Clauses
A clause has a subject and a predicate. Some stand alone; some lean on another.
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Clauses
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Independent
Adverbial
Noun clause
Relative
Independent clause: a complete sentence on its own
An independent clause has a subject and a predicate and makes sense on its own. A simple sentence is one independent clause; a compound sentence joins two of them.
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The experiment succeeded .
Complete on its own. An independent clause.
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A subject and a predicate that express a complete thought and can stand alone.
Adverbial clause: a dependent clause acting as an adverb
An adverbial clause is a dependent clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction (because, although, while, since). It modifies the main clause like an adverb, answering when, why, how, or under what condition. It cannot stand alone.
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Although the storm raged , the game continued .
A dependent clause acting as an adverb of concession. An adverbial clause.
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A dependent clause starting with a subordinating conjunction (because, when, although), telling when, why, or how.
Noun clause: a dependent clause that does a noun's job
A noun clause is a dependent clause that works as a noun, filling a subject or object slot. It usually begins with a complementizer (that, whether, what): I believe that the plan will work.
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She knows that he left .
That he left is the object of knows; a whole clause doing a noun's job. A noun clause.
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A dependent clause (often starting with that or whether) doing a noun's job.
Relative clause: a dependent clause that describes a noun
A relative clause (an adjective clause) is a dependent clause that modifies a noun. It begins with a relative pronoun (who, which, that, whose) that refers back to the noun it describes: the student who studied passed; the book that I read was long.
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The student who studied passed the test .
Who studied refers back to the student, describing which one. A relative clause.
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A dependent clause starting with who, which, or that, pointing back to a noun.
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