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Clauses

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Last updated date: 22nd Mar 2024
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Types of Clauses

‘Clauses’ is a very important chapter in English grammar and carries significant marks in the CBSE syllabus. There are many types of clauses. Knowing each type by definition and application is crucial for building a strong base in the English language. No matter how simply you are asked to write, having a clear knowledge of clauses helps you to sharpen your written communication skills. However, before learning about the types of clauses, you must know the meaning of ‘clause’ and its general application. So, here you go…


What is the Meaning of ‘Clause?’

Clauses, in English, are a group of words or phrases with only one subject and one finite verb. The subject may be hidden but the verb should be distinguishable. The verb can be a single word (i.e. as “worked,” “played,” or “sang”) or contain helping verbs (i.e. “will eat” or “has been writing”). A phrase is a group of words that doesn’t have a subject, a predicate, finite verb which makes no sense independently and can be added to a sentence as an adjective, noun or adverb. Whereas we can add a clause to expand a sentence meaningfully, but unlike a phrase, a clause may have a proper sense like a sentence, as it has a subject and a predicate i.e. finite verb. Let us see what is a clause example:

I fell from the bed. (One clause sentence)

When I came here, I met Diaz. (Two clause sentence)

When I came here, I met Diaz, and she waved at me. (Three clause sentence)

Let us get greater insight into the different clauses and their types along with clause examples. 


Kinds of clauses

There are two major types of clauses in English grammar:

  • Independent or Principal Clause

To explain what is meant by an independent clause, we must know that it consists of a subject and a finite verb makes complete sense by itself. Thus, it is a complete sentence by itself.

For Example

Go back to the town.

He is handsome but he is stupid.

Principal clause

  • Subordinate or Dependent Clause

A subordinate or dependent clause expresses an incomplete intent and cannot function on its own. To complete a sentence, dependent clauses are joined with independent clauses with the help of subordinators as a subordinate clause cannot form a complete sentence alone.

In each of the dependent clauses, the first word is a subordinator i.e. relative pronouns, subordinating conjunctions, and noun clause markers.

For example

If that’s a taco, I’m having it.

Here “if” is a subordinator connecting the independent clause “I’m having it” with “that’s a taco”.

Subordinate clauses can be further divided into different varieties. Here are the types of clauses with examples:

  • Adverbial Clauses

These are groups of words that modify verbs, other adverbs, or adjectives and are used to explain when, where, why, how, how much, or under what circumstances the action of the sentence took place. 

For example

Since dad will be home early, I have to leave now.

  • Adjective Clause

It is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun in a sentence, hence acting as an adjective. It starts with a pronoun like who, whose, that or which. Adjective clause examples are:

Green vegetables, which many people dislike, are filled with nutrients.

My dog Pasha, who loves mangoes, eats them under the dining table.

  • Noun Clauses

These are a group of words that are bound together to behave like a noun. Nouns clauses are dependent clauses that are used when a single word is not enough. They often begin with words like how, that, what, when, where, which, who, why. For example:

Raju did not know where he was.

What she said at the party was not acceptable.

  • Conditional Clauses

Such a clause usually begins with if or unless and describes something likely or feasible.

  • For Example 

Unless it rains tomorrow, I will go to school. 

  • Relative Clauses

A relative clause is connected to the main clause by a word such as which, what, that, whom, etc.

  • For example

I was wearing a dress that I bought for my reception. 


There are Two Different Types of Clauses that are Relative

  • Restrictive Relative clause: without this, the sentence does not make much sense.

    • It reminded me of my school which is more than a hundred years old.

  • Non-Restrictive Relative Clause: this provides extra information.

    • The lady distributed woolens, which the old man took.

For rapid improvement in the quality of writing it is crucial to know where to use the exact types of clauses correctly. It enhances the ability to communicate with an audience drawing their direct attention and avoiding apprehensive sentence fragments.

FAQs on Clauses

1. How to identify subordinate clauses?

To identify a subordinate clause, one must know that a subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence due to the absence of a subject and a finite verb. In a sentence, the main clause i.e. independent clause, when read out makes complete sense, whereas the subordinate clause forms an incomplete sentence fragment. The clause following subordinators like relative pronoun (that, who, which etc) and subordinate conjunctions (unless, if, as if etc ) can be identified as a subordinate clause.


For example:

After the dog spilled the milk on the carpet, I called in the deep cleaners.


In the above sentence “after” is the subordinator, thus the “the dog spilled the milk on the carpet” dependent clause.

2. How can independent clauses be connected?

There are three basic ways to join independent clauses:

Adding a Comma and a Conjunction: A comma and conjunction indicate a pause after which the conjunction helps to proceed with the idea.

E.g. And - She stepped into the room, threw her bag on the sofa, and went straight for a shower.


Semicolons indicate the right amount of pause while still connecting the major ideas. They are especially suited for joining two independent clauses.

E.g. I didn’t eat the last taco; I ate the last piece of pizza.


Conjunctive adverbs along with semicolons are well suited to join independent clauses or two complete sentences. They connect two sensible ideas within one sentence. These adverbs balance and contrast items, list events or exemplify cause and effect. 

E.g. I went to the mall; however, the dress I was looking for was out of stock.

3. What is the purpose of English clauses?

The clause can serve three different functions: It can serve as an adverb, an adjective, or as a noun. 


To illustrate what a noun clause looks like, here is an example:

Her understanding of everything he said was perfect.

It allows him to communicate the specific "thing" that she, the subject of the sentence, understands. Thus, everything he said is a dependent clause that functions as a noun. The sentence still makes perfect sense if everything he said is replaced by his explanation:

His explanation made complete sense to her.


You can test the noun clause status of any clause by substituting a noun for it. Noun clauses are usually used in sentences that still make sense. I will illustrate more noun clauses using swapped-in nouns by giving two examples:

The topic covered by the keynote speaker was still fresh in their minds.

After attending the presentation, they remembered the topic covered by the keynote speaker.

4. What type of clauses are there? 

A clause that is independent of the rest of the sentence is called a clause that stands on its own. Some examples are listed below:

  • Cookie eating is my favorite pastime.

  • I bark a lot when my dog is around. 

  • Lunch was eaten by the kids.

  • He drives a green truck. 

An independent clause is not a long or complex sentence as you have seen. Simple sentences are certainly capable of being included in complex sentences but, by definition, they are called simple sentences. As well as complex sentences and compound sentences, compound-complex sentences can also be classified as sentences. Independent clauses are combined with dependent clauses to make each type of sentence. Immediately, we will talk about creating different kinds of sentences by combining clauses.

5. Clauses that depend on another

Unlike independent clauses, dependent clauses do not complete a statement. Often referred to as subordinate clauses, dependent clauses to independent clauses are needed to make these clauses clear.ses to clearly express ideas. Among some examples of dependent clauses:

  • Growing up

  • despite singing well

  • there was a mouse in the closet

Adding independent clauses to the dependent clauses will turn them into complete sentences:

  • In the future, I would like to become a doctor.

  • He hates karaoke, even though he can sing well.

  • The mouse was hiding in the basement, so I searched through it.

Compare the first two and the last one in each of these sentences and find out how they differ.  


In the first two examples, the dependent clause comes before the independent clause and the two clauses are separated by commas. If you're writing complex sentences, a comma is placed after the dependent clause whenever it comes first.  Interested in more topics like this, Click Vedantu

6. How to Incorporate clauses in a sentence

It's important to combine clauses when writing sentences with more than one independent clause. At least one clause should be independent in every sentence you write. How you combine the other clauses in your sentence with your independent clause depends on how they fit together. 


An independent clause combined with a compound clause is referred to as a compound sentence. When two or more clauses are grouped, the commas and conjunctions, semicolons, or colons connect them. The coordination of such sentences is the function of the comma. Consider the following examples of compound sentences:

Even though I enjoy drinking soda, I am aware that it is bad for my teeth.


Mariana enjoyed hosting dinner parties for her friends; her cooking was appreciated by them.


The band played until midnight, and we had a great time dancing until they finished.

The conjunction can be used when all the clauses you are using are independent. Coordinating conjunctions in English are: 

  • for

  • and 

  • nor

  • but

  • or

  • yet

  • So

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