Clause

Def: A clause is a part of a sentence that must have a subject and a finite verb.

Eg: I met him on the way. When he will come is uncertain.

Types: Clause is of three types:

• Principal Clause.
• Subordinate Clause.
• Coordinate Clause.

i) Principal Clause: A clause that is independent and does not require any help to clear its sense, is called principal clause.

Eg: I know the man who did it. I met him on the way.

ii) Subordinate Clause: A clause that is dependent on other clause, is called subordinate clause. Eg: I know nothing of what he will do. It is true that he has come.

* Types: Subordinate Clause is of three types:

a) Noun Clause: It is usually introduced by „that‟, expressed or understood or by an interrogation pronoun or an interrogation adverb.

Eg: That he is ill is known to all.

When he will come is uncertain.

I know he will go.

He said that he would work.

b) Adjective Clause: It is generally introduced by:

Relative pronoun: Who, Which, That, As.

Relative Adverb: When, Where, How, Why, As, etc.

Eg: This is the boy who did it.

I know when he comes.

This is why he failed.

c) Adverbial Clause: It is generally introduced by:

i) 'when, while, after, before, till, until, since, etc' for adverbial clause of time.

Eg: Wait until I come.

He came when I called.

ii) 'where, wherever, whence, etc' for adverbial clause of place.

Eg: Stay where you are.

You are seen wherever I go.

iii) 'because, as, since, that, etc' for adverbial clause of reason or cause.

Eg: I was absent because I was ill.

He was so angry that he broke the glass.

iv) 'that, in order that, so that, etc' for adverbial clause of purpose.

Eg: Study hard in order to pass the exam.

We read that we may learn.

v) 'that, so…that, such…that' for adverbial clause of result.

Eg: I am so tired that I cannot run.

He is such a fool that he faced the problem.

vi) 'if, unless, in case, whether, on condition, provided, etc' for

adverbial clause of condition.

Eg: If I succeed I shall help you.

I shall not go unless you come.

vii) 'though, although, even, even if, etc' for adverbial clause of

concession.

Eg: Though he is poor, he is honest.

Even if you fail, don‟t lose your hope.

viii) 'so…as, such…as, as…as, than, the, etc' for adverbial clause of

comparison or degree.

Eg: He is not so tall as his brother.

He is as wise as you.

ix) 'who and which' for the relatives.

Eg: My brother who is ill can‟t come.

I have bought a dog which will guard my house.

iii) Co-ordinate Clause: An independent word that joins two or more sentence to form a compound sentence, is called co-ordinate clause. Eg: „Or, Yet, But, Neither…nor, Either…or, Nevertheless‟ etc.

Eg: Study hard or you will fail.

He is ill yet he is present.