Clauses | English Language for JAMB PDF Download

Introduction

In English grammar, clauses play a crucial role in constructing meaningful sentences. A clause is the smallest grammatical unit capable of expressing a complete proposition. It consists of a subject and a predicate, with the latter typically being a verb phrase along with any objects and modifiers. Understanding the different types of clauses is essential for constructing well-formed sentences and conveying precise meaning. In this article, we will explore the various types of clauses, including independent clauses, dependent clauses, and relative clauses, and provide examples and practice questions to deepen your understanding.

Independent Clauses: Expressing Complete Thoughts

An independent clause, also known as a main clause, stands alone as a complete sentence and expresses a clear thought. It follows the pattern of having a subject and a verb. Let's consider an example:

Example: "My dog loves pizza crusts."

In this sentence, "dog" serves as the subject, and "loves" functions as the verb. This independent clause expresses a complete thought.

Dependent Clauses: Subordinate to the Main Clause

Dependent clauses, also called subordinate clauses, cannot stand alone as complete sentences. Instead, they rely on attaching themselves to a main clause to complete the thought. Subordinate conjunctions such as "because," "since," "although," and "when" introduce dependent clauses. Let's examine an example:

Example: "Because my dog loves pizza crusts, he never barks at the delivery man."

In this sentence, the dependent clause "Because my dog loves pizza crusts" is introduced by the subordinate conjunction "because." The main clause "he never barks at the delivery man" completes the thought.

Relative Clauses: Providing Additional Information

Relative clauses provide additional information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause. They begin with relative pronouns like "who," "whom," "whose," "which," or "that," as well as relative adverbs like "when," "where," or "why." Consider the following example:

Example: "My dog Angie, who loves pizza crusts, eats them under the kitchen table, where he chews and drools with great enthusiasm."

In this sentence, the relative clause "who loves pizza crusts" provides additional information about the noun "Angie." The relative adverb "where" introduces the clause "where he chews and drools with great enthusiasm."

Practice Questions

Now, let's test your understanding with a few practice questions:

Q1: My cat loves grain-free biscuits. Identify the type of clause in the sentence.
(a) Main or Independent Clause
(b) Subordinate or Dependent Clause
(c) Adjective or Relative Clause
(d) None of these
Ans: (a)
The sentence follows the pattern of a subject ("cat") and a verb ("loves"), making it an independent clause.

Q2: Because my mother heard songs, she never gets bored. Identify the type of clause in the sentence.
(a) Main or Independent Clause
(b) Subordinate or Dependent Clause
(c) Adjective or Relative Clause
(d) None of these
Ans: (b)
The sentence begins with the subordinate conjunction "because," indicating that the clause is dependent. The subject is "my mother," and the verb is "heard."

Q3: Where Ms. Patel threw the ball? Identify the type of clause in the sentence.
(a) Main or Independent Clause
(b) Subordinate or Dependent Clause
(c) Adjective or Relative Clause
(d) None of these
Ans: (c)
The sentence starts with the relative adverb "where," indicating the presence of a relative clause.

Q4: Her brother became the first ranker all over the city. Identify the Main clause from the sentence.
(a) First ranker
(b) Brother becomes
(c) All over the city
(d) Her brother
Ans: (b)
The main clause follows the pattern of subject ("brother") and verb ("becomes").

Q5: Find the sentences which contain a subordinate clause.
(1) I felt weakness because fever spreads in the whole body.
(2) Neha ran till she reached the end line.
(3) Whenever you got free, call me for study.
(a) (1) and (2)
(b) (2) and (3)
(c) (1) and (3)
(d) All of these
Ans: (c)
Both sentences (1) and (3) contain subordinate clauses. In sentence (1), "because fever spreads in the whole body" is the subordinate clause introduced by the subordinate conjunction "because." In sentence (3), "Whenever you got free" is the subordinate clause introduced by the subordinate conjunction "whenever."

Q6: Find the sentence which contains an Adjective Clause.
(a) Misha marks the place where she went on rainy days.
(b) I am curious as my brother prepares a surprise for me.
(c) My school is selected as the winner from all other schools.
(d) None of these
Ans: (a)
The sentence contains the adjective clause "where she went," introduced by the relative adverb "where."

Conclusion

Understanding the different types of clauses in English grammar is essential for constructing clear and grammatically correct sentences. Independent clauses express complete thoughts, while dependent clauses rely on main clauses for their meaning. Relative clauses provide additional information about nouns or pronouns. By mastering the concepts of clauses, you can enhance your writing and communication skills, ensuring that your sentences are structurally sound and convey precise meaning.