A clause like a major sentence, is a meaningful group of words containing a subject and predicate. However, unlike sentences, not all clauses can stand alone and make sense.
Types of Clauses
Main clause: A clause that can stand alone and make sense is known as a main clause. Every major sentence must have at least one main clause. In each of the following sentences the bold words form a main clause:
- He was at the office when I arrived.
- I knew why he left.
- We took the train because the car broke down.
Some sentences consist of more than one main clause connected by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but or or.
Such sentences are known as compound sentences. The following sentences consist of two main clauses:
- I was very angry and he knew it.
- You can either apologize or you can leave immediately.
- It was a sunny day but it was very cold.
The following sentences consist of more than two main clauses:
- She was intelligent and she was very efficient but she had no luck in finding a job.
- We can get a flight today or we can get one next week, but we cannot get one at the weekend.
Punctuation and main clauses: A comma may be used to separate main clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction, but this is not usual, especially if the clauses have the same subject and the coordinating conjunction is and.
When the coordinating conjunction is but, the use of a comma to mark off the main clause is more a matter of choice, especially when both clauses are quite long.
Subordinate Clause
A clause that cannot stand alone and make sense and is dependent on the main clause to make sense is called a subordinate clause.
A subordinate clause can come before or after a main clause. In each of the following sentences the bold words form a subordinate clause.
- He arrived after we had started the meal.
- He failed the exam although he worked hard.
- If you buy that car you will regret it.
- When he saw her he smiled.
- I wonder why she left.
There are several types of subordinate clause. With the exception of a verb, a subordinate clause can replace most elements of a sentence (adverb, adjective and noun).
Noun Clause or Nominal Clause
A noun or nominal clause performs a similar function to a noun or noun phrase in a sentence. Like a noun it can act as the subject, object or complement of the main clause. The bold words in each of the following sentences are noun clauses that act as the subject of the sentence:
- Where you go is of very little interest to me.
- What you know should be told to the police.
- What he does now is up to him.
The bold words in each of the following sentences are noun clauses that act as the object of the sentence:
- I’m not asking why you’re going.
- We didn’t know who had done it.
- He refused to say where he was going.
The bold words in each of the following sentences are noun clauses that act as the complement of the sentence:
- The theory is that there will definitely be enough money for everyone.
- My point is that we simply can’t afford to move house.
Sometimes noun clauses come after a preposition. The bold words in each of the following sentences are noun clauses:
- It depends on how much money is available.
- They all commented on what a lot of weight he had lost.
Adverbial Clause
A subordinate adverbial clause performs a similar function to an adverb in a sentence. For example in the sentence
- She left for the airport early.
The word early is an adverb. This adverb can be replaced by an adverbial clause, as in:
- She left for the airport when it became light. or
- She left for the airport before the city traffic got too heavy.
An Adverb Clause like an Adverb, qualifies some verb, Adjective or Adverb in another clause. The following are its Adverbial functions:
- Adverb Clause of Time
- Adverb Clause of Place
- Adverb Clause of Purpose
- Adverb Clause of Cause or Reason
- Adverb Clause of Condition
- Adverb Clause of Result
- Adverb Clause of Comparison
- Adverb Clause of Supposition.
Adverb Clause of Time: It shows time and begins with Adverbs of time like ‘When’, ‘Whenever’, ‘While’, ‘After’, ‘Before’, ‘Since’, ‘As’, etc.
- I shall go with you when you return from Kanpur.
“when you return from Kanpur” is Adverb Clause of Time because it shows time.
- I shall come whenever you need my help.
- Do not disturb while the patient is sleeping.
- He reached here after the clock had struck ten.
- Take rest before you are tired.
- I have not been well since I returned from America.
- Apply the brakes as I give you the signal.
- No sooner did I enter the room than the thief bolted away.
Adverb Clause of Place: It points to place and begins with Adverbs of place like ‘Where’, ‘Wherever’, ‘Whence’, ‘Whither’, etc.
- You should stand where you are.
“where you are” is Adverb Clause of Place because it points to place.
- I shall purchase the book wherever it may be found.
- Return at once whence you came.
Adverb Clause of Purpose: It points to some purpose and begins with that, so that, lest, etc.
- He worked very hard that he may pass.
“that he may pass” is Adverb Clause of Purpose because it shows purpose.
- Go quickly lest you should miss the train.
- Forgive so that you may be forgiven.
Adverb Clause of Cause or Reason: It points to cause or reason and begins with because, since, as, for, that, etc.
- I must take rest because I am tired.
“because I am tired” is Adverb Clause of Reason.
- Since you are so clever, I cannot trust you.
- As I am indisposed, I cannot attend the college today.
- I am glad that you have come in time.
Adverb Clause of Condition
(1) It shows condition and begins with If, Whether, Unless, Provided, On condition, etc. As:
- I shall go if you come in time.
“if you come in time” is Adverb Clause of Condition.
- I shall not help you unless you promise to work very hard.
- You must go whether you receive my reply or not.
- I can forgive you on condition that you do not repeat the crime.
(2) Sometimes Adverb Clause of condition has the connective ‘If’ understood. As:
- Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed it.
Here “Had I not” means “If I had not”
- Were he more honest, he would have been happier.
Here “Were he” means “If he were”.
(3) If the Relative Pronoun or the Relative Adverb does not have its Antecedent before it, the clause beginning with it can be an Adverb Clause of Condition. As:
- I shall go whatever happens.
- We cannot reach before sunset whichever train we catch.
- However you try, you cannot deceive me.
Adverb Clause of Result
(1) Adverb Clause of Result points to some result and often begins with ‘that’, preceded by ‘so’ or ‘such’. It can also begin with ‘therefore’. As:
- He worked so hard that he secured first division.
“that he secured first division” is Adverb Clause of Result.
- He is so saintly that everybody respects him.
- He worked hard so he passed.
- He worked in such a defective manner that he failed to get success.
- I worked hard, therefore I passed.
(2) Sometimes the connective ‘that’ may be understood also.
- He is so tired, * he cannot stand.
In this sentence ‘that’ is understood.
Adverb Clause of Comparison: There are two kinds of Adverb Clause of comparison.
- Adverb Clause of Comparison of Degree.
- Adverb Clause of Comparison of Manner.
1. Adverb Clause of Comparison of Degree: It shows comparison of state or situation and often begins with the Subordinating conjunction ‘than’ or Relative Adverb ‘as’. As:
- He is not so foolish as his father thinks.
“as his father thinks” is Adverb Clause of Comparison of degree.
- Her heart is as pure as her face is beautiful.
- Your health is better than it was before.
In Adverb Clause of Comparison the Verb often remains understood. As:
- I am a better swimmer than you (are).
Here Verb ‘are’ is understood.
- You have visited a larger number of foreign countries than I (have).
2. Adverb Clause of Comparison of Manner: It shows comparison of manner, and often begins with the Relative Adverb ‘as’.
- As you earn so you must spend.
“as you earn” is Adverb Clause of Comparison of manner.
- He did as he pleased.
Adverb Clause of Supposition: It points to some supposition and often begins with the Subordinating conjunction ‘Though’, ‘Although’ or ‘Even if’. As:
- Although he was tired, he finished the work before sunset.
“Although he was tired” is Adverb Clause of Supposition.
- Though he is poor, he is honest.
- Do not be depressed, even if you fail.
Relative Clause
A relative clause performs a similar function to an adjective in a sentence. It comes immediately after a noun in the main clause, which is called the antecedent, and gives more information about this noun.
A relative clause is introduced by a relative pronoun, such as who, whose, which and that, and this comes immediately after the antecedent.
Comparative Clause
A comparative clause is a subordinate clause that modifies comparative adjectives and adverbs and is introduced by than. The bold words in each of the following sentences form a comparative clause:
- The task was much more difficult than any of us had anticipated.
- He worked harder than we could ever have imagined.
- She somehow looked less attractive today than she did last night.
Comment Clause
A comment clause is a short clause inserted into a sentence, sometimes used to show the speaker’s attitude to what he or she is saying and sometimes used as a filler without much meaning. Comment clauses are particularly common in informal speech. The bold words in each of the following sentences form a comment clause.
- To put it bluntly, he is a liar.
- He wasn’t sent to prison for the crime, more’s the pity.
- The patient will most likely survive, I’m glad to say.
- She’s only a few years older than me, you know.
- He’s been married twice before, it seems.
A comment clause is often separated from the main clause by a comma.
Thanks for reading about “types of clauses in English grammar.”