Examples of which clauses

A clause may include the verb predicate as well. But, it must include at least the subject and verb to be considered a clause. Examples of clauses:. It should be noted, too, that a clause in a sentence is different from a phrase in that it must contain a subject and a verb.

Independent clause definition: An independent clause can stand alone in a sentence. It contains a subject and a verb in its smallest form. A clause may also include modifiers and a verb predicate. It is a complete thought and the smallest unit of grammar that is syntactically accurate. The entire sentence is an independent clause because it is a complete thought statement.

For more information on independent clauses, click here. Dependent clause definition: Dependent clauses contain a subject and verb. However, they cannot stand alone as an independent thought. One clause sentence When I came here , I saw him.

Two clause sentence When I came here , I saw him, and he greeted me. Three clause sentence Types of Clause Clauses are mainly of two types: Independent Clause Dependent Clause Independent Clause An independent clause functions on its own to make a meaningful sentence and looks much like a regular sentence.

Example : He is a wise man. I like him. Can you do it? Do it please. Subject you is hidden I read the whole story. Two independent clauses He went to London and visited the Lords.

Alex smiles whenever he sees her. One independent clause Dependent Clause A dependent clause cannot function on its own because it leaves an idea or thought unfinished. Compound sentences are made up of two or more main clauses linked by a conjunction such as and , but , or so , as in the following examples:.

A subordinate clause depends on a main clause for its meaning. Together with a main clause, a subordinate clause forms part of a complex sentence. Here are two examples of sentences containing subordinate clauses:. A conditional clause is one that usually begins with if or unless and describes something that is possible or probable :. A relative clause is one connected to a main clause by a word such as which , that , whom , whose , when , where, or who :. Have you ever wondered about when to use that and when to use which or who in this type of sentence?

In fact, for much of the time that is interchangeable with either of these words. When referring to something, rather than someone, that tends to be the usual choice in everyday writing and conversation in British English.

However, there is one main case when you should not use that to introduce a relative clause. This is related to the fact that there are two types of relative clause: a restrictive relative clause and a non-restrictive relative clause.