Types of Clauses in English with Functions and Examples
I welcome you dear classmates to our platform again. This post gives a taste of all Types of Clauses in English & Functions with Examples. Before we look at the diverse clause types, let us try to definine the clause.
Definition of a Clause
A clause is an important unit in grammar , we spot it by the components it could include the subject, predicator, complement and the adjunct. A clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb that forms a simple sentence or part of complex sentence. The bounded verb is most central to what forms a clause.
Types of Clauses in English with Functions and Examples
There are diverse clauses types which we shall start to examine one by one…
The Main Clause
This is a centeral clause in English. It extract a complete idea and can standby it-self as a sentence. The main clause is also known as an independent or alpha clause. This clause does not need another clause to express itself.
Examples of Main Clause:
- She ran up the stairs.
- The man rescued several children.
- The detectives solved the mystery and closed the case.
- The FBI operative arrested the cartel leaders.
- I like apples and grapefruit juice.
- The boy had a heart transplant.
- Sinbad lost all his possessions.
- She likes sport.
- You should drink something.
- We called the cops but the thieves escaped.
If a sentence has more than one main clause linked by a coordinating conjunction, we refer to that as either a compound sentence or a multiple sentence.
The Subordinate Clause
The subordinate clause is a clause that does not extract a complete idea and cannot standby itself since its meaning depends on the subject of the main clause. A subordinate clause gives additional information to the mainone. Subordinating conjunctions usually introduce the subordinate clause in a sentence . We also call to the subordinate clause as dependent or beta clause.
Examples of the subordinate clause include:
- When I arrive next-week, I will pay the check.
- If it snows, close all the windows.
- While reading a book on the train, he lost his wallet.
- Despite sleeping so late the father woke up early.
- The driver whose bus hit a pedestrian has been arrested.
- Unless the girl agrees, the wedding cannot hold.
- The girl who likes to sleep a lot missed the test.
Finite Clause
A finite clause is a clause that contains a finite verb. By finite verb, we mean a verb that can be inflected to show tense. We can also call a finite verb as a verb that is tied to the subject.
Consider these examples:
- That the store opens
- The boys are walking the streets every night.
- When the sun sets , the farmers will start planting.
- She feeds her pet regularly.
- We meet up weekend.
- She has a bad attitude.
The Non-Finite Clause
This clause contains a non-finite verb; In general, the verb is not linked to the subject. It may take the following forms:
Progressive form of the verb
- Starting a business at late age is quite ambitious.
- Standing for a long time is not healthy.
- Reading ahead of examination should be a commonplace among students.
Perfective form of the verb
- Taken aback by the accident, he left the scene.
- Seen by many authors, he could not deny anymore.
- Captured by the beauty of the forest, he promised to visit us again.
The Noun Clause
A noun clause extract the function of a noun within a sentence, or functions like the nominal group. Noun clauses acts as an indirect or direct objects, nominatives, objects of a preposition, subject of the verb, object of the verb, subject or object complement, prepositional complement, etc.
Examples of Noun Clauses
- That he will come today is unknown.
- Going-back at this time is not favourable.
- Why we came here has not been mentioned.
- To work hard without tools is very disappointing.
- Whoever comes late leaves for the final competition.
- He did not announce what he came to do.
- We will do whatever our boss says.
The Adverbial Clause
An adverbial clause is a clause that functions of an adverb in a sentence. An adverb modifies the verb in the sentence. It gives answers to the questions: ‘where’, ‘when’, ‘why’, ‘how’, etc. The adverbial clause has various types. These include: Adverbial Clause of time, place, manner, reason, condition, concession, purpose, comparison, etc.
Examples of Adverbial Clause
- While the bus driver was making a call, the bus got off the road.
- When he saw his lost son, he broke down in tears.
- He got a gift where he went to teach the students.
- Some politicians behave as if they would stay in life forever.
- The girl wakes up early because she has to catch the bus.
The Relative Clause
the relative clause functions with adjectives and by this, it also has the name, adjectival clause. Adjectives are words that modifies or gives information about nouns or pronouns in a sentence. We can split up the relative clause into two main categories. There are two types of the relative clause. The first is the Restrictive Relative Clause which we also named as the Defining Clause or the Qualifying Clause. The second one is the Non-Restrictive Relative Clause which we can call the Non-Defining or the Non-Qualifying clause.
Examples of Relative Clause
- The meat which she spent so much to buy was already eaten.
- Abdo whose bag was stolen has returned home.
- The manI told you about is married.
- The student, who studied so hard, passed the test.
- The grains, which we did not pack up, will not leave the work-shop.
In Conclusion
There are a lot of types which students of English Department and all who desire to be sound in English need to learn. This post covered briefly these clauses with examples. Do share these posts; sharing is just a button away; click it below! sharing is caring...💖💖