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You are here: Home / Lessons / What is a clause?

What is a clause?

July 14, 2015 - pdf

A clause is a group of words with a subject and a predicate. A clause can make a sentence. A simple sentence consists of just one clause.

Study the examples given below.

  • He took out his pen and started writing.

The above sentence has two clauses:

  1. He took out his pen.
  2. He started writing.

The two clauses are connected using the coordinating conjunction ‘and’.

Another example is given below.

  • I will help him because I like him.

The above sentence also has two clauses:

  1. I will help him.
  2. I like him.

The two clauses are connected using the subordinating conjunction ‘because’.

There are two types of clauses: coordinate clause and subordinate clause

When a sentence consists of two clauses of equal rank, they are called coordinate clauses.

Consider the sentence given below.

  • I went to Delhi, but I could not meet him.

The above sentence has two clauses:

1. I went to Delhi.

2. I could not meet him.

Both clauses make complete sense and can stand independently. They are connected by the conjunction ‘but’.

When two independent clauses are connected by a coordinating conjunction, we get a compound sentence.

The first part of the compound sentence is called the main or principal clause. The second part which is connected to the first part with a coordinating conjunction is called the coordinate clause.

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