English Grammar
Basic Grammar -> Clauses
| 1 | Main clause : |
|---|---|
| – Every sentence contains at least one main clause. A main clause may form part of a compound sentence or a complex sentence, but it also makes sense on its own, as in this example: | |
| For example: | |
| (i) He was eating a bacon sandwich. | |
| (ii) Compound sentences are made up of two or more main clauses linked by a conjunction such as and, but, or, so, as in the following examples: | |
| (ii) She was born in Spain but her mother is Polish. | |
| 2 | Subordinate clause : |
| – A subordinate clause depends on a main clause for its meaning. Together with a main clause, a subordinate clause forms part of a complex sentence. Here are two examples of sentences containing subordinate clauses: | |
| For example: | |
| (i) After we had had lunch, we went back to work | |
| (ii) I first saw her in Paris, where I lived in the early nineties. | |
| (ii) There are two main types of subordinate clause: conditional clauses and relative clauses. | |
| 3 | Conditional clause : |
| A conditional clause is one that usually begins with if or unless and describes something that is possible or probable: | |
| For example: | |
| (i) If it looks like rain a simple shelter can be made out. | |
| (ii) I'll be home tomorrow unless the plane's delayed for hours. | |
| 4 | Relative clause : |
| A relative clause is one connected to main clause by a word such as which, that, whom, whose, when, where, or who: | |
| For example: | |
| (i) I first saw her in Paris, where I lived in the early nineties. | |
| (ii) She wants to be with Thomas, who is best suited to take care of | |
| (ii) I was wearing the dress that I bought to wear to Jo's party. | |
| – Using Relative Clauses- Have you ever wondered about when to use that and when to use which or who in this type of sentence? In fact, for much of the time that is interchangeable with either of these words. | |
| For example: | |
| (i) You're the only person who has ever listened to me. | |
| (ii) You're the only person that has ever listened to me. | |
| It's film that should be seen by everyone. | |
| It's film which should be seen by everyone. | |
| When referring to something, rather than someone, that ends to be the usual choice in everyday writing and conversation in British English. However, there is one main case when you should not use that to introduce a relative clause. This is related to the fact that there are two types of relative clause: a restrictive relative clause and a non – restrictive relative clause. | |
| 5 | Restrictive relative clause : |
| A restrictive relative clause (also known as a defining relative clause) gives essential information about a noun that comes before it: without this clause the sentence wouldn't make much sense. A restrictive relative clause can be introduced by that, which, whose, who, or whom. | |
| For example: | |
| She held out the hand which was hurt. | |
| (ii) She held out the hand that was hurt | |
| (ii) I was wearing the dress that I bought to wear to Jo's party. | |
| 5 | Non-restrictive relative clause : |
| A non- restrictive relative clause (also called a non-defining relative clause) provides extra information that could be left out without affecting the meaning or structure of the sentence. Non- restrictive relative clauses are normally introduced by which, whose, who, or whom, but never by that. You should place a comma in front of them: | |
| For example: | |
| (i) She held out her hand, which Rob shook. | |
| (ii) If a non -restrictive relative clause is in the middle of a sentence, you should put commas before and after it: | |
| (ii) Bill, who had fallen asleep on the sofa, suddenly roused himself. |