'Clauses' explained by Mrs. Lopamudra Mohapatra

1. CLAUSES
LOPAMUDRA MOHAPATRA,
PGT(ENGLISH)
DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL,CCL, GANDHI NAGAR, RANCHI

3. What is a phrase?
A phrase is a group of words that makes
some sense (not complete sense).
It does not have a finite verb.
Some examples:
Through the jungle
In a beautiful style
To win a prize
Birds in sky---words
B i r d s s k y- letters

4. THERE ARE FOUR KINDS OF SENTENCES WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT CLAUSES.
1.Simple sentence 2. Complex sentence 3. Compound
sentence 4. Compound -complex sentence
A SIMPLE SENTENCE CONSISTS OF AN INDEPENDENT
CLAUSE.
She has done a wonderful job.
She- subject
has done-verb
a job- object
has done a wonderful job- Predicate
SOME MORE EXAMPLES:
The child smiled happily.
The cat is sitting on the mat.
They have completed the project.

5. A COMPOUND SENTENCE HAS ONE OR MORE
INDEPENDENT CLAUSES.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
1.The sun rises in the east. 2. The sun sets in the west.
Night came on and rain fell heavily and we all got wet.
1, Night came on. 2. Rain fell heavily. 3. We all got wet.
Each part contains a Subject and a Predicate of its own and
forms part of a large sentence.
The clauses are independent of one another and are of equal
rank. They are Co-ordinate clauses. They are even called Main
or Principal clauses.
They are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction ’and’ can
stand alone when the conjunction is removed and parts are
shown separately.

6. A COMPLEX SENTENCE CONTAINS ATLEAST ONE
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE AND ONE OR MORE DEPENDENT
CLAUSES.
1.Shalini divorced her husband as she became a victim of
domestic violence (complex sentence with one
independent clause and one dependent clause)
Shalini divorced her husband- ( Independent clause or
Principal clause/Main clause)
An independent clause makes sense and is a complete
thought.
(As) she became a victim of domestic violence-
(Dependent clause /Subordinate clause)
A dependent clause / subordinate clause needs more
information to make sense.

7. 2. When I looked at the man, I realised that he was the
culprit.
I realised – Main clause
(that) he was the culprit – subordinate clause
(when) I looked at the man- subordinate clause
A dependent clause / subordinate clause needs more
information to make sense.
Sunshine only

8. A COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE CONTAINS
TWO OR MORE INDEPENDENT CLAUSES AND ONE
OR MORE DEPENDENT CLAUSES.
She was a singer and she took the decision that
she would cut a solo album which would make
her famous.
She was a singer- Co-ordinate clause
(and) she took the decision- Co-ordinate clause
(that) she would cut a solo album- Subordinate
clause
(which)would make her famous- Subordinate
clause

9. CLAUSES ARE JOINED BY CONJUNCTIONS. THEY
MAY BE
1.Co-ordinating conjunctions
And, as well as, or, otherwise, else, but, still, yet,
nevertheless etc.
Examples:1. They left home early and reached the station in
time.
2. Sonu as well as Monu wants the toy car.
3. Work hard, or you will not succeed.
4. Listen to your elders otherwise you will land up in trouble.

10. 2.Subordinating conjunctions
1.Before , till, since, after, when, as- talk about time
2.Because, as, since- show cause/reason
3.Than, whereas - do comparison
4.That, so that- state purpose
5.That - show result
6.If, unless- make condition
7.Although, even if- make concession
Examples:
1. She has written many books since she left college.
2. Since he had not studied hard, he failed the exam.
3. We should not spend more than we earn.
4. He toiled day and night so that he could send his son abroad for further
studies.
5. We verified that you cancelled your flight last night.
6. Unless they tell the truth, you cannot solve the mystery.
7. Although the child reached school late, the Principal allowed him to take the
test.

11. 3. Co-relative conjunctions
Either…or, neither…nor, both…and, so…that, as…so, not only …
but also, no sooner than, as…as
Examples:
1. Either the gate keeper or the milk man is to blame.
2. She is as cool as a cucumber.
3. As you sow, so shall you reap.
I would like to buy both a house and a car.
Both parts can stand alone as sentences/clauses.
The gate keeper is to blame.
The milk man is to blame.

12. TYPES OF CLAUSES(DEPENDENT CLAUSES) IN A
COMPLEX SENTENCE
Noun clause Adverb clause Adjective clause
A Noun clause does the work of a noun in a complex
sentence.
It usually gives answer to the question ‘what’.
Examples:
How he won the first prize is a mystery to all.(subject)
I cannot tell when she will return.(object)
This is where she lived.(Incomplete predication)
You have heard the proverb that silence is
golden.(Apposition)
I fear (that) he will not succeed.(zero ‘that’ clause)

13. An Adverb clause does the function of an
adverb.
Examples:
1. Sumit makes friends wherever he goes.(place)
2. If it rains, we shall go out to enjoy
ourselves.(condition)
3. She worked hard so that she could go
abroad.(purpose)
4. He visited the house while I was away.(time)

14. An Adjective clause , like an adjective modifies the noun.
The only difference is that an Adjective Clause always
follows the noun which it modifies.
Adjective clauses are introduced by the relative pronouns-
who(m), whose, which or that.
Examples:
1. The woman who writes poetry is our immediate
neighbour.
2. I cannot find the book that you wanted to borrow.

15. ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
Restrictive(defining) Non-restrictive(non-
defining)
1. The snake which/that drank water from the
water trough looked quite harmless.(restrictive
relative clause as it refers to that particular snake)
2. Snakes , which belong to the reptile family, are
dreaded creatures. (non-restrictive relative
clause)

16. Source: Google/internet Images