Clauses

A main clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. It has a subject and a verb and gives you the core meaning.

A subordinate clause depends on a main clause and cannot stand alone. It adds extra information like time, reason, condition, or detail.

A noun clause functions as a noun within a sentence: it can be a subject, object, or complement. They often begin with words like that, what, or whether.

An adjective clause describes a noun and usually begins with a relative pronoun like who, which, or that. It tells you more about which person or thing is meant.

An adverb clause modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb and shows time, place, reason, condition, or manner. It typically begins with subordinating conjunctions like because, if, or when.

Relative clauses are a type of adjective clause that use relative pronouns to connect additional information about a noun. They can be defining or non-defining.

Conditional clauses express if situations and their results. They usually consist of an if clause (condition) and a main clause (result), and they can show real or imagined scenarios.

Clauses come in main and subordinate types, with subordinate clauses functioning as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Recognizing each kind helps you analyze and create complex sentences that communicate exactly what you mean.