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CLAUSES: HOW AND

WHEN TO USE THEM
GRAMMAR LESSON
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We all know that sentences are essential when speaking,

reading, and writing in English, but sentences are made
up of smaller parts called clauses. To better understand
how we form sentences, we must learn how and when to
use a clause. This lesson will explain each type of clause
and how each is used effectively.

WHAT IS A CLAUSE?
A clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a
verb and forms a sentence or part of a sentence.

A clause must also have meaning on its own; it does not

need any additional modifiers or information to make
sense. A simple sentence can be made of just one clause,
but most sentences have more than one.

subject + verb = clause

The dog runs.

Is it a
clause
The dog runs.
‘the dog’ is our subject and ‘runs’ is our verb

1. It is a group of words that has a subject and a verb

2. It has meaning on its own

It's a clause!

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TYPES OF CLAUSES
There are two basic types of clauses in English:
an independent clause and a dependent clause

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
An independent clause is a group of words that
includes a subject and a verb and can form a sentence.
It does not require the support of other clauses.

subject + verb
Examples

Erica reads.
They play.
We sit.

DEPENDENT CLAUSE
A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate
clause, is a group of words that is not a sentence but
adds information to the main part of a sentence.

A dependent clause is typically introduced with a

conjunction, words like: before, because, so, if.

conjunction + subject + verb

Examples

before she goes to sleep

and we ate
but it fell

These examples cannot stand on their own as

independent sentences; thus, they are dependent
clauses. We call them ‘dependent’ because they
depend on an independent clause to form a complete
sentence.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE + DEPENDENT CLAUSE

Erica reads before she goes to sleep.

independent clause dependent clause

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TYPES OF DEPENDENT
CLAUSES

Noun Clause
A noun clause is a group of words that contains a
subject and verb, but the entire clause acts as a single
noun.

Many noun clauses start with:

that, how, who, what, where, when, or why.

Examples

She knew how it broke.

how it broke is a noun clause

We saw where they went.

where they went is a noun clause
You will know it’s a noun clause if you can easily
QUICK replace the clause with a pronoun, like:
TIP! She knew how it broke.
She knew him.

Adverb Clause
An adverb clause is a dependent clause that acts as an
adverb in a sentence. They help to qualify the
meanings of verbs, adjectives, clauses, and other
adverbs.

Adverb clauses help to answer when, where, why, how

and by how much.

Adverb clauses often start with one of the

subordinating conjunctions:
after, as, though, since, because, etc.

These clauses are quite flexible and can be used at the beginning, end, or
middle of a sentence to add more detail.

Examples

adverb clause in a sentence

If you pay for the snacks, I’ll

if you pay for the snacks
get the pizza.

Paula had to help set up

because she was early
because she was early.

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Adjective Clause
An adjective clause is a group of words that acts as an
adjective in a sentence. They are dependent clauses
that give more information about a noun or pronoun.

Adjective clauses typically come directly after the

noun they modify.

We often use words like that, which, whom, and

whose with adjective clauses.

Examples

adjective clause in a sentence

Constantine, whose birthday is

whose birthday is tomorrow
tomorrow, is going to be late.

Mum’s hometown, which we

which we are going to visit in
are going to visit in spring, is
spring
very far away.

COORDINATE CLAUSE
Coordinate Clause
Coordinate clauses are two or more independent
clauses in a sentence, often joined by coordinate
conjunctions (and, or, but, etc.) that make separate
statements that each has equal importance.

We form compound sentences by linking together

coordinate clauses.

EXAMPLE

independent clauses
she is travelling by train
she prefers to travel by car

When we combine these two independent clauses

using a coordinate conjunction, they become:
coordinate clauses

coordinate conjunction

She is travelling by train, but she prefers to travel by car.

coordinate clause coordinate clause

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Activity
Is the underlined clause dependent or independent?

1) The doctor who works on the third floor is from India.

a. independent
b. dependent

2) When will you turn in the project that was due last
week?

a. independent
b. dependent

3) Their cat ran outside when the window was left open.

a. independent
b. dependent

4) Since it's raining, we'll take a taxi to the restaurant.

a. independent
b. dependent

5) The show is good, but I don't think I will keep watching

it.

a. independent
b. dependent

Is the underlined dependent clause a noun, adverb, or

adjective clause?

6) Chips, which my students eat daily, are not healthy at

all!

a. noun clause
b. adverb clause
c. adjective clause

7) Though he was busy, he still made time to prepare

dinner.

a. noun clause
b. adverb clause
c. adjective clause

8) I can't remember how much the new TV costs. Can you

remind me?

a. noun clause
b. adverb clause
c. adjective clause

1) b 2) b 3) a 4) b 5) a 6) c 7) b 8) a

The End

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