CLAUSES

A. DEFINITION
A clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a predicate (verb).
Clauses are the building blocks of sentences: every sentence consists of one or more
clauses.

B. TYPES OF CLAUSES
There are 2 types of clauses. Those are:

1. INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
Independent clause or main clause is a clause that can stand on its own, by itself. It does not
need to be joined to any other clauses, because it contains all the information necessary to be a
complete sentences.
There are 3 kinds of independent clause. Those are: transitive, intransitive, and equative clause.

a) Transitive Clauses
Transitive clauses are clauses whose are filled by transitive verbs, namely, verbs that must
take direct objects, like visit, write, read, play, speak, love, etc.
Examples: I write a letter
John visited his uncle last week
Mary cooked rice in the kitchen
He speaks English very well

b) Intransitive Clauses
Intransitive clauses are clauses whose predicates are filled by intransitive verbs, namely,
verbs taking no direct objects, like work, go, sit, stand, rest, talk, laugh, come, look, etc.
Examples: I go to school.
Mr. Wilson is working in his office
He is looking around the office right now
Miss Stewart is sitting at her desk

c) Equative Clauses
Equative clauses are clauses whose predicates are filled by equative verbs, like be, become,
grow, seem, appear, look, remain, feel, smell, taste, sound, etc. These verbs are commonly
followed by complement slots filled by nouns, noun phrases, adjectives, or adjective
phrases.
Examples: It sounds good.
The man, who came yesterday, is his uncle
The book, that you bought last week, is very interesting
 The person, who lives next door, has gone to his son’s house

2. DEPENDENT CLAUSE
A dependent clause or subordinate clause does not express a complete thought. It cannot stand
alone as a complete sentence. They must be combined with an independent clause so that they
become part of a sentence that can stand by itself. A dependent clause is a clause that is lacking
either a subject or an action, or does not express a complete thought. Remember that a
dependent clause always contains a subject and a verb, but it cannot stand by itself.
There are three basic kinds of dependent clauses, categorized according to their function in the
sentence. a) Nominal Clauses
Nominal clauses are dependent clauses that function or act like nouns. They can fill the
subject, object, or complement slots at the clause level. At the sentence level, they can fill
the margin slot
Examples: What you have said is not clear.
Whoever studies English must always practice it. I don’t
know where he lives

Nominal clauses are commonly introduced by relaters like what, where, who, why, that,
etc.

b) Adjectival Clauses
Adjectival clauses are dependent clauses that function like adjectives. They can fill the
modifier slot at the phrase level.
Examples: The man, who came yesterday, is his uncle
The book, that you bought last week, is very interesting
The person, who lives next door, has gone to his son’s house

c) Adverbial Clauses
Adverbial clauses are dependent clauses that function as adverbs. They fill slots as adverbs,
namely, the slots of location, time or temporal, manner, reason, and purpose.

The complete explanation about kinds of Adverbial clauses can be seen in the table below:
KIND OF COMMON
FUNCTION EXAMPLE
CLAUSE CONJUNCTIONS
 Time clauses when, before, after, These clauses are used Her goldfish died
since, while, as, as long to say when something when she was
as, until,till, etc. happens by referring to young.
(conjunctions that a period of time or to
answer the question another event.
"when?"); hardly,
scarcely, no sooner, etc.
Conditional if, unless, lest These clauses are used If they lose weight
clauses to talk about a possible during an illness,
or counterfactual they soon regain it
situation and its afterwards.
consequences.
Purpose in order to, so that, in These clauses are used They had to take
clauses order that to indicate the purpose some of his land so
of an action. that they could
extend the
churchyard.
Reason because, since, as, given These clauses are used I couldn't feel anger
clauses to indicate the reason against him because
for something. I liked him too
much.
Place clauses where, wherever, These clauses are used He said he was
anywhere, everywhere, to talk about the happy where he
etc. (conjunctions that location or position of was.
answer the question something.
"where?")
Clauses as, like, the way These clauses are used I was never allowed
of to talk about someone's to do things as I
manner behavior or the way wanted to do them.
something is done.

Here are also other examples of adverbial clauses.

Examples: I left the book where I found it. (PLACE CLAUSE)
He was watching a TV program when I came. (TIME CLAUSE)
He behaves as if he were drunkard. (MANNER CLAUSE)
He didn’t go to class yesterday because he was sick. (REASON
CLAUSE)

He has tried to improve his English so that he can study at an

American college. (PURPOSE CLAUSE)
 John will drive to California if he has a car next summer.
(CONDITIONAL CLAUSE)

C. EXERCISES EXERCISE 1
Independent Clauses
Underline the independent or main clause in each of the following sentences!

1) Sheldon can make homemade pizzas.

2) Sheldon made whole-wheat pizza dough, and then he spread the dough in a pan.
3) After he prepared the dough, Sheldon washed mushroom, green peppers, and an
onion.
4) He peeled the union, and he chopped the vegetables into bite-size chunks.
5) The next step was sautéing the vegetables until they were tender.
6) I wanted to make myself useful, so I grated the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
7) Now we had two bowls of ingredients, which were the vegetables and the cheese.
8) I also opened a jar of pizza sauce, and I spread the sauce on the dough.
9) Sheldon spread the vegetables evenly across the sauce , and I added the cheese on top.
10) After baking 450° for twenty-five minutes, the pizza was ready.

EXERCISE 2
Dependent Clauses
Underline the dependent or subordinate clause in each of the following sentences!

1) Since I was curious about acupuncture, I looked it up in an encyclopaedia.

2) The information that I found was fascinating.
3) Acupuncture, which is my research topic, is a Chinese medical technique.
4) The treatment is based on the idea that it helps bring into balance the yin and the yang.
5) Many areas of the world, including China, use this technique.
6) If you have a fear of needles, do not try acupuncture.
7) Acupuncture involves the insertion of tiny needles, which are made of metal, into the
skin.
8) Since this technique uses no medication , some people may prefer it to prescription
medicines.
9) Other disorders that acupuncture treats are swollen joints, nosebleeds, and heart pains.
10) In China, patients who have surgery may choose acupuncture as anesthesia.
EXERCISE 3
Independent and dependent clauses.
Underline the independent clause once and the dependent clause twice in each sentence below.
Example: I fished until the sun went down.
 I fished at the lake, until the sun went down.

1) When my father arrives, he will give the directions.

2) When my mother shows, she will bring the food.
3) While the flowers bloom, I will plant more trees.
4) No matter how you look at it, we are in good hands.
5) Unless you have the right size, do not try on the shoe.
6) Before the food gets cold, go sit at the table.
7) Since I don’t have money, I will not buy anything.
8) Until the sun sets, sit by the lake.
9) Because I can’t wait for the bus, I will walk to school.
10) When the president arrives, he will give a speech.

EXERCISE 4
Independent clauses.
Add an independent clause to each dependent clause below to complete each sentence.
Example: Until the sun sets, _eeeee________________________________.
 Until the sun sets, I will stay out and play.

1) When the teacher arrives,I will realized I forgot to do homework

2) When my friend leaves, I am still waiting for him

3) While the flowers continue to bloom, I will to keep guarding it

4) Unless you have the right shirt,you can join the party.

5) If you can work on Saturdays,you can have reward

EXERCISE 5
Dependent clauses.
Add a dependent clause to each dependent clause below to complete each sentence.
Example: _____________________, make sure to bring your game console.
 When you come to visit, make sure to bring your game console.
1) When I come from school, I looked for my missing baseball.
2) Although we lack players, we won the game.
3) Although made with improvised materials , the food was wonderful.
4) Since the teacher was very angry, all the students listened quietly.
5) Since you are my bestfriend, I will tell you the truth.