Clause

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Table of contents

1 noun 2 Example of a grammatical dependent clause. 3 types of clauses 3.1 Translations

noun

1. colloq. a group of two or more words which include a subject and any necessary predicate (the predicate also includes a verb, conjunction, or a preposition to begin the clause, however this clause is not considered a sentence for colloquial purposes.
2. In formal usage, if a sentence contains a named subject and a predicate, it is considered an independent clause. Some grammarians prefer the term independent clause or simple sentence as opposed to sentence.

Example of a grammatical dependent clause.

(e.g. When it got dark, they went back into the house, "When it got dark" is the clause within the complete sentence) The conjuction when begins the main clause (when it got dark, .." ; however, the pronoun it lacks a declared subject causing the reader to expect a subordinate clause to complete the idea.

Types of clauses

• Independent clause or main clause (synonyms)
• Dependent clause or subordinate clause (synonyms)

1. A separate part of a contract, a will or another legal document.

Translations

• Finnish: lause (1)
• German: Nebensatz m (1), Klausel f (2)
• Interlingua: clausa
• Spanish: clausa
• Japanese: 節 (せつ, setsu)