What is a Clause?
A clause is a group of related word that contains a subject as well as a verb.
A clause is a meaningful combination of words, as it can, alone, express a complete thought. A clause can be a simple sentence. Hence, clause is also sometimes defined as group of words having a subject and predicate.
It can also be said that each sentence consists of at least one clause.
Read the following simple examples of a clause:
- He laughed.
- I am sleeping.
- He sings song.
- The dark is barking.
The above examples reveal that a clause can be a simple sentence.
A clause can also be a part of a compound or complex sentence which consists of more than one clause.
Read the following examples:
- She is crying. (one clause)
- The patient died. (one clause)
- I waited for him, but he didn’t come. (two clauses)
- He is going to college, because he wants to meet his friend. (two clauses)
- My sister likes Biology, but I like Physics because I want to become an engineer. (three clauses)
A clause by definition is a combination of words having both subject and verb. Hence, a part of a simple sentence can also be viewed as a clause. Read the following examples:
- They are laughing at a joker.
- I saw him in the street.
- She cooks food in the kitchen.
Note: Clauses have two major types. Click to read: “Main Clause & Subordinate Clause”