Importance of Clause

Ms. Sonia Goswami Assistant Professor

MGMT

Clause

Group of words that forms part of a sentence, has a Subject & a predicate of its own

Clause Types- Independent Clause Dependent Clause

Let’s start with a simple sentence…

I bought a book.This sentence has the three basic elements

required of either a simple sentence or a clause:

Subject = IVerb = boughtObject = a book

While my mother drank her coffee, I bought a book.

Now, let’s add another clause …

While my mother drank her coffee, I bought a book.

Now we have a two clause sentence, but these clauses are not the same.

The original clause I bought a book can stand on its own as a simple sentence. It expresses a complete thought by itself. Therefore, it is called an independent clause.

Independent Clause (IC)

An independent clause is a S + V / O bject or C omplement or A dverbial unit that expresses a complete thought and could

stand on its own as a simple sentence.

Whether you find an independent clause by itself as a simple sentence or joined with other clauses, you will be able to identify it because it:

is a S+V/ unit that expresses a complete thought

But what about the other clause?

While my mother drank her coffee, I bought a book.

If we only consider the first clause, while my mother drank her coffee, we are left with a question in our minds, “What happened while your mother drank her coffee?!” This clause can not stand on its own as a simple sentence. It requires another clause to a complete its meaning. Therefore, it is called an dependent clause.

Dependent Clause (DC)

A dependent clause is a S + V / O bject or C omplement or A dverbial

unit that does not express a complete thought and can not stand on its own as a simple sentence.

A dependent clause must always be connected to an independent clause. You will be able to identify it because it:

is a S+V/ unit that does not express a complete thought on its own

What Makes a Sentence?

Peter ate dinner.Subject = noun,

pronoun or “noun thing” (such as a gerund or noun phrase) that does an action or experiences a state of being

Verb = expresses

the action or “state”of the subject

Object = noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb

Peter ate dinner.Peter ate dinner.Peter ate dinner.

This is also a sentence …

Peter is happy.

Subject Verb Complement

A complement is a great deal like an object, but it differs in that is does not “receive” the action a verb. Instead it “is” the subject. Complements can be nouns or adjectives. The key to understanding them is understanding the verbs that they follow.

Peter is happy.Peter is happy.Peter is happy.

Verbs that take complements … (thank you very much!)

Intensive Verbs such as be and feel do not have action moving “out” of them to affect a noun. Instead they hold action “within” them.

Peter threw the bone. Peter is happy.

The verb threw is NOT an intensive verb (the action moves out of it to affect the object).

The verb is IS an intensive verb: Peter and happy are the same thing, so the mathematical equal sign better represents the “action” of this intensive verb.

Look at the images above the verbs in the following sentences:

Common Intensive English Verbs

be feel seem became

Remember that these verbs can be followed by nouns or adjectives. Either way, the words that follow intensive verbs “are” or “equal” the subjects before the verb … that is how you can identify a complement.

NOTE: this type of verb can also be called “linking” or “stative” verbs.

EXAMPLE: Peter is a teacher. Peter is happy.

Noun as a complementAdjective as a complement

And this is also a sentence …

Peter was in the kitchen.Subject = noun,

pronoun or “noun thing” (such as a gerund or noun phrase) that does an action or experiences a state of being

Verb = expresses

the action or “state”of the subject

Adverbial = adverb or group of words that tells where, when, why or how the verb happened.

Peter was in the kitchen.Peter was in the kitchen.Peter was in the kitchen.

More Adverbial Examples

Peter was a student last year.

Peter drive quickly.

Peter went to New York to visit his aunt.

Sentence Components

S + V / O

So, we can symbolize the basic components of a sentence in the following way:

Where: S = subject (a noun or pronoun that does an action)V = verb (the action itself)/ = “optional” some verbs do not need an O, C or A O = object (a noun or pronoun that receives an action)C = complement (an adjective or noun that is the subject)A = adverbial (an adverbial that tells more about the action)

or Cor A

Dependent Clauses

There are 3 different types of dependent clauses.

• Noun Clause (NC)

• Adjective Clause (AdjC)

• Adverb Clause (AdvC)

Noun Clause (NC)

• [S+V/] that acts like a noun• Example: I think [you are sick]. I think [you are sick].

S V OObjects are nouns; this entire clause acts like a singular noun, so it is a noun clause.

• NCs usually follow verbs as objects or complements•“Answers” the question “What?”• Example:

• Q: What do you think?• A: I think Spiderman is the best superhero.

Noun Clause (NC) -- continued

• NCs can begin with “that”• “that” is a subordinating conjunction that

• joins it to an IC• makes the clause it begins depend on the IC to complete its meaning.

• “that” is often omitted by native speakers:• Example:

I think that Spiderman is the best superhero.I think Spiderman is the best superhero.

Adjective Clause (AdjC)

• [S+V/] that acts like an adjective

• Example: The story [that I am reading] is sad. S V

This entire clause acts like an adjective, so it is an adjective clause.

• AdjCs follow nouns• Often start with relative pronouns

• but the relative pronoun can be omitted • if the clause has another noun to serve as the subject •EX: The story [I am reading]is sad.

relative pronoun

[that I am reading]

Adjective Clauses

Play the role of an adjective The umbrella with a broken handle is mine The umbrella which has a broken handle is mine

[Which umbrella ?]

Second sentence contains a subject & a predicate

Phrase !!!!

Adjective Clause !!!

Special properties of Adjective Clause• Introduced by a relative pronoun or

relative adverb– He is the man whom we all respect– The time when the boat leaves is not yet

fixed– The reason why I did it is obvious

• Relative pronoun (or adverb) may be missing– Eat all ^ you can (that is understood)– I saw a man ^ I know (whom is understood)

There are only five words which introduceadjective clauses. They are called relativepronouns because they relate the clause tosomething in the sentence. These five words

are: Who Whom Whose Which That

More Examples of adjective clauses

The books, which are lost, are not really necessary.

The girl who is running is my best friend. Something that smells bad may be rotten. His share of the money, which consists of

$100,000, was given to him on Monday. Students whom I admire want to become

English teachers.

Adverb Clause (AdvC)

• [S+V/] that acts like an adverb• Example: [After we drove to the mall] , we

looked for a bookstore. This clause gives information about how or why the action happened, so it acts like an adverb.

• AdvCs always begin with a subordinating conjunction• after although as because before even though if since unless until when

Adverb Clauses

• Kinds of Adverb Clauses– Time– Place– Purpose– Clause– Condition– Result– Comparison– Supposition or Concession

Adverb Clauses: Time

Introduced by subordinating conjunctions whenever, while, after, before, since, as When you have finished your work you may go

home. I will do it when I think fit. Don’t talk while she is singing. After the law had been passed this form of crime

ceased. Do it before you forget. Before you go bring me some water. There was silence as the leader spoke.

Adverb Clause: Place

Where, wherever I have put it where I can find it again. They can stay where they are. Where you live I will live. He led the caravan wherever he wanted

to go.

Adverb Clause: Purpose

So that, in order that, lest I will give you a map so that you find the

way. We eat so that we may live. The UNO was formed in order that

countries might discuss world problems. He was extra polite to his seniors lest

something adverse should be written into his records.

Adverb Clause: Cause/Reason• Because, as, since, that– Because I believe you, I shall help you.– I did it because I wanted to.– Since you are so clever you will be able to

explain this.– Since you swear to me, I will employ you.– I am glad that you like it.– He was very pleased that you have passed.– As he was not there, I spoke to his brother.

Adverb Clause: Condition

If, whether, unless If I like it, I shall buy it. Come, if you wish to. If it rains we shall stay at home. You must go whether you hear from him

or not. Whether Ram gives him money or not,

he will speak the truth. Unless you work hard you will fail.

Phrase

One way to define a phrase is to say it is a group of words that “belong together” in terms of meaning but do not have both a subject and a verb.

Phrase = a group of words that acts like one word

Phrase S + V

Another way to think of a phrase is to think of how it works within a sentence. When you think of a phrase this way, you can define it as:

Phraseexample

Here is a phrase:1. the gym at the end of the street

It functions as the subject of the sentence and subjects are nouns.

It acts like a noun The gym at the end of the street is new.

Before we start, see if you can identify these clauses It was a bright morning. As he was walking down the corridor. You will sing a long song Unless you decide not to come. Because he was not normal that day. The cave was full of bats Since the first of the month. (You can view the answers on the next

slide.)

Grey-- Independent clausesPurple-- dependent clauses

It was a bright morning. As he was walking down the corridor. You will sing a long song. Unless you decide not to come. Because he was not normal that day. The cave was full of bats. Since the first of the month.

Identify clauses He arrived just as the clock struck seven. I will write when I know of our whereabouts. As he entered the room, everyone cheered. They laughed as they saw the movie. Since you left, we have had beautiful weather. You should observe because it is important. If you come home, you can see the present. If wishes were horses, we would all take a ride. From where I stood, I could see all. I shall attend school until I am at least eighteen

years old

Independent -- dependent He arrived just as the clock struck seven. I will write when I know of our whereabouts. As he entered the room, everyone cheered. They laughed as they saw the movie. Since you left, we have had beautiful weather. You should observe because it is important. If you come home, you can see the present. If wishes were horses, we would all take a ride. From where I stood, I could see all. I shall attend school until I am at least eighteen

years old.

Identify clauses: Before another day passes, you should call Fred. By the time I arrived at the store, I had forgotten my

file. While listening to the radio, she did her weekly tasks. Think twice before you answer. As we drove through the country, we could see the

results of the flood. The lady who was at the door admitted us when she

checked our identification. They listened for the sound since it was the key to the

puzzle. Always look before you leap. The green house was ready when we arrived with the

roses.

Independent -- dependent Before another day passes, you should call Fred.

By the time I arrived at the store, I had forgotten my file.

While listening to the radio, she did her weekly tasks. Think twice before you answer. As we drove through the country, we could see the

results of the flood. The lady who was at the door admitted us when she

checked our identification. They listened for the sound since it was the key to the

puzzle. Always look before you leap. The green house was ready when we arrived with the

roses.

THANK YOU