1. Copyright © 2018 C. Wade Naney
Begin
Copyright © 2018 C. Wade Naney

2. What Is a Clause? A clause is a word group forming a sentence
or part of a sentence and containing a
Okay, let’s make it simple.
subject and a predicate (verb).
Copyright 2018 © C. Wade Naney

3. A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
First, let’s stick to using the term “predicate.”
FORMAL
DEFINITION
A clause is a word group forming a sentence or part of a sentence and containing a subject and a predicate (verb).
The subject always includes a noun.
The predicate always includes a verb.
Example:
noun
verb
My nextdoor neighbor
is my best friend.
subject
predicate
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.

4. Now, we’ll look at a simple definition of clause.
Now that we know what a clause is, we’re ready to get started.
FORMAL
DEFINITION
A clause is a word group forming a sentence or part of a sentence and containing a subject and a predicate .
A clause is a group of words containing both a subject and a predicate.
OK!
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.

5. ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Where the event tomorrow night will be held.
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
Not every clause expresses a complete thought!
(in other words)
Not every clause can stand alone as a sentence.
(in other words)
Not every clause makes sense!
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
Example:
Where the event tomorrow night will be held.
____ complete thought
____ stand alone as a sentence
____ makes sense NO
—not by itself!

6. Where the event tomorrow night will be held.
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
As a writing error, the above is called a “sentence fragment” or an “incomplete sentence.”
(a major error at the high school level)
(a catastrophic error at the college level)
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
Alone, the clause has no purpose—what about the event tomorrow night?
As a “noun clause,” however, it can have purpose.

7. A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
Example 1:
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
Where the event tomorrow night will be held has not been announced.
In the above example, the clause is a noun clause serving the purpose of the sentence subject.
(For understanding, substitute the pronoun “it” in place of the clause.)
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
Example 2:
No one has announced where the event tomorrow night will be held.
In this example, the clause is a noun clause serving the purpose of a direct object.

8. Two Major Types of Clauses
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
The Independent Clause
Also called: The Main Clause
The independent clause can stand alone.
It does not “depend” on anything else to be a complete thought.
The Dependent Clause
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
Also called: The Subordinate Clause
The dependent clause cannot stand alone.
It is dependent because it depends on a main clause to complete its meaning in the sentence.

9. The Two Major Types of Clauses
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
The Independent Clause
The Dependent Clause
The independent clause can stand alone.
The independent clause cannot stand alone.
| Also called: The Main Clause
| Also called: The Subordinating Clause
Example Sentence:
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
It was time to begin, whether or not we were prepared.
Independent Clause
Dependent Clause
The above sentence is called a “complex sentence” because it consists of one independent and one dependent clause.
This is one of four sentence structures based on these two types of clauses.

10. The Four Sentence Structures
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
The Simple Sentence
A simple sentence contains only one independent clause.
Example
It was time to begin.
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
Independent Clause

11. The Four Sentence Structures
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
The Compound Sentence
A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses.
Example
The clock had struck seven, and it was time to begin.
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
Independent Clause
Independent Clause
The independent clauses above are connected by a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction.

12. The Four Sentence Structures
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
The complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
Example
It was time to begin, whether or not we were prepared.
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
Independent Clause
Dependent Clause
The dependent clause begins with a subordinate conjunction.
The subordinate conjunction “subordinates” its clause to the independent clause (makes it lower in rank).

13. The Four Sentence Structures
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
The Compound-Complex Sentence
A compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.
Example
The clock had struck seven, and it was time to begin, whether or not we were prepared.
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
Independent
Clause
Independent
Clause
Dependent Clause
Finally, we will consider three closely-related clause types.

14. Three Related Clause Types
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
The Relative Clause
Good Example
A relative clause is a clause that begins with a relative pronoun.
Complete List of Relative Pronouns
that which whichever
who whom whoever
whomever whose of which
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.

15. Three Related Clause Types
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
Nonrestrictive and Restrictive Clauses
A nonrestrictive clause is a dependent clause that is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Example
My uncle, who lives in Utah, is an attorney.
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
Nonrestrictive Clause
If we remove the nonrestrictive clause “who lives in Utah,” the meaning of the sentence remains the same.
My uncle is an attorney.

16. Three Related Clause Types
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
Nonrestrictive and Restrictive Clauses
A restrictive clause is a dependent clause that is essential to the meaning of the sentence.
Example
My uncle who lives in Utah is an attorney.
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
Restrictive Clause
If we remove the restrictive clause “who lives in Utah,” we don’t know which uncle is an attorney.
Is the attorney the writer’s Uncle Fred?
Or Uncle Joe?
Or maybe the uncle who lives in Oregon?

17. Three Related Clause Types
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
Nonrestrictive and Restrictive Clauses
So, what is the difference between the two examples?
My uncle who lives in Utah is an attorney.
Restrictive Clause
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
My uncle, who lives in Utah, is an attorney.
Nonrestrictive Clause
The nonrestrictive clause is always set off by commas.

18. A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
SIMPLE
DEFINITION
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate .
Conclusion
As the final examples illustrate, understanding the various types of clauses can be critically important in helping us to avoid misunderstanding in our reading and to make our meaning clear in our writing.
A clause always contains a subject and a predicate.
Bye!