Clauses
Clauses are groups of words that contain a subject and a verb, and they come in two main types: independent clauses that can stand alone and dependent clauses that add extra meaning. Understanding how clauses work helps you build clear and nuanced sentences.
Independent Clauses
An independent clause has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought, so it can stand alone as a sentence. You can join independent clauses with coordinating conjunctions or punctuation to show their relationship.
Examples
Examples
| English Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| 🍂 Leaves are falling, | 🔥 we made a campfire. |
| 🌙 The stars are bright, | 🛶 they rowed across the lake. |
| 🎡 The carnival lights glow, | 🍿 friends share popcorn. |
| 🎨 She painted a sunset, | 🎸 band plays on the hill. |
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Dependent Clauses
A dependent clause also has a subject and a verb but begins with a word that makes it rely on another clause for meaning; it cannot stand alone. Dependent clauses function as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns to add detail, time, reason, condition, and more.
Adjective Clauses
An adjective clause (relative clause) modifies a noun and usually begins with a relative pronoun like who, which, or that. It provides essential or extra information about the noun.
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Adverb Clauses
An adverb clause modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb and begins with a subordinating conjunction such as because, although, if, or when. It tells time, reason, condition, purpose, or contrast.
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Noun Clauses
A noun clause acts as a subject, object, or complement and often starts with words like that, what, whether, or why. It functions as a single noun within the larger sentence.
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Coordinating Conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions join two independent clauses and show relationships like addition, contrast, or cause. The main coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.
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Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses and link them to an independent clause while showing time, cause, condition, and more. Common subordinating conjunctions include because, although, if, when, since, and while.
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Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns start adjective clauses and connect the clause to the noun it modifies. The main relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which, and that.
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Summary
Clauses are building blocks of sentences: independent clauses can stand alone, while dependent clauses add meaning as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns. Coordinating conjunctions join equal clauses and subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent ones, and relative pronouns link adjective clauses to nouns.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025