Clause
Clause
Clause
COM } ON GOOGE
Introduction
An important aspect of English grammar is to understand the mutual relationship among the component
parts of a sentence. For this, a sentence has to be broken into various parts. This breaking up of a sentence
into its component parts in order to show their mutual relationship is called Analysis.
The Sentences
As we already know, a group of words which makes a complete sense is called a sentence, and every
sentence has a Finite Verb. For example:
He ate a sumptuous dinner.
She admires his courage.
Here ate and admires are Finite Verbs, thus they are sentences.
The Clause
The part of a sentence which has a subject and a Finite Verb is called a clause.
For Example:
The teacher told me that she would guide me.
In the above given sentence, 'that she would guide me' is a part of the whole sentence in which there is one
subject 'she' and one Finite Verb 'would guide'.
The entire part 'that she would guide me' is a clause.
Kinds of Clauses
Clauses are of three kinds.
(i) Principal Clause
(ii) Coordinate Clause
(iii) Sulpordinate Clause
Principal Clause
A clause which does not depend on any other clause is called a Principle Clause.
Coordinate Clause
This clause is totally independent as it does not depend on any clause for its meaning. These are simple
sentences which are joined together with coordinate conjunctions. But it becomes a helper after which this
clause comes.
For example:
Steve will go and Smith will come.
In this sentence, 'Steve will go' and 'Cyrus will come' are two independent Clauses but the first one is called a
Principal Clause and the second one is called a
Coordinate Clause connected by 'and'
Subordinate Clause
This clause is not independent as it does not make complete sense on its own. It is dependent on Principal
Clause to express its meaning.
The teacher asked the student why she came so late.
In the above given sentence, the clause 'why she came so late' is unable to make a complete sense, thus it is
a Subordinate Clause.
Noun Clause
A clause which acts as a noun or which is used in place of a noun is called a Noun Clause.
To identify the Noun Clause, a question is formed by adding 'what' to the main verb and the clause in which
we get its answer is the Noun Clause.
She told me that she was not keeping well.
What did she tell you a question 'that she was not keeping well' is an answer which is a Noun Clause.
Subject to a Verb
If any clause comes in place of the subject of a verb then that Noun Clause is a Subject to the verb.
When she will return is not sure.
In the above given sentence, '(it) is not sure' is the Principal Clause, and *when she' will return' is a subject
Noun Clause, subject to the verb 'is'
Object to a Verb
If any clause in a sentence takes the place of an object of a Finite Verb, then that
Noun Clause is called an object to the verb.
Do you know when the teacher will come?
In the above given sentence, 'Do you know' is the Principal Clauses; 'when the teacher will come' is a subject.
Noun Clause, object to the verb 'know'.
Object to an Infinite
If in a sentence, a clause begins after the infinite and which acts as an object, then that Noun Clause is an
object to the infinite.
Steve wants to say that he is not to blame.
In the above given sentence, 'Steve wants to say' is the Principal Clause, and 'that he is not blame' is a Sub.
Noun Clause, object to the infinitive 'to say'.
Object to a Preposition
If any Clause which comes after the preposition in the form of an object, then that
Noun Clause is an object to the preposition.
Her future depends on how she plans it now.
In this sentence, 'Her future depends on' is the Principal Clause, and 'how she plans it now' is a Sub. Noun
Clause, object to the preposition 'on'.
Object to a Participle
If any clause comes after any participle and acts as an object, then that Noun
Clause is an object to the participle.
Hoping that my friend would be in the house, I went there.
In the above given sentence, 'l went there, hoping' is the Principle Clause, and 'that my friend would be in
the house' is a Sub. Noun Clause, object to the participle 'hoping'.
It is important to note that if the participle is used before the sub. Clause, then while analyzing, the participle
is put at the end of the Principal Clause.
Adjective Clause
In a sentence, an Adjective Clause acts as an adjective, that is, it describes a noun or a pronoun of any other
clause.
These start with Relative Pronouns like who, whose, whom, that, which or as.
These also start with Relative Adverbs like when, where, why, how.
Adjective Clauses are used before nouns or pronouns beginning with who, whose, whom, that, which; for
time we use 'when' for place; 'where' for reason or cause 'why' for manner or way 'how'; for such + noun
'as'.
1. This is the man who has smashed the windowpane.
In this sentence, 'This is the man' is the Principal Clause; 'who has smashed the window pane' is a Sub.
Adjective Clause, qualifying the noun 'man'.
2. This is the place where I first met my wife.
In the above given sentence, 'This is the place' is the Principal Clause and 'where I first met my Wife' is a
Sub. Adjective Clause, qualifying the noun 'place'.
3. Sometime, a part of the Prindpal Clause comes before the Sub. Clause and the rest after it.
The girl who came here today is my classmate.
In this sentence, This girl is my classmate' is the Principal Clause, whereas 'came here today' is a Sub.
Adjective Clause, qualifying the noun 'girl'.
Adverb Clause
Adverb Clause is that Subordinate Clause which modifies the verb, adjective or adverb coming in any other
clause. It informs about the following things:
(i) Time
(ii) Place
(iii) Purpose
(iv) Reason or Cause
(v) Manner
(vi) Extent
(vii) Condition
(viii) Result
(ix) Comparison
(x) Contrast
James asked his younger brother why he came here. (Subordinate Clause)
Answer: Why he came here
This is the boy who has got highest marks in the examination. (Sub. Adjective Clause)
Answer: Who has got highest marks in the examination?
The father asked Serena why she came so late. (Subordinate Clause)
(A) Why she came so late (B) The father asked
(C) So late (D) Late
(E) The father asked Serena
1. Adverb Clause is that Subordinate Clause which modifies the verb, adjective or adverb coming in any other
clause.
2. A clause which does not depend on any other clause is called a Principle Clause.
3. A clause which does not depend on any other clause is called a Principle Clause.
4. This clause is totally independent as it does not depend on any clause for its meaning.
5. A clause which does not depend on any other clause is called a Principle Clause.
6. Adverb Clause is that Subordinate Clause which modifies the verb, adjective or adverb coming in any other
clause.
8. This clause expresses the extent of the statement and generally begins with any of these Subordinating
Conjunctions as far as, so far as, etc.
9. This clause is not independent as it does not make complete sense on its own. It is dependent on Principal
Clause to express its meaning.
10. This clause is totally independent as it does not depend on any clause for its meaning.
Answer
1. A 2. B 3. C 4. D 5. E 6. C 7. D 8. E 9. A 10. B