Jennifer came to dinner with us.
Brad speaks loudly.
When I went home, I saw him.
When I went home, I saw him, and wished him a good evening.
In its simplest form, a clause is a group of words consisting of a subject and a verb that share a strong relationship. Clauses, however, are more than just a random group of words – they provide essential and non-essential information about the subject. They can function as independent sentences or appear as part of sentences to express an action or state of being. A sentence can have a single clause or multiple clauses.
A clause may be part of a sentence:
The boy who cried wolf came to a bad end.
She lost her paunch after she started dieting.
I want a table by the window.
Else, it may be a complete sentence in itself:
She had a long career.
I ate dinner.
He loves pizza.
Types of Clauses in English
Clauses come in six main types:
1. Main Clause
Each sentence in English contains at least one main clause. Also known as an independent clause, a main clause contains a subject and a verb and can stand alone as a complete and independent sentence. A main clause generally follows this pattern:
Subject + Verb = Complete thought
Sleepy dogs snore.
Subject – dogs + Verb – snore
Milk spilled out of the jug and splashed onto the carpet.
Subject – milk + Verb – spilled, splashed
I love spaghetti.
Subject – I + Verb – love
2. Subordinate Clause
Also known as the dependent clause, the subordinate clause complements the main clause and adds information to the sentence as a whole. It cannot, however, stand alone as a complete sentence. A subordinate clause generally follows this pattern:
Subordinate conjunction + subject + verb = Incomplete thought
We can order pizza if there is money in my wallet.
He went to the store to buy cereal but couldn’t find his favorite brand.
Janie loves movies that have a lot of special effects.
3. Coordinate Clause
A coordinate clause consists of two main or independent clauses connected by coordinating conjunctions. Both independent clauses are of equal importance. A coordinate clause generally follows this pattern:
Main clause + Coordinating conjunction + Main clause = Complete thought
The sun came out, and the snow started melting.
Main clauses – The sun came out; the snow started melting.
Coordinating conjunction – and
You can take out the trash, or you can do the laundry.
Main clauses – You can take out the trash; you can do the laundry.
Coordinating conjunction – or
I don’t like desserts in general, but I definitely like pudding.
Main clauses – I don’t like desserts in general; I definitely like pudding.
Coordinating conjunction – but
4. Adjective Clause
Also called a relative clause, an adjective clause is a multi-word adjective consisting of a subject and a verb. Adjective clauses describe a noun or a pronoun in a sentence. They generally begin with a relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, that, which) or a relative adverb (when, where, why).
An adjective clause generally follows this pattern:
Relative Pronoun/Relative Adverb + Subject + Verb = Incomplete thought
OR
Relative Pronoun as Subject + Verb = Incomplete thought
My family was highly delighted when I won the race.
I first met him in London where I lived in the late eighties.
She wants to be with her mother who raised her and her siblings.
5. Noun Clause
A noun clause is a dependent clause that replaces a noun in a sentence, whether it is a subject, an object, or a subject complement.
I want to know who left their raincoat by the door.
Whoever cleans this mess will have my eternal gratitude.
The trophy goes to whoever wins the race.
6. Adverbial Clause
An adverbial clause is a group of words that function as an adverb. As a dependent clause, it modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Like all clauses, an adverbial clause consists of a subject and a verb.
Call me when you get back from Rome.
James ran through the forest as though he was being chased by a tiger.
We can go home as soon as you’re done eating.
