Important Questions: The Clause
Q.1. What is a clause?
Ans: A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate (a verb or verb phrase) and functions as part of a sentence. For example, She runs is a clause because it has the subject she and the predicate runs.
Q.2. What is the difference between a dependent and an independent clause?
Ans: An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence because it expresses a full thought, for example, The sun rose. A dependent clause cannot stand alone; it needs an independent clause to make sense and often begins with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun, for example, because it rained.
Q.3. What are the two types of dependent clauses?
Ans: The two types of dependent clauses asked here are adjective clauses and adverb clauses. An adjective clause describes a noun or pronoun, while an adverb clause gives information about time, reason, condition, place or manner related to a verb, adjective or another adverb.
Q.4. What is an adjective clause?
Ans: An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun in the main clause and usually begins with a relative pronoun such as who, whom, whose, which or that. For example, in The boy who won the race is tall, who won the race is an adjective clause describing the boy.
Q.5. What is an adverb clause?
Ans: An adverb clause is a dependent clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It usually begins with a subordinating conjunction such as because, although, if, when. For example, in She smiled when she saw him, when she saw him is an adverb clause telling when she smiled.
Q.6. What is a relative pronoun?
Ans: A relative pronoun is a word that introduces an adjective clause and relates it to a noun or pronoun in the main clause. Common relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which and that. For example, in The book that I borrowed was interesting, that is the relative pronoun introducing the adjective clause.
Q.7. What is a subordinating conjunction?
Ans: A subordinating conjunction is a word that introduces an adverb clause and shows the relationship between the dependent clause and the main clause. Examples include because, although, if, when, since, unless. For example, I stayed home because it was raining, where because introduces the adverb clause.
Q.8. What is a compound sentence?
Ans: A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. For example, I wanted to play, but it started to rain has two independent clauses joined by but.
Q.9. What is a complex sentence?
Ans: A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses. For example, Although it was late, we finished our work has the dependent clause Although it was late and the independent clause we finished our work.
Q.10. Can a dependent clause be a sentence on its own?
Ans: No, a dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought. For example, Because he was tired is incomplete; it needs an independent clause such as he went to bed to form a full sentence: Because he was tired, he went to bed.
