clause

noun
\ ˈklȯz \
Definition of clause
1: a group of words containing a subject and predicate and functioning as a member
of a complex (see COMPLEX ENTRY 2 SENSE 1B(2)) or compound
(see COMPOUND ENTRY 2 SENSE 3B) sentenceThe sentence "When it rained they
went inside" consists of two clauses: "when it rained" and "they went inside."
2: a separate section of a discourse (see DISCOURSE ENTRY 1 SENSE 2) or
writingspecifically : a distinct article in a formal documenta clause in a contract
T H E C L A U S E Recognize a clause w hen you see one.

Clauses come in four

types: main [or independent], subordinate [ordependent], relative [or adjective],
and noun. Every clause has at least a subject and a verb. Other characteristics will
help you distinguish one type of clause from another.

Main Clauses

Every main clause will follow this pattern:

SUBJECT + VERB = COMPLETE THOUGHT .

Here are some examples:

Lazy students whine.

Students = subject; whine = verb.

Cola spilled over the glass and splashed onto the counter.

Cola = subject; spilled, splashed = verbs.

My dog loves pizza crusts.

Dog = subject; loves = verb.

The important point to remember is that every sentence must have at least one main
clause. Otherwise, you have a fragment, a major error.
Subordinate Clauses

A subordinate clause will follow this pattern:

SUBORDINATE CONJUNCTION + SUBJECT + VERB = INCOMPLETE

THOUGHT .

Here are some examples:

W henever lazy students whine

Whenever = subordinate conjunction; students = subject;whine = verb.

As cola spilled over the glass and splashed onto the counter

As = subordinate conjunction; cola = subject; spilled,splashed = verbs.

Because my dog loves pizza crusts

Because = subordinate conjunction; dog = subject; loves = verb.

The important point to remember about subordinate clauses is that they

can never stand alone as complete sentences. To complete the thought, you must
attach each subordinate clause to a main clause.

Generally, the punctuation looks like this:

MAIN CLAUSE + Ø + SUBORDINATE CLAUSE .

SUBORDINATE CLAUSE + , + MAIN CLAUSE .

Check out these revisions to the subordinate clauses above:

Whenever lazy students whine, Mrs. Russell throws chalk erasers

at their heads.

Anthony ran for the paper towels as cola spilled over the glass
and splashed onto the counter .

Because my dog loves pizza crusts , he never barks at the

deliveryman.
Relative Clauses

A relative clause will begin with a relative pronoun [such

as who, whom, whose, which, or that] or a relative adverb [when, where, or why].

The patterns look like these:

RELATIVE PRONOUN OR ADVERB + SUBJECT + VERB = INCOMPLETE

THOUGHT.

RELATIVE PRONOUN AS SUBJECT + VERB = INCOMPLETE THOUGHT .

Here are some examples:

W hom Mrs. Russell hit in the head with a chalk eraser

Whom = relative pronoun; Mrs. Russell = subject; hit = verb.

W here he chews and drools with great enthusiasm

Where = relative adverb; he = subject; chews, drools = verbs.

That had spilled over the glass and splashed onto the counter

That = relative pronoun; had spilled, splashed = verbs.

W ho loves pizza crusts

Who = relative pronoun; loves = verb.

Like subordinate clauses, relative clauses cannot stand alone as complete sentences.
You must connect them to main clauses to finish the thought.

Look at these revisions of the relative clauses above:

The lazy students whom Mrs. Russell hit in the head with a chalk
eraser soon learned to keep their complaints to themselves.

My dog Floyd, who loves pizza crusts, eats them under the
kitchen table, where he chews and drools with great
enthusiasm.

Anthony ran to get paper towels for the cola that had spilled over
the glass and splashed onto the counter .
Punctuating relative clauses can be tricky. You must decide if the relative clause
is essential or nonessential and then use commas accordingly.

Essential relative clauses do not require commas. A relative clause is essential when
you need the information it provides.

Look at this example:

A dog that eats too much pizza will soon develop pepperoni
breath.

Dog is nonspecific. To know which dog we are talking about, we must have the
information in the relative clause. Thus, the relative clause is essential and requires no
commas.

If, however, we revise dog and choose more specific words instead, the relative clause
becomes nonessential and does require commas to separate it from the rest of the
sentence.

Read this revision:

My dog Floyd, who eats too much pizza, has developed pepperoni
breath.

Noun Clauses

Any clause that functions as a noun becomes a noun clause. Look at this example:

You really do not want to know the ingredients in Aunt Nancy's

stew.

Ingredients = noun.

If we replace the noun ingredients with a clause, we have a noun clause:

You really do not want to know what Aunt Nancy adds to her
stew.

What Aunt Nancy adds to her stew = noun clause.

INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES

Understanding the difference between independent and dependent clauses is
important in understanding how to construct sentences and avoid fragments.
This knowledge can also help in varying sentence length in writing, which
makes all forms of writing better (More on sentence length).

Before understanding the different types of clauses, it is important to

understand what a clause is. A clause is a group of related words that
contains both a subject and a verb. On the other hand, if a group of related
words does not contain a subject with an attached verb, it is simply a phrase.

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand on its own as a

sentence: it has a subject, a verb, and is a complete thought.

Examples:

 He ran. (Notice that while this sentence only contains two words, it is
still a complete sentence because it contains a one word subject and a
one word predicate that is also a complete thought.)
 He ran fast.
 I was late to work.
 The paper does not specify which type of format it must be in.
 The instructor spent the class period reviewing the difference between
independent and dependent clauses.

A dependent clause is a group of words that also contains a subject and a

verb, but it is not a complete thought. Because it is not a complete thought, a
dependent clause cannot stand on its own as a sentence; it is dependent on
being attached to an independent clause to form a sentence.

Examples:

 Because I woke up late this morning… (what happened?)

 When we arrived in class… (what occurred?)
 If my neighbor does not pay his rent on time… (what will happen?)

Dependent clauses can often be identified by words called dependent

markers, which are usually subordinating conjunctions. If a clause begins with
one of these words, it is dependent and needs to be attached to an
independent clause. (Common dependent markers: after, as, although,
because, before, even though, if, once, rather than, since, that, though,
unless, until, when, whenever, whereas, while, among others.)

Note: Just because an independent clause can stand on its own doesn’t mean
it has to. For instance, one or more independent clauses can be added
together to form a compound sentence, and independent clauses can be
added to dependent clauses to form complex sentences. (More on the
different types of sentences)

What Is a Subordinating Conjunction?

Catherine Traffis
BASICS

A subordinating conjunction is a word or phrase that links a dependent clause to an

independent clause. This word or phrase indicates that a clause has informative value

to add to the sentence’s main idea, signaling a cause-and-effect relationship or a shift in

time and place between the two clauses.

Sound complicated? Let’s break it down.

A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, is a clause with two specific

qualities. Firstly, it does not express a complete unit of thought on its own; it cannot

stand as its own sentence. Secondly, it depends upon an independent clause—one that

can stand on its own as a complete sentence—to form a complete idea. If independent

and dependent clauses could be likened to Batman and Robin, the dependent,

or subordinate clause would be Robin, Batman’s assistant. The independent, main

clause would be Batman, his superhero boss.

Subordinating Conjunctions Showing Cause and Effect

The subordinating conjunction that is simplest to explain is because. Because is a

conjunction with just one purpose: to show a cause-and-effect relationship between a

subordinate clause and a main clause. On its own, a clause beginning with becauseis

incomplete.

Because he wouldn’t wear a seat belt.

We have the sense that there is something missing here. Let’s add an independent

clause so this statement has something to lean on.

Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer.

Now we will combine the two in a complex sentence.

Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer because he wouldn’t wear a seatbelt.

In this sentence, “Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer” is an independent

clause. It could stand on its own as a complete sentence. A clause that shows a causal

relationship such as “because he wouldn’t wear a seatbelt” (answering the question

“Why?” or “For what purpose?” is often referred to as a clause of purpose.

Other subordinating conjunctions that can show cause-and-effect relationships and

function in the same way are for, as, since, therefore, hence, as a result,

consequently, though, due to, provided that, because of, unless, as a result

of, and so/so that.

Batman required strict compliance with seat belt rules, hence Robin was not allowed to
ride in the Batmobile.

Since Robin refused to wear his seat belt, Batman has banned him from the Batmobile.
Subordinating Conjunctions Signaling Relationships of Time or Place

Another function of subordinating conjunctions is to show a relationship between two

clauses involving a transition of time or place. Some examples of such subordinating

conjunctions are once, while, when, whenever, where, wherever, before, and after.

Once Batman learned that Robin had not been wearing his seatbelt, he took away his
keys to the Batmobile.

Robin looked regretfully at the Batmobile whenever he passed it in the Batcave.

After Batman was done working for the night, Robin took a secret ride in the Batmobile.

Before Robin gets his job in the Batcave back, he must promi

Comma Placement and Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions that fall in the middle of a sentence are generally not

preceded by a comma. This is the opposite of what is done with coordinating

conjunctions, or words that join two independent clauses (for, and, nor, but, or,

yet,and sometimes so).

When a subordinate clause begins a sentence, however, the whole clause (but not the

subordinating conjunction itself) is followed by a comma.

Whenever, Batman was away, Robin drove the Batmobile.

Whenever Batman was away, Robin drove the Batmobile.

Robin drove the Batmobile, whenever Batman was away.

Robin drove the Batmobile whenever Batman was away.