBA, an MNC, an MLA, an MP, an umbrella, an Igloo, an octopus, an honest girl, an ugly dress, an egg etc.

4. We use ‘a’ if the following word begins with a consonant sound. Example: a table, a girl, a book, a teacher, a union, etc.

5. We usually use a/an before a singular countable noun when we introduce a noun for the first time while speaking or writing.

6. Article ‘a’ is also used in phrases like have a headache, a bad cold, a noise, to be in a hurry, a good option etc.

7. The plural of indefinite articles ‘a/an’ is ‘some’. Word ‘some’ is used to denote unknown or any of the things.

Example:

    a. There are some mangoes trees in his garden.

    b. Pick up some mustard oil. (Means oil of any brand.)

Rules for using article ‘the’

‘The’ is called as the definite article as it points to a specific person or thing. Here the speaker as well the writer is aware of the identity of the noun.

Example:

       a.   The sun is the ultimate source of energy.

       b.   I met the doctor who is a neurosurgeon.

       c.   The order for laptops was sent yesterday.

       

1. We use ‘the’ before a noun when we talk about a particular member of a group (common noun). Example: The minister was invited for inauguration function of the mall.

    2. Article ‘the’ is also used when noun is unique and one of its kind. Example: the morning star, the saturn, the earth, the moon, the sun, the sky, the stars, the heaven, the hell etc.

     3. Article ‘the’ is used on its subsequent reference after it has already been introduced or used while writing or speaking. Example: I saw a boy and a girl playing along the beach. The boy was making a castle using sand. In this sentence, both the words ‘boy’ and ‘girl’ are countable nouns and hence the words are preceded by ‘a’ when used for the first time. But the same word is preceded by ‘the’ when repeated in the same context.

    4. Definite article ‘the’ is also used before superlative adjectives. Example: the tallest tree, the most beautiful house, the longest rope, the least harmful medicine, the best option etc.

         Sample Sentence

a.   This is the smallest umbrella I have ever seen.

b.   Our kitchen garden is the biggest in our neighborhood.

c.   This is the best alternative among others.

d.   She is the most beautiful girl in our locality.

5. Use ‘the’ to represent the entire class or group of people, animals or things.

      Example:

   a.  The cat is as nice as dog.  

   b.   The toddler is naughty by nature.

6. Before the names of (a) sacred books, (b) newspapers, (c) rivers, (d) well known buildings, (e) mountain ranges, (f) seas, oceans, (g) islands etc.

   Example:

     a.   The Gita, the Bible, the Guru Granth Sahib, the Quran.

    b.   The Times of India, The Indian Express, The Hindustan Times, The New York Times, The Tribune, The Indian Express etc.

     c.   The Ganga, the Nile, the Yamuna, the Indus, the Narmada etc.

     d. The Himalayas, the Andes, the Western Ghats, the Nilgiris, the Alps etc.

    e. The Indian Ocean, the Antarctic Ocean,  the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Arctic Ocean.

7. Write ‘the’ before the names of communities. Example:  the Hindus, the Muslims, the Cholas, the Christians, the Sikhs, the English, the Aryans.

8. Use article ‘the’ in phrases like in the winter, in the summer, in the autumn, in the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon, in the night and linkers like on the other hand, to speak the reality, to tell you the fact etc.

9. We use ‘the’ following a class. Example: the rich, the poor, the middle class, the elite, the schedule caste etc.

10. Use ‘the’ when ‘of’ is a part of the school’s or universities name. Example: the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India, the University of Calcutta etc.

11. Use article ‘the’ to refer a part from a large group.

    Example:

       a. One of the girls was absent.

       b. Some of the stolen jewelry was recovered.

12. Avoid using ‘the’ unless the name of the country refers to a group or has the word “of” within the name. Example: United States of America. 

13. Use the before ordinal numbers such as “first,” “second,” “third”, “fourth”  etc.

Omission of the Article

1. Do not use articles before cities and streets. Example: His clinic is in Ghaziabad.

2. When we refer to a common noun that stands for something in the widest of sense.

    Example:

       a. He is only man. (It means that he cannot be God.)

       b. What kind of answer is it?

3. Skip article in case of material noun.

     Example:

       a. Platinum is very precious.

       b. Don’t waste water.

4. Skip article while referring to language.

      Example:

       a. Hindi is my mother tongue.

       b. I scored good grade in English in my first term exam.

5. Articles are not required while referring the name of a relation like brother, sister, mother, father, husband, God.

       Example:

       a. My brother is coming tonight.

       b. Mother is already home.

6. Article is not used before proper nouns like Qutub Minar, Rajiv, Delhi except in few cases.

       Example:

       a. He is the Shakespeare of our city.

       b. He is the Newton of this era.

7. Do not use any article before temple, church, school, hospital, bed, market, court, etc. which are visited for the primary purpose for which they have been created.

       Example:

        a. She is going to market.(to shop)

        b. She is going to the market. (for some other purpose)