Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-3-2-clauses [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [English Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language.md) › [AQA](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa.md) › Clauses # Clauses English Language: AQA A Level, topic 1.3.2 ## 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 ![Minor sentence / fragment](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-09/81595a11-207e-491c-958b-8d538fdc1459/ea9e4490-6730-42dd-8886-467b1d2f92ad.png) - 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 ![Minor sentence - examples](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-11/224030c5-1ff7-40fc-915c-e63504482dc7/shrug-woman-.png) - How odd! - Yes, please. - I promise. ### Simple sentence ![Simple sentence](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/17112315-22f3-47dc-abca-914628dba306/cat-dream-sleep-rest-lazy-.jpg) - A sentence with a single subject and the SVO order. - For example: __'the cat sat on the mat'__. ### Simple sentence - examples ![Simple sentence - examples](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/dfc821d8-5038-440e-be03-b10b986cfa8d/dog-owner.jpg) - I walked my dog. - Billy ate a burger. - Justine has lovely hair. ### Compound sentence ![Compound sentence](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-09/13722615-c699-415e-b6bf-0e540abad49f/14a34bd1-3bdb-4987-a93d-bd8c9d1e32c7.png) - 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 ![Compound sentence - example](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/bb265599-bc6d-4296-9bff-d8e863720e94/microphone-boy-shouting-screaming-singing-.jpg) - 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 ![Complex sentence](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-11/35f54b0a-8aff-46f3-90eb-170e7f9c900a/cat-paws-.jpg) - 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 ![Complex sentence - examples](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-09/06a797bd-b9a4-4108-95c1-52c0050b6420/af98e148-b529-4898-99aa-d81da1aaeffa.png) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/765b91b7-556b-4a17-9c37-cdec7f552ec7/friends-hug.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/physics/1.4.2%20Equilibrium/math-1500720_640-min.jpg) - **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 ![Parenthetical clauses](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/459800df-71f8-4d84-9de6-1287d2172c14/wrong-number.jpg) - 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 ![Parenthetical clauses - examples](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/biology/1.1.2%20-%20Cell%20specialisation/muscles-811479_640-min.jpg) - 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 ![Relative clauses](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-09/a7baab4a-aa6f-4d21-a477-34518c65fb4e/fa8fc3f8-0d63-4610-9748-b0a0a3db9dd0.png) - 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 ![Relative clauses - examples](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/memory-location-images/London,%20UK-min.jpeg) - 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. ## Test yourself on Clauses - How do we order words in a grammatically standard sentence? - What type of sentence is this?I am going to hand in my notice, for I hate my job. - What type of clause is in bold?**Although I am hungry,** I should not snack before dinner. - Which of these contain relative clauses? - What type of clause is in bold?Mickey, __who is a well-known mouse,__ loves Minnie. [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/1e248169-fb0c-4ca7-9692-7c46f316728b/section/03d1a088-24e2-454a-b080-7365da7a306f/session) - Previous topic: [1.3.1 Morphology](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-3-1-morphology.md) - Next topic: [1.3.3 Phrases](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-3-3-phrases.md) ## English Language: AQA A Level contents ### 1 Language Levels - 1.1 Assessment Objectives - [1.1.1 Assessment Objectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-1-1-assessment-objectives.md) - 1.2 Lexis - [1.2.1 Introduction](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-1-introduction.md) - [1.2.2 Common, Proper, Abstract & Concrete Nouns](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-2-common-proper-abstract-and-concrete-nouns.md) - [1.2.3 Collective Nouns](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-3-collective-nouns.md) - [1.2.4 Adjectives](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-4-adjectives.md) - [1.2.5 Main, Auxiliary & Copular Verbs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-5-main-auxiliary-and-copular-verbs.md) - [1.2.6 Dynamic & Stative Verbs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-6-dynamic-and-stative-verbs.md) - [1.2.7 Transitive, Intransitive, Active & Passive Verbs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-7-transitive-intransitive-active-and-passive-verbs.md) - [1.2.8 Mood of Verbs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-8-mood-of-verbs.md) - [1.2.9 Adverbs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-9-adverbs.md) - [1.2.10 Personal, Possessive & Reflexive Pronouns](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-10-personal-possessive-and-reflexive-pronouns.md) - [1.2.11 Relative & Demonstrative Pronouns](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-11-relative-and-demonstrative-pronouns.md) - [1.2.12 Determiners](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-12-determiners.md) - [1.2.13 Conjunctions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-13-conjunctions.md) - [1.2.14 Synonyms, Antonyms & Phonological Features](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-14-synonyms-antonyms-and-phonological-features.md) - [1.2.15 End of Topic Test - Lexis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-2-15-end-of-topic-test-lexis.md) - 1.3 Grammar - [1.3.1 Morphology](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-3-1-morphology.md) - [1.3.2 Clauses](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-3-2-clauses.md) - [1.3.3 Phrases](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-3-3-phrases.md) - [1.3.4 Present Tense](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-3-4-present-tense.md) - [1.3.5 Past Tense](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-3-5-past-tense.md) - [1.3.6 Future Tense](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-3-6-future-tense.md) - [1.3.7 End of Topic Test - Grammar](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-3-7-end-of-topic-test-grammar.md) - 1.4 Semantics & Pragmatics - [1.4.1 Semantics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-4-1-semantics.md) - [1.4.2 Pragmatics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-4-2-pragmatics.md) - 1.5 Discourse Structure, Graphology & Orthography - [1.5.1 Discourse Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-5-1-discourse-structure.md) - [1.5.2 Graphology & Orthography](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-5-2-graphology-and-orthography.md) - [1.5.3 End of Topic Test - Semantics, Graphology etc.](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/1-5-3-end-of-topic-test-semantics-graphology-etc.md) ### 2 Language, The Individual & Society - 2.1 Children’s Language Development - [2.1.1 The Exam](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-1-1-the-exam.md) - [2.1.2 Phonemes, Vocal Tract & Articulation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-1-2-phonemes-vocal-tract-and-articulation.md) - [2.1.3 Writing About Phonemes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-1-3-writing-about-phonemes.md) - [2.1.4 Phonological Simplification](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-1-4-phonological-simplification.md) - [2.1.5 A Child's First Year & Consonant Acquisition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-1-5-a-childs-first-year-and-consonant-acquisition.md) - [2.1.6 Beginning Stages of Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-1-6-beginning-stages-of-language.md) - [2.1.7 Lexical Development](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-1-7-lexical-development.md) - [2.1.8 Stages of Development](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-1-8-stages-of-development.md) - [2.1.9 End of Topic Test - Child Language Development](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-1-9-end-of-topic-test-child-language-development.md) - 2.2 Children's Language Development - Theories - [2.2.1 Behaviourism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-2-1-behaviourism.md) - [2.2.2 Interactionism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-2-2-interactionism.md) - [2.2.3 Challenging Interactionism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-2-3-challenging-interactionism.md) - [2.2.4 Nativism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-2-4-nativism.md) - [2.2.5 Nativism - Exam Answer](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-2-5-nativism-exam-answer.md) - [2.2.6 Cognitivism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-2-6-cognitivism.md) - [2.2.7 Social Constructionism](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-2-7-social-constructionism.md) - [2.2.8 Writing About Spoken Acquisition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-2-8-writing-about-spoken-acquisition.md) - [2.2.9 End of Topic Test - Development Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-2-9-end-of-topic-test-development-theories.md) - 2.3 Literacy Development: Reading - [2.3.1 Introduction](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-3-1-introduction.md) - [2.3.2 Phonics vs Whole Word](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-3-2-phonics-vs-whole-word.md) - [2.3.3 Debates in Reading](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-3-3-debates-in-reading.md) - [2.3.4 Modelling Reading Acquisition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-3-4-modelling-reading-acquisition.md) - [2.3.5 Other Reading Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-3-5-other-reading-theories.md) - [2.3.6 End of Topic Test - Reading](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-3-6-end-of-topic-test-reading.md) - 2.4 Literacy Development: Writing - [2.4.1 Orthography](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-4-1-orthography.md) - [2.4.2 Kroll's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-4-2-krolls-theory.md) - [2.4.3 Barclay's Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-4-3-barclays-theory.md) - [2.4.4 Creativity vs Accuracy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-4-4-creativity-vs-accuracy.md) - [2.4.5 Other Writing Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-4-5-other-writing-theories.md) - [2.4.6 The Exam](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-4-6-the-exam.md) - [2.4.7 End of Topic Test - Writing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/2-4-7-end-of-topic-test-writing.md) ### 3 Language Diversity & Change - 3.1 The Importance of Gendered Language - [3.1.1 Writing About Gender](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-1-1-writing-about-gender.md) - [3.1.2 Dominance Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-1-2-dominance-theory.md) - [3.1.3 Interruptions - Zimmerman & West](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-1-3-interruptions-zimmerman-and-west.md) - [3.1.4 Deficit Theory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-1-4-deficit-theory.md) - [3.1.5 Difference Model](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-1-5-difference-model.md) - [3.1.6 Difference Model - Men](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-1-6-difference-model-men.md) - [3.1.7 Diversity Model](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-1-7-diversity-model.md) - [3.1.8 End of Topic Test - Gendered Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-1-8-end-of-topic-test-gendered-language.md) - 3.2 Social Groups - [3.2.1 Writing About Social Groups](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-2-1-writing-about-social-groups.md) - [3.2.2 Social Class](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-2-2-social-class.md) - [3.2.3 Social Class 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-2-3-social-class-2.md) - [3.2.4 Age](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-2-4-age.md) - [3.2.5 Age - Teen Speak](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-2-5-age-teen-speak.md) - [3.2.6 Milroy’s Belfast Study](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-2-6-milroys-belfast-study.md) - [3.2.7 Labov’s Martha’s Vineyard Study](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-2-7-labovs-marthas-vineyard-study.md) - [3.2.8 End of Topic Test - Social Groups](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-2-8-end-of-topic-test-social-groups.md) - 3.3 Occupational Groups - [3.3.1 Writing About Occupational Groups](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-3-1-writing-about-occupational-groups.md) - [3.3.2 Jargon](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-3-2-jargon.md) - [3.3.3 Conversations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-3-3-conversations.md) - [3.3.4 Hierarchy & Power](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-3-4-hierarchy-and-power.md) - [3.3.5 End of Topic Test - Occupational Groups](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-3-5-end-of-topic-test-occupational-groups.md) - 3.4 Accents & Dialects - [3.4.1 Writing About Accent & Dialect](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-4-1-writing-about-accent-and-dialect.md) - [3.4.2 Introduction to Accents & Dialects](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-4-2-introduction-to-accents-and-dialects.md) - [3.4.3 Accents - Matched Guide Experiment](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-4-3-accents-matched-guide-experiment.md) - [3.4.4 Accents - Received Pronunciation & Brummie](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-4-4-accents-received-pronunciation-and-brummie.md) - [3.4.5 Dialects - Dialectal Variations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-4-5-dialects-dialectal-variations.md) - [3.4.6 Accent & Dialect Case Study - London](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-4-6-accent-and-dialect-case-study-london.md) - [3.4.7 End of Topic Test - Accents & Dialects](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-4-7-end-of-topic-test-accents-and-dialects.md) - 3.5 Language Change - [3.5.1 Writing About Language Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-5-1-writing-about-language-change.md) - [3.5.2 Modelling Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-5-2-modelling-change.md) - [3.5.3 Modelling Change 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-5-3-modelling-change-2.md) - [3.5.4 Lexical Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-5-4-lexical-change.md) - [3.5.5 Semantic Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-5-5-semantic-change.md) - [3.5.6 End of Topic Test - Language Change](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-5-6-end-of-topic-test-language-change.md) - 3.6 History of English - [3.6.1 Old English](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-6-1-old-english.md) - [3.6.2 Old English 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-6-2-old-english-2.md) - [3.6.3 Middle English](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-6-3-middle-english.md) - [3.6.4 Middle English 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-6-4-middle-english-2.md) - [3.6.5 Early Modern English](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-6-5-early-modern-english.md) - [3.6.6 Late Modern English](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-6-6-late-modern-english.md) - [3.6.7 Present Day English](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-6-7-present-day-english.md) - [3.6.8 Global English](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-6-8-global-english.md) - [3.6.9 American English](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-6-9-american-english.md) - [3.6.10 Modelling Global English](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-6-10-modelling-global-english.md) - [3.6.11 End of Topic Test - History of English](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-language/aqa/3-6-11-end-of-topic-test-history-of-english.md)