Q.1 What is a clause? Name the different types of clauses and explain them with examples?
Ans. A clause is the smallest unit of a sentence. The basic knowledge of clauses gives us tremendous power to construct sentences, to express our thoughts in various forms and to introduce style and freshness in our writing.
Definition: -
A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a finite verb.
Example: -
We should live where the climate is good. The above sentence consists of two parts:
1. We should live.
2. Where the climate is good.
Each is a part of a large sentence and contains a subject and a predicate of its own. Each part is therefore a clause.
The clause ‘we should live’, makes good sense by itself and hence may stand by itself as a complete sentence. It is therefore called the principal or main clause.
The clause, “where the climate is good”, cannot stand by itself and make good sense. It is dependent on the clause ‘we should live’. It is, therefore, called a dependent or subordinate clause. There are two kinds of clauses.
(i) Principal / main clause (ii) Subordinate clause.
Types of Clause: -
There are three types of subordinate clauses,
1. Adverb clause. 2. Adjective clause. 3. Noun clause.
1. Adverb Clause: -
An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that does the work of an adverb. It may therefore modify some verb, adjective or adverb in the main clause.
Example: -
1. Go where you please.
2. Return as soon as it is ten.
Adverb clause are of many kinds and are classified as adverb clause of: -
1. Time 2. Place 3. Manner 4. Purpose 5. Cause 6. Condition 7. Result 8. Comparison 9. Concession.
1. Adverb Clause of Time: -
Adverb clause of time are introduced by the subordinative conjunctions when, as soon as, while, before, untill, after, since, when ever, so long as, as long as, the moment, till, just as, etc.
Example: -
1. I will go when I please.
2. As soon as she heard the news she wrote to me.
3. Rahul reached the station after the train had left.
2. Adverb Clause of Place: -
Adverb clause of place are introduced by subordinating conjunctions; where, whenever, whence, etc.
Examples: -
1. Stay where you are.
2. Go quickly whence you came.
3. Adverb Clause of Manner: -
Adverb clause of manner are introduced by subordinating conjunctions like as, as if, as though, etc.
Examples: -
1. Try to finish it as I have shown you.
2. She talked as if she knew everything.
4. Adverb Clause of Purpose: -
Adverb clause of purpose are introduced by the subordinating conjunctions: -
That, in order that, so that, lest, etc.
Examples: -
1. I die that India may live.
2. Sleep not lest you should lose your luggage.
5. Adverb Clause of Cause: -
Adverb clause of cause or reason are introduced by the subordinating conjunctions: because, as, since, that.
Examples: -
1. I did it because I wanted to.
2. As he was not there, I spoke to his mother.
6. Adverb Clause of Condition: -
Adverb clause of condition are generally introduced by subordinating conjunctions like if, unless, whether.
Examples: -
1. If it rains, we shall not go out.
2. You must go whether you hear from him or not.
Note: 1
Sometimes the subordinating conjunction is omitted in adverb clauses of condition.
Example: -
Had I been there, it would not have happened.
Note: 2
Clauses of condition are sometimes introduced by a relative pronoun, or adjective or adverb.
Example: -
Whatever you do, be just.
7. Adverb Clause of Result or Consequence: -
Adverb clause of result are introduced by the subordinating conjunction that, but the conjunction is sometimes understood.
Example: -
So great a storm arose that the ships were wrecked.
8. Adverb Clause of Comparison: -
Adverb clause of comparison are of two kinds.
(i) Adverb clause of comparison of degree: -
They are introduced by the subordinating conjunction than.
Example: -
He is younger than he looks.
Adverb clause of comparison of manner: -
They are introduced by the relative adverb, as.
Example: -
It all ended as I expected.
9. Adverb clause of Concession or Supposition: -
Adverb clause of supposition are introduced by the subordinating conjunction; though, although, even if.
Example: -
1. Though I am poor, I am honest.
2. Even if I fail, I shall not give up hope.
2. Adjective Clause: -
An adjective clause does the work of an adjective. It qualifies some noun or pronoun in the main clause. An adjective clause is introduced by a relative pronoun or by a relative adverb.
Example: -
I have lost the book that he gave me.
A. The relative pronoun that may be used in this way are: -
Who, whom, what, whose, which, that, etc.
1. God helps those who help themselves.
2. This is the home which my father built.
B. The relative adverb that may be used in this way are: -
When, where, how, why.
1. This is the place where my friend lives.
2. The reason why he resigned is not known.
3. I know the time when the match will begin.
3. Noun Clause: -
A subordinate clause which does the work of a noun is a noun clause: as.
Example: -
1. That he is going to get the job is certain.
2. I do not know how he did it.
A noun does 5 types of works; so does a noun clause. In the following examples we have compared the 5 functions of a noun with that of a noun clause. In the following examples, the two comparing sentences have been patterned on a similar fashion, except that in the first we have used a noun, and in the second a noun clause.
1. Subject of a Verb: -
(a) What cannot be cured must be endored.
(b) Whether it will rain today is not dear.
2. The Object of a Transitive Verb: -
(a) I expect that she will help us.
(b) I wish to know why he behaved in that manner.
3. The object of a preposition: -
(a) Pay attention to my story.
(b) Do not believe in what he says.
4. Complement of a Verb: -
(a) It seems that he will win the race.
(b) His ambition was that he should be a doctor.
5. In apposition to a noun or the pronoun: ‘It’: -
(a) It is a miracle that he was saved.
(b) Remember the saying that pride hath a fall.