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The document explains the different types of clauses, including main (independent) and subordinate (dependent) clauses, and their functions within sentences. It details the five clause elements: verb phrase, subject, object, adverbial, and complement, which help to identify and structure clauses. Additionally, it categorizes subordinate clauses into noun, adverbial, adjective, conditional, and relative clauses, providing examples for clarity.

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9 views6 pages

Question 1

The document explains the different types of clauses, including main (independent) and subordinate (dependent) clauses, and their functions within sentences. It details the five clause elements: verb phrase, subject, object, adverbial, and complement, which help to identify and structure clauses. Additionally, it categorizes subordinate clauses into noun, adverbial, adjective, conditional, and relative clauses, providing examples for clarity.

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Maria peter
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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QUESTION 1

Identify the different types of clauses using the 5 clause elements which
constitute main and subordinate clauses.
 A clause is a combination of words that makes up a sentence. It
consists of a subject and a predict. A clause has a subject and a verb.
 According to Oxford learner’s dictionary, a clause can be defined as “a
group of words that includes a subject and a verb and forms a sentence
or part of a sentence.
 It is also defined as a group of words containing a subject and a
predicate and functioning as a member of a complex or a compound
according to the Merriam Webster dictionary.

They are two types of clauses namely: Main Clause or Independent


Clause and Subordinate Clause or Dependent Clause.

A. MAIN CLAUSE/INDEPENDENT CLAUSE


These are words with a subject and a verb. Its one that can stand
alone and make a complete sentence and that’s why it is called
Independent Clause.
B. SUBORDINATE CLAUSE/INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
 who can win the gold medal in the 10km race?
 My friend asked me to give her a call as soon as I start off
from Copperbelt.
A subordinate clause is a group of words that consist of subject,
a verb, subordinating conjunction or a relative It’s a group of
words that consists of a subject, a verb and a subordinating
conjunction or relative pronoun. Unlike the main clause,
subordinate clause cannot stand alone or convey complete
meaning when taken separately from the sentence. It can be
divided into parts depending on their function. The types of
dependent clauses are; Noun, conditional, relative, comparative,
verb less and complementary clauses.

The following are some of the examples of an independent clause;


 I know how to cook Nshima but I enjoy eating ice.
 I was not feeling well, so I took a day off work.
 When I met you, I did not think we could get married
 It was my brother’s birthday last month, However, He
didn’t want to celebrate.

Here are some examples of dependent clause;

 After we reached home, we watched a movie.


Everybody knows the sister pronoun. Unlike the main clause,
subordinate clause cannot stand alone or convey complete
meaning when taken separately from the sentence. It can be
divided into parts depending on their function. The types of
dependent clauses are; Noun, conditional, relative, comparative,
verb less and complementary clauses.

Noun Clause: If a dependent clause acts as a noun clause, then it


is known as a noun clause. These can act as subject or verb of
the object. For example; I think she likes the vanilla cake.
Adverb Clause: This is when an Independent clause acts as an
adverb that modifies the verb or another adverb or another
adverb or adjective.
Adjective Clause: This is when a dependent clause acts as an
adjective. It can qualify a noun or pronoun that is available in the
sentence.
Conditional Clause: This type of clause helps to describe
something that probable or possible. It begins with “If or Unless”
Relative Clause: is connected to the main clause by some of the
words such as, whose, whom, when, where or which. The
relative clause is further divided into two types. These are
divided based on the usage of the word “that” while introducing
relative clause.
Restrictive relative clauses are also a defining clause. It provides
required
Information about the noun which comes before it. In absence
of this clause, the meaning of the sentence is not complete. One
should not place a comma before the restrictive clause. Which,
whose, whom that comes under this.
A noun clause does not have any particular pattern instead it
just acts as a noun.
Dependent Clause can function as its own because it leaves an idea or thought
unfinished. It is also called a subordinate clause. It helps the independent sentence
above. The Subordinators do the work of connecting the dependent clause to
another clause to complete the sentence.

 Dependent Clauses: are divided into three types and they are,
Adjective Clause– It’s the of dependent clause that modifies a noun. It has
similar qualities as object that are of modifying non-nouns and hence the
name, adjective clause. They are also called relative clause.
For example: I’m looking for my blue dress that went missing last month.
 Noun Clause: These are dependent clause acting as nouns in sentences. They
often start with, “How, That” the w words “who, where, what”
 Adverbial Clause: They are dependent clause acting as adverbs. This means
that these clauses have the power to modify verbs, adjectives and others.
For example: I went through the song at a lightning speed.
 Principal Clause: These have a subject (noun/pronoun) Finite verb and an
object and makes full sentences that can stand alone or acts as the main part
of any complex or compound sentence. Principal and Independent Clause are
functionally the same but named from different perspectives.
 Coordinate Clause: This happens when two or more similarly important clause
joined by coordinating conjunctions (and, but etc.) in terms of compound
sentence.
 Non-Finite Clause: These contains a participle or an infinite verb that makes
the subject and verb evident even though hidden.

CLAUSE ELEMENT
These are phrases that secure roles in the clause. A number of tests can be
applied to identify clause element but not all tests will apply in every case.
The following are the five clause elements;
i. Verb Phrase (V): These are central elements of the clause because it
surpasses the action or state to which other elements relate and
controls the other kinds of elements and meaning that can be in the
clause.
ii. Subject (S): It is the second most important elements, a noun phrase. It
occurs with all types of verbs. The subject pronoun is nominative case.
For example, he, she is the forms of pronouns used while accuser forms
him, her are used as object.
iii. Object (O): It is a noun phrase which usually follows the verbs. It only
occurs with in…verbs. An object pronoun is in the accusative case.
For example: He likes her
It has the direct objects (D.C) which generally follows immediately after
the verb except where an indirect object intervenes. The indirect object
(O.C) occur after determinative verbs such as give and tell and comes
before the direct object. It conforms to the other criteria for objects
including the formation of passive.
iv. Adverbial (A): These clause elements add to or complete the meaning
of the verb element. They may be single adverbs, but they also include
nouns or verb phrases and subordinate clause.
Adverbials may appear in several position in the clause but are most
common at the end. It may perform a different function:
 Adding information
 Linking clauses
 Adding a comment as what is expressed.
v. Compliment: This means “go with”. (Do not confuse with compliment).
In clause syntax, the compliment is anything which adds to the
meaning of the subject (subject compliments) or object (object
compliments).
REFERENCES
1. https://www.learning grammar net.
2. Oxford Learning Dictionary
3. Merriam Webster Dictionary
4. The Structure and Function of Modern English Semester vi

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