International TEFL InstituteClauses
A clause is a group of words that contain a subject and a verb. Sometimes a clause by itself can make a short sentence. Sometimes clauses are put together to make longer sentences. We will deal with three types of sentences.
Simple Sentences
Look at the first example:
- Chris ate fish and chips.
In this sentence there is one main clause: “Chris ate fish and chips”. The subject is “Chris” and the verb is “ate”. Sentences with one main clause are called simple sentences.
Compound Sentences
Look at the second example:
- Chris ate fish and chips but Amy drank a bottle of beer.
In this sentence there are two main clauses: “Chris ate fish and chips” and “Amy drank a bottle of beer”.
These pieces of information are equally important. In the first clause, the subject is “Chris” and the verb is “ate”. In the second clause, the subject is “Amy” and the verb is “drank”. Sentences with two main clauses are called compound sentences. The clauses in a compound sentence are usually separated by the conjunctions ‘and’, ‘or’, ‘but’, and ‘yet’.
Complex Sentences
Look at the third example:
- Chris, who works at the Odeon cinema, ate fish and chips.
In this sentence, there are two clauses: one is the main clause, while the other is a subordinate clause.
The main clause is “Chris ate fish and chips” because this is the focus of the sentence.
The subordinate clause is “who works at the Odeon cinema” because it is an aside, an extra piece of information. If we take out the subordinate clause, it will still leave the sentence complete. However, if we take out the main clause, the subordinate clause will not make sense on its own.
Sentences with one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses are called complex sentences.
Subordinate Clauses
A subordinate clause can precede, interrupt or even follow the main clause.
In these examples the subordinate clause precedes the main clause:
- Although Chris wasn’t hungry, he ordered fish and chips.
- Despite feeling ill, Catherine decided to go to work.
- Even though he didn’t want to, Mark took his daughter to college.
In these examples, the subordinate clause interrupts the main clause:
- Chris, who works at the Odeon cinema, ate fish and chips.
- Catherine, who stayed up late the night before, woke up feeling ill.
- Mark, who had a shed load of work to do, took his daughter to college.
In these examples, the subordinate clause follows the main clause:
- Chris ate fish and chips, which he purchased from the local takeaway near the Odeon cinema.
- Catherine decided to go to work, despite feeling ill.
- Mark took his daughter to college, even though he had many things to do.
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