Clauses in English grammar

1. : A clause is a group of words which resembles phrase
in doing the work of a single part of speech but
unlike a phrase it has a subject and a predicate of its
own.
Clauses are of two kinds: Main clause and Su-ordinate
clause.
Main Clause: makes the main statement and can stand
independently.
e.g. Sheela is a rich woman. He is a clever boy.

2. A sub-ordinate clause
A sub-ordinate clause : cannot
stand alone but is dependent for
its meaning on the main clause.
 e.g. Although she is very rich she is very humble. She
is humble is a main clause. Although she is very
rich is a sub-ordinate clause.

3. Kinds of subordinate clauses
 A subordinate clause does the work of a noun, an
adjective or an adverb, and according to its
function in the sentence it is classified as a noun
clause, an adjective clause or an adverb clause.
 1 When she will come is uncertain. Noun clause used
as subject of the verb ‘is’
 2 Tell me how you know this. Noun clause used as
object of the verb’ tell’.

4.  3 The question is whether they reached the spot .
Noun clause as subject complement.
 4 The sentry who witnessed the incident gave full
details adjective clause qualifying ‘sentry’.
 5 This is the book which I bought yesterday.
Adjective clause qualifying ‘book’.
 6 If that is true, I repent. Adverb clause modifying
‘repent’
 7 Though I saw it, I doubted it. Adverb clause
modifying ‘doubted’.

5. Cont..
 Note: Noun clauses and adverb clauses are
introduced by sub-ordinate conjunctions ( when,
how, whether ,if , though, etc)
 Adjective clauses are introduced by relative
pronouns (Who ,whom, whose which, that)
 Noun clause: does the work of a noun. It can be;
 The subject of a verb
 The object of a verb
 The object of a preposition.
 In apposition to noun phrase.
 The complement of a verb of incomplete predication.
 It begins with that, how, when, where, whether, why

6. Cont..
 That you are weak is your excuse .(subject)
 He said that his brother was there. (object)
 It all depends on how you look at it.( governed by
preposition)
 Your report that he stole your purse is baseless.
 This is where I live.(complement of a verb) Adjective
clause does the work of an adjective. It qualifies a
noun or apronoun. It begins with one of the
following words….. who, which, whom ,that,
whose.
 He who breaks the law shall be punished.
 This is the man whom I met yesterday.

7. Adverb clause
 ADVERB CLAUSE: does the work an adverb.
Modifies a verb, an adjective and an adverb.
 I reached the station as soon as the train arrived.
 The Adverb classes 8 kinds:
 1.Reason: Ex: He failed because he did not work
hard.
 2.Condition:Ex: You cannot pass unless you work
hard.
 3.Time: Ex: The train arrive when I reached the
station.
 4. Place: Ex: We will meet where we met yesterday.
 5. Consequence(result or purpose): Ex: He worked
so hard that he fell ill.

8. Cont..
 6. Manner: Ex: He has not done the work as I have
asked him to do.
 7. Degree of comparison: Ex: He writes more quickly
than I do.
 8. Concession: Ex: Though he worked hard he failed.
 Note:1. Reason begins with because, as, since etc
 2.Condition begins with if, unless etc.
 3.Time begins with when, till etc.
 4. Place begins with where.
 5. Consequence begins with that.
 6. Manner begins with as
 7. Degree begins with than.
 8.Concession begins with though, although.