Types of Clauses: Definition, Examples and Sample Questions

A clause is a component of a sentence that contains a verb. Typically, a clause contains a subject and a predicate. Generally, the predicate is either a verb or a verb phrase with objects. A clause can only contain one subject and one verb. The subject of the clause can be hidden or null, but the verb or verb phrase is always apparent. The combination of these form a full sentence. 

According to Merriam-Webster, a clause is a “group of words containing a subject and predicate and functioning as a member of a complex or compound sentence.”         

For example:

• A clear blue sky welcomed me in Kashmir.

In the above clause, the subject is ‘a clear blue sky’ and the verb is ‘welcomed’.

• She cannot remember what happened last night.

In the above clause, the subject is ‘what’ and ‘happened’ is a verb.

Majorly, there are two types of clauses, i.e. Independent Clause and Dependent Clause. The Independent Clause is a complete sentence and a Dependent Clause is not. Let’s learn about the two clauses in detail below.

Independent Clause: An Independent Clause is also called the Main Clause. Independent Clause is a type of clause which contains a subject and a verb. It expresses a complete meaningful thought. This clause can stand alone as a complete sentence. This type of a clause can also join other independent clauses or dependent clauses to make a compound sentence using coordinators such as and, but, nor, or, for, etc. In other words, independent clauses are grammatically complete statements.

Independent Clause examples:

• Sarah brushed her long golden hair.
• Erica enjoys sitting by the fireplace and reading.
• The planets revolve around the sun.
• She can hardly wait to watch the movie.

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Dependent Clause: Dependent Clause is also known as the Subordinate Clause. As the name suggests, a clause which cannot stand alone as a complete meaningful sentence is called the dependent clause. This clause also has a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. The thought or idea expressed by a dependent clause is unfinished. The dependent clause must be joined using subordinates with another clause to make a meaningful sentence. Let’s take a look at some example of dependent clause. The dependent clauses are underlined.

Dependent Clause example:

• If that’s a corn sandwich, I’m having it.
• They went for a walk while the sun was still out.
• I am not cleaning the dishes unless Parker helps.
• When she was dating Peter, she had an accident.

Types of Dependent Clauses

The Dependent Clauses are further categorized as Noun Clause, Adjective Clause, Adverb Clause. Let’s learn more about them below.

Noun Clause: A noun clause is a group of words with a verb and a subject which act as a noun. These clauses often begin with words such as that, what, when, how, who, why, where, etc. In a noun clause, no commas are used.

For example:

• How she behaved was not acceptable.
• He didn’t know where he was.
• She knows that her business will be successful.
• Billy is not sure where he went.

Adjective Clause:  An Adjective Clause is also known as the Relative Clause. These clauses modify the noun or the pronoun in the sentence. It answers the questions such as ‘What kind?’, ‘How many?’, ‘Which one?’, etc.

For example:

• Women who are not married are called spinsters.
• Delhi is the city where I was born.
• The diary which is black is mine.
• Last month, we travelled to Agra, which is famous for Taj Mahal.

Adverb Clause: A clause which works as an adverb and has a subject and predicate of its own is called the Adverb Clause. Adverb clauses often answer questions of time, place, cause, purpose, condition, etc.

For example:

• He got a parking ticket because he parked illegally.
• When she won the lottery, she decided to buy a car.
• Shreya drove wherever she wanted.
• My dog, although he is shy, loves people.

Conditional Clause: This type of dependent clause is used to convey some kind of possibility or probability. It begins with conditional conjunction.

For example:

• If the traffic isn’t heavy, Rahul will arrive by 4:00 PM.
• Elen will be home for dinner in time unless her boss decides that she has to work late.
• I will buy the cello tape, when I go to the market.

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If you've understood the Clauses, you can take a test to check your knowledge. Clauses appear in MBA entrance exams in the form of fill in the blanks. Listed below are a few types of clauses and options to choose the type from.

Q1. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– Sarah helped me when I was in danger.

A.(a) Adjective Clause (b) Adverb Clause (c) Noun Clause (d) Conditional Clause

Q2. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– This is the boy who talked to me yesterday.

A.(a) Adjective Clause (b) Adverb Clause (c) Noun Clause (d) Conditional Clause

Q3. Find the clause and the type of the clause in the sentence– She made a vow that she would not eat meat for a week.

A.(a) She made a vow, Adjective Clause (b) eat meat, Adverb Clause (c) that she would, Noun Clause (d)None of the above

Q4. Find the clause and the type of the clause in the sentence– Have you heard that Saroj has won the prize?

A.(a) that Saroj has won the prize, Noun Clause (b) that Saroj has won the prize, Adjective Clause (c) Have you heard, Conditional Clause (d) Have you heard that Saroj, Noun Clause

Q5. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– Some people buy expensive watches because they can.

A.(a) Noun Clause (b) Independent Clause (c) Adjective Clause (d) Adverb Clause

Q6. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– Which is the guy who stole your car?

A.(a)Adjective Clause (b)Adverb Clause (c) Noun Clause (d) Conditional Clause

Q7. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– Rahul has lost the ticket which he bought.

A.(a)Noun Clause (b)Adjective Clause (c) Adverb Clause (d) None of the above

Q8. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– Although he thought he was a good driver, he got a lot of tickets for speeding.

A.(a)Noun Clause (b)Adjective Clause (c) Adverb Clause (d) None of the above

Q9. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– The insurers need to know what they should do.

A.(a)Noun Clause (b)Adjective Clause (c) Adverb Clause (d) None of the above

Q10. Find the clause and the type of clause in the sentence– I will wait until the next bus comes.

A.(a) Until the next bus comes, Noun Clause (b) I will wait, Noun Clause (c) I will wait until, Adjective Clause (d) Until the next bus comes, Adverb Clause

Q11. Find the clause and the type of clause in the sentence– Where are the people whom she knew?

A. (a) Where are the people/ Conditional Clause (b) people whom/ Independent clause (c) people whom she knew/ Adjective clause (d) No clause

Q12. Find the clause and the type of clause in the sentence– I think that she will pass out.

A. (a) I think that/ Noun Clause (b) she will pass out/ Adverb Clause (c) that she will/ Noun Clause (d) None of the above

Q13. Identify the adverb clause in the sentence– He lied to my face as if I knew nothing.

A. (a) She lied (b) I knew nothing (c) in my face (d) as if I knew nothing

Q14. What type of clause is the following? She went down the road.

A. (a) Dependent clause (b) Independent clause (c) Adverb clause (d) None of the above

Q15. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– I know a girl whose father is in the army.

A. (a) Adjective clause (b) Adverb clause (c) Independent clause (d) Noun clause

Q16. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– Everybody says he was a brave man. 

A. (a) Adverb clause (b) Adjective clause (c) Noun clause

Q17. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– My parents were happy because I woke up early. 

A. (a) Adverb clause (b) Adjective clause (c) Noun clause

Q18. Identify the type of clause in the sentence–This is the boy who raced past me yesterday in the street. 

A. (a) Adverb clause (b) Adjective clause (c) Noun clause

Q19. Identify the clause in the sentence– He bought an expensive car because he can.

Q20. Identify the clause in the sentence– Elena owns the book that has a blue cover.

Q21. Identify the clause in the sentence– Sheila who lives by the river was seen walking with alone.

Q22. What type of clause is the following? She went to the dance class at 6 pm.

(a) Dependent clause (b) Independent clause (c) Adverb clause (d) None of the above

Q23. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– I know a boy whose mother is a teacher.

(a) Adjective clause (b) Adverb clause (c) Independent clause (d) Noun clause

Q24. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– Everybody says John was a kind man. 

(a) Adverb clause (b) Adjective clause (c) Noun clause

Q25. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– My brother was happy because I gave him a guitar as gift. 

(a) Adverb clause (b) Adjective clause (c) Noun clause

Q26. Identify the type of clause in the sentence–This is the crossing where I dropped my wallet. 

(a) Adverb clause (b) Adjective clause (c) Noun clause

Q27. Identify the type of clause in the sentence–This is the shop from where I bought my sports shoes. 

(a) Adverb clause (b) Adjective clause (c) Noun clause

Q28. Identify the type of clause in the sentence– The students need to know what topics they should study for the exam.

(a)Noun Clause (b)Adjective Clause (c) Adverb Clause (d) None of the above

Q29. Identify the adverb clause in the sentence– I was so shocked with the revelation, as if I knew nothing before.

(a) I was (b) with the (c) as if (d) as if I knew nothing

Answers:

Q1. (b) Q2. (a) Q3. (c) Q4. (a) Q5. (d) Q6. (a) Q7. (b) Q8. (c) Q9. (a) Q10. (d)  Q11. (c)  Q12. (c)  Q13. (d)  Q14. (b)  Q15. (a) Q16. (c) Q17. (a) Q18. (b) Q19. because Q20. that Q21. who Q22. (b) Q23. (a) Q24. (c) Q25. (a) Q26. (b) Q27. (b) Q28 (a)  Q29. (d)

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