Clauses & Types or Kinds of clauses

A Clause is a group of words that contains its own subject and predicate.

Examples of Phrase and Clause

• Phrase: I gave him a gold chain.
• Clause: I gave him a chain Which was made of gold.
• Phrase: The boy with blue eyes in my cousin.
• Clause: There came my cousin who had blue eyes.
• Phrase: Mercury gave woodcutter a gold axe.
• Clause: Mercury gave woodcutter an axe which was made gold

Types of Clause

• Adjective clause
• Adverb Clause
• Noun Clause

1.Adjective clause

An adjective clause is a group of words which has a subject and predicate of its own. It is used as an adjective to qualify Noun or Pronoun or it denotes relation to a Noun or Pronoun. In simple words, if the word qualifiers a Noun or Pronoun, it is called Adjective. When a Clause qualifies a Noun or Pronoun, It is called Adjective Clause.

For Example

• This is the boy who stole my pen.
• This is the horse which runs fast.
• The man whom I do not know came here.

2.Adverb Clause

The part of speech that modifies an Adjective, Verb or another adverb called the Adverb. When that same function is performed by a clause, it is called an Adverb Clause. This clause begins with a subordinating conjunction.

Linkers of Adverb Clauses & Use of Adverb Clauses

1. Time
2. Place
3. cause or reason
4. effect or result
5. Extent
6. Manner
7. Comparison
8. Contrast
9. Condition
10. Purpose

Adverb Clauses of Time

They are introduced by subordinating conjunction like when, whereas, while, before, after, ere, till, until, since, as soon as.

For Example

• You can meet me when the class is over.
• He left as soon as I reached.
• He left while I was busy.

Adverb Clauses of Place

They are introduced by subordinating conjunction like Where, Wherever, Whence, Whither.

For Example:

• I shall go wherever I like.
• He can go back whence he comes.
• He can stay where he likes.

Adverb Clauses of Purpose

They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions like: ”that, lest, so that, in order that.”

For Example:

• We eat that we may live.
• Walk carefully lest you should slip.
• He studies hard in order that he can get good marks.

Adverb Clauses of Cause or Reason

They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions like: ” because, since, that, as, for etc.”

For Example:

• He succeeded because he worked hard.
• You can go home since you are not well.
• I spoke to his brother as he was not present.

Adverb Clauses of Condition

They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions like: ”if, unless, whether, in case, on condition, provided, supposing that.”

For Example:

• If it rains today, I shall not go out.
• You will not pass unless you work hard.
• I shall go in case he comes.

Note: Sometimes, subordinating conjunction is omitted in the past conditional.

Adverb Clauses of Effect or Consequence

They start with subordinating conjunctions like ”that, so- that, such – that”

Note: ”So or Such” are used before ”that” as a principal clause:

• He worked so hard that he won first position.
• They were so tired that they stopped.
• He ran that he overtook us.

Adverb Clauses of Comparison

They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions like:

1. A) In Positive Degree: as-as, so-as, such-as
   1. He is as brave as Ali
2. B) In Comparative Degree: than
   1. Ali is taller than Ahmad.

Adverb Clauses of Contrast

They are introduced by ”Though, Although”

• Although he is healthy yet he is cowardly.
• Though he worked hard, he failed

Adverb Clauses of Manner

They are in introduced by ”as, as if.”

• I hit the ball as I liked.
• He cannot do everything as he likes.
• He acted as if he had been traind.

Adverb Clauses of Supposition or Concession

They are introduced ”Whoever, Whatever, whichever, however, whether, even if”

• I shall do it however hard it is.
• Even if he is old, he does a lot of work.
• He can choose whichever he likes.

3.Noun Clause

When a clause serves the same purpose in a sentence as is served by a noun, It is called the Noun clause. It is used as a noun. It contains a subject and predicate.

Use of Noun

1. As a Subject
2. As an object in a sentence
3. As object of a Preposition
4. As object of an Infintive
5. As object of a Participal
6. As Complement to a Verb
7. Apposition to a Noun or Pronoun

Read More: The Phrase | Types & Kinds of Phrases