Clauses
Learn what a clause is and how it can stand alone or depend on another clause—and discover the five clause types you can explore in greater detail.
Start with the main idea
A clause is built around a subject and a verb.
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. Some clauses express a complete thought on their own; others depend on a second clause to complete their meaning.
In She left early because she was tired., she left early could stand alone as a complete sentence, while because she was tired cannot; it depends on the first clause to make sense.
This page begins with the broad idea of what a clause is. Once that foundation is clear, you can explore each of the five clause types in more detail.
The two basic categories
Every clause is either independent or dependent.
This one distinction underlies every clause type covered on this page.
An independent clause can stand alone.
She left early.
It contains a subject and a verb, and expresses a complete thought by itself.
A dependent clause cannot stand alone.
because she was tired
It also contains a subject and a verb, but it needs to be attached to an independent clause to form a complete sentence.
Three kinds of dependent clause
A dependent clause takes on the job of a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
Each kind plays a different grammatical role within the sentence it is attached to.
A relative clause describes a noun.
the man who called
It works like an adjective, adding detail to the noun man.
A noun clause acts as a noun.
What she said surprised everyone.
What she said functions as the subject of the sentence, the same job a single noun could do.
An adverb clause acts as an adverb.
She left because she was tired.
Because she was tired describes the verb left, explaining why the action happened.
A common thread
Asking what job a clause is doing identifies its type.
For now, focus on the role each clause is playing, rather than memorising every rule.
01
Could it stand alone as a complete sentence?
If so, it is an independent clause.
02
Is it describing a noun?
If so, it is functioning as a relative clause.
03
Is it acting as the subject or object of the sentence?
If so, it is functioning as a noun clause.
04
Is it explaining when, why, where or how something happened?
If so, it is functioning as an adverb clause.
Where do you go next?
Explore each clause type in detail.
Everything you’ve learned so far explains what a clause is. The topics below each explore one type in much more detail. Choose any lesson that matches what you want to learn next.
Independent Clauses
Learn how an independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as its own sentence.
Example: She left early.
Dependent Clauses
See how a dependent clause relies on an independent clause to complete its meaning.
Example: because she was tired
Relative Clauses
Discover how a clause can describe a noun, adding detail the way a single adjective would.
Example: the man who called
Noun Clauses
Learn how an entire clause can act as a noun, filling the subject or object position in a sentence.
Example: what she said
Adverb Clauses
See how a clause can describe a verb, explaining when, why, where or how an action happened.
Example: because she was tired
Building your understanding
A single sentence can combine several clauses at once.
The clause types above are not always separate boxes. A single sentence can combine an independent clause with more than one dependent clause, each doing its own job.
One sentence, three clauses
The sentence below combines an independent clause with a relative clause and an adverb clause.
Example
The man who called left a message because he could not reach her.
The man … left a message — independent clause.
who called — relative clause, describing the man.
because he could not reach her — adverb clause, explaining why he left a message.
Remember
As you work through the individual lessons, you’ll discover that each clause type highlights one job a clause can do. The individual lessons explain how to build and combine each type correctly.
Before you continue
You’re ready to explore clauses in more detail.
You now understand what a clause is, the difference between an independent and a dependent clause, and the three jobs a dependent clause can do. From here, choose whichever clause type is most useful for your own learning.
Continue your learning
Every lesson in this section focuses on one clause type. Complete them in any order and return here whenever you need a refresher on the big picture.