CLAUSES (Advanced English)

UPDATED: NOV 2021

A clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb.
(A clause functions as an adjective, an adverb, or a noun.)

TYPES OF CLAUSES

Independent Clauses (Main Clause)

An independent (or main clause) is a complete sentence.
It contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought in context and meaning.
It expresses a complete thought.
EXAMPLES >

Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clause)

A dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is part of a sentence; it contains a subject and verb but does not convey the complete sense.

They can make sense on their own, but, they are dependent on the rest of the sentence for context and meaning.
A dependent clause is joined to an independent clause to form a complex sentence. It often starts with a subordinating conjunction.
EXAMPLES >

Relative Clauses (Adjective Clause)

A relative clause starts with the relative pronoun at the start of the clause like who, which, whose etc.
To make a distinction between an antecedent that is a human “who(m)” and an antecedent which is a non-human “which”.
EXAMPLES >

Noun Clauses

It is a dependent clause that works as a noun. Noun clauses can act as a subject, direct or indirect objects or predicate nominatives.

NOTE: Steps To Learning Clauses

Clauses are important and you must learn how to use them.
Do a short read of all the types of clauses on this site.
However, don't spend a lot of time trying to understand all the information.
Just a quick look!

TIPS:

Begin and Focus on Independent Clauses. They are easiest to understand. "or less difficult" :-)
They are simple sentences.
Stay focused on them until you feel that you can use them correctly when speaking.
Next move on to the other types of clauses.