Your Guide to Building Better Sentences
When you’re learning English, you might hear a lot about clauses. But what exactly are they, and why are they important? This guide will break down the basics of clauses and show you how they help make sentences complete and interesting. Let’s get started!
What is a Clause?
A clause is a group of words that includes a subject (the “who” or “what” of the sentence) and a verb (the action or state). Clauses are the building blocks of sentences, and understanding them is key to creating complex sentences that express complete thoughts.
Some clauses can stand alone as complete sentences, while others need to be connected to an independent clause to make sense. Here’s why understanding clauses will help you in both writing and speaking English:
- They let you form longer, more descriptive sentences.
- They help you link ideas together smoothly.
- They make your sentences sound more natural and fluent.
Types of Clauses
Let’s break down the two main types of clauses in English: independent clauses and dependent clauses.
1. Independent Clauses
An independent clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that can stand alone as a complete sentence. It expresses a complete thought, so it doesn’t need any extra information to make sense.
Examples:
- “She walked to the store.”
- “I enjoy reading.”
Each example can stand alone as a sentence because it’s a complete idea.
2. Dependent (Subordinate) Clauses
A dependent clause also has a subject and a verb, but it does not express a complete thought. This means it cannot stand alone as a sentence; it needs an independent clause to make sense. Dependent clauses often start with words like because, when, if, although, and since.
Examples:
- “because it was raining”
- “when he arrived”
- “if she calls”
These clauses need more information to form a complete thought. For example:
- “She stayed home because it was raining.”
- “Let me know if she calls.”
Types of Dependent Clauses
Now, let’s look at some different types of dependent clauses and their functions.
Adverbial Clauses
An adverbial clause provides more information about the verb in the main clause, often explaining when, why, where, or how something happened. These clauses start with words like because, although, if, when, since, and while.
Example: “She stayed home because she felt sick.”
Here, the clause “because she felt sick” explains why she stayed home.
Adjective (Relative) Clauses
An adjective clause (also called a relative clause) describes a noun. These clauses usually start with who, whom, whose, that, or which.
Example: “The book that I borrowed was fascinating.”
The clause “that I borrowed” gives more information about the book.
Noun Clauses
A noun clause acts as a noun in the sentence. It can be the subject, object, or complement and often starts with words like what, whatever, who, whoever, that, etc.
Example: “What she said surprised everyone.”
In this example, “What she said” is a noun clause acting as the subject of the sentence.
How to Identify Clauses in Sentences
To start identifying clauses in sentences, follow these steps:
- Look for a Subject and Verb: Identify any group of words with both a subject and a verb.
- Check if It’s a Complete Thought: If the clause can stand alone as a sentence, it’s independent. If it needs more information, it’s dependent.
- Notice Clause Markers: Many dependent clauses start with words like because, when, who, that, if, although, etc.
Example: In the sentence, “I’ll go to the park if it’s sunny,” the clause “if it’s sunny” is a dependent (adverbial) clause, explaining when the main action will happen.
Why Clauses Matter in English Writing and Speaking
Clauses give you the tools to create complex sentences. With them, you can:
- Link Ideas: Instead of many short sentences, you can connect ideas smoothly.
- Express More Detail: Clauses let you add extra information to your sentences without sounding repetitive.
- Sound More Natural: Using different types of clauses helps make your English sound more fluent and natural.
Practice: Try Identifying and Using Clauses!
Here are a couple of exercises to help you get comfortable with clauses:
- Identify the Clause Type: Look at the following clauses and decide if they are independent or dependent.
- “While she was studying”
- “He finished his homework”
- “Although it was late”
- Combine Sentences Using Clauses: Practice combining short sentences with conjunctions and clause markers to make complex sentences.
- Example: “She was tired. She stayed up late.” → “Although she was tired, she stayed up late.”
Final Thoughts
Understanding clauses is a major step in improving your English skills. Start paying attention to clauses in sentences you read and hear in English, and practice using different types of clauses in your own sentences. The more you practice, the more natural your sentences will sound!