Clauses

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Grammar - Sentence Types

Sentences are made up of clauses, and these clauses take many different forms. The best way to look at clauses is to look at different types of sentences:

Minor sentence / fragment

A minor sentence or fragment is NOT an independent full sentence.
- For example: ‘we paid’.
Note that this sentence has a subject (we) and a verb (paid), but no object. Without an SVO order (subject, verb, object), it is not a grammatically standard sentence.

Minor sentence - examples

How odd!
Yes, please.
I promise.

Simple sentence

A sentence with a single subject and the SVO order.
- For example: 'the cat sat on the mat'.

Simple sentence - examples

I walked my dog.
Billy ate a burger.
Justine has lovely hair.

Compound sentence

A single sentence with two simple sentences joined by a conjunction.
- For example: 'The cat sat on the mat and licked his paws'.

Compound sentence - example

James likes to sing and he is very good at it.
Matt is a kind boy but he often does nasty things.
Roger is a fool for he is in love!

Complex sentence

A single sentence which contains a main clause and a subordinate clause.
The subordinate clause can be isolated from the sentence, but won’t make sense.
The main clause can be isolated from the sentence and still make sense.
- For example: 'Licking his paws, the cat sat on the mat'.
- ‘Licking his paws’ doesn’t make sense on its own, whereas ‘the cat sat on the mat’ does.

Complex sentence - examples

Although I am young, I am very wise.
Since you have asked, I will tell you.
Because you are so beautiful, I fancy you.

Grammar - Subordinate, Relative and Parenthetical Clauses

Sentences are made up of clauses, and these clauses take many different forms.

Subordinate clauses

Subordinate clauses are indicated by commas and can appear at any point in the sentences.
- For example: 'Although he is shy, Jascha has lots of friends.'

$Subordinate clauses - examples$

Subordinate clauses - examples

Since you are so clever, you should be able to work out the solution to the problem.
When you are older, I will tell you everything you need to know.
I will love you, even if you stop loving me.

Parenthetical clauses

We give a subordinate clause a special name when it occurs in brackets or dashes. We call these parenthetical clauses.
- For example: Cameron answered the phone (even though he did not want to).

Parenthetical clauses - examples

My father is very fit (despite his old age).
My brother - who often lies - claims he is going to a homework club on Friday evening.
I love my girlfriend so much (even when she steals all of my clothes).

Relative clauses

The last type of clause you need to know is a relative clause.
Relative clauses use a relative pronoun (see section of relative pronouns if you are unsure).
- For example: ‘the cat, who was sitting on the mat, licked his paws’.

Relative clauses - examples

Billie, who is my best friend, is very good at football.
- 'Who' is the relative pronoun introducing the relative clause.
My mother lives in London, which is my favourite city.
- 'Which' is the relative pronoun introducing the relative clause.
Molly likes Benjamin, whom she sits next to in English.
- 'Whom' is the relative pronoun introducing the relative clause.