Clauses

by Sam An Teng

A clause is a word group that contains a verb and its subject and that is used as a sentence or as a part of a sentence. 

Note:  

• Every clause has a subject and verb, but not every clause expresses a complete thought. 
• Do not confuse with phrase. A phrase does not contain both a verb and a subject.

Types of clauses

There are two types of clauses: dependent and independent clause.

Independent clauses

Independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a complete sentence. For examples,

• They work in marketing department. 
• What products are they going to launch this year? 
• The company didn't perform well last year.

Dependent clauses  

Dependent clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. There are three subordinate clauses, i.e. adjective, adverb, and noun clause.  For examples,  

• What you have proposed is acceptable. [noun clause] 
• Tell me what your marketing strategies are. [noun clause] 
• The man who is standing over there is a product development manager. [adjective clause] 
• His team has come up with products that have more features for customers. [adjective clause] 
• If the products are fit for the customers, we will maintain sales increase of 10%. [adverb clause] 
• There will be some promotion when the new product are available.  [adverb clause]