Definition: A sentence with only one independent clause (also known as a main clause).

Clause Structure

What is a clause?
We represent our experiences linguistically by packaging information into clauses. As such, clauses can be considered to be the key unit of grammar. They are units of information structured around a verb phrase (VP) and, according to some theories (e.g. Systemic Functional Theory), a basic clause must consist minimally of a Subject and a verb. Using a different descriptive approach, however, clauses may be described in terms of processes (what is going on), participants (the person(s) or thing(s) involved), and the circumstances accompanying the process (see what Do We Talk About?). Using this descriptive approach, a basic clause must consist of a process and at least one participant. There are several exceptions to the above claims but space does not allow a more detailed discussion. The interested reader is referred to the work of Biber, Conrad and Leech (2002). For now, we will examine the seven basic clause structures in English that are built around a verb phrase: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. SVO SV SVA SVC SVOC SVOA SVOO

SVO structure
English syntax generally follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order. Consider the following example. the boy hugged the dog We see that the Subject of the clause (the thing or person performing the action) is the boy; the Verb, which describes the particular action, is hugged, and the Object (the thing undergoing the action) is the dog. This clause can, therefore, be represented as follows. Subject the boy Verb hugged Object the dog

We have also noted how both the Subject and Object are represented by noun phrases and that the Verb is represented, as it must always be, by a verb phrase. Further examples of the basic SVO structure include the following. Subject my dad your friend Verity Verb washed was opening is throwing Object his car the door a ball

The basic SVO structure of English syntax can be modified in a number of ways but there are two main methods. The first is to remove or replace a functional element and the second is to add another functional element to the three-part structure.

SV structure
The basic Subject-Verb-Object structure can be reduced to produce a clause with the structure Subject-Verb (SV), e.g. Subject Anila my mother the girl Li Wei Verb kicked is drilling laughed went

A point to note here is that some verbs may take an Object, and thereby be expanded into the basic SVO structure, whereas some may not. Consider the first example Anila kicked. This SV structure could be expanded into an SVO structure as follows. Subject Anila Verb kicked Object the ball

Similarly, the second example my mother is drilling could also be expanded into an SVO clause, e.g. Subject my mother Verb is drilling Object a hole

Verbs such as kick and drill that are capable of taking an Object are referred to as transitive verbs. However, not all verbs are capable of taking an Object. Consider the verb laugh in the third example the girl laughed. It is not possible to expand this utterance into an SVO structure, e.g. Subject Verb Object the girl laughed it

It is evident that this utterance is syntactically incorrect because laugh is incapable of taking an Object. Similarly, the verb go in the fourth example Li Wei went is also not capable of taking an Object. So, for example, the following construction is also syntactically incorrect. Subject Li Wei Verb went Object it

Verbs such as laugh and go that do not take an Object are known as intransitive verbs.

SVA structure
The Object in the basic SVO structure can be substituted by an Adjunct that supplies further detail about actions, events and states. Adjuncts are most often optional elements that provide information related to manner, time, location or cause. Consider the following. Subject the small child my friend Sarah she Verb cried left lives has been sad Adjunct very loudly that evening in America since you left [Adjunct of manner] [Adjunct of time] [Adjunct of location]

[Adjunct of cause] We noted earlier that Adjuncts may be represented by adverb phrases, noun phrases and prepositional phrases. From the above examples, the Adjunct of manner in the small child cried very loudly is represented by the adverb phrase very loudly. Further examples of Adjuncts represented by adverb phrases include the following. Subject Rooney my charming son she Verb played was hovering would behave Adjunct (AdvP) superbly rather sheepishly so bravely

From the previous examples, the Adjunct of time in my friend left that evening is represented not by an adverb phrase but by a noun phrase, that evening. Further examples of Adjuncts represented by noun phrases include the following. Subject the boy your fourth cousin Ravi Verb ran sang shouted Adjunct (NP) two miles this afternoon that morning

The Adjunct of location in Sarah lives in America from the earlier examples is represented by a prepositional phrase, in America. Further examples of prepositional phrases functioning as Adjuncts include the following. Subject Robert Helens brother the ball Verb ran played was bouncing Adjunct (PrepP) to the door after his dinner on the pitch

SVC structure
There is a fundamental difference between an Object and a Complement. The difference is that the Subject and Object refer to different things whereas the Subject and Complement (in a SVC clause) refer to the same thing. Consider the following. Subject Julie Verb stroked Object the cat

In this clause, the Subject refers to one thing (Julie) and the Object refers to another thing (the cat), i.e. they are not the same. In contrast, the Subject and Complement refer to the same thing, e.g. Subject Dawn Verb seems Complement happy

In this clause, the Complement (happy) makes reference to the same thing as the Subject (Dawn), i.e. it is Dawn that is happy. Other examples include the following. Subject Brian this book my mother Verb went is appeared Complement (AdjP) mad rather terrible sad