What is a clause? You may have heard about clauses in your grammar class. A sentence becomes a clause when it is attached to another sentence.
Take a look at this sentence: Children read books. This is a complete sentence. It follows the patterns S (subject) + V(verb) + O(object) = complete thought.
Now, look at this sentence: Children read books and they write stories. This sentence has two parts. Each has an S + V + O = complete thought.
Each part of the second sentence is called a main clause. Each part can stand on its own and make complete sense.
Every main clause has a subject and a verb and forms a complete thought.
The important point to remember is that every sentence must have at least one main clause. Otherwise, you have a fragment, which is a major error in writing.
For example: The sky which was clear – this is only a fragment.
The sky which was clear, later turned cloudy.
This sentence has a main clause – The sky turned cloudy
Subordinate clauses
The important point to remember about subordinate clauses is that they can never stand alone as complete sentences.
To complete the thought, you must attach each subordinate clause to a main clause.
Check out these sentences with the coloured portions, which are subordinate clauses:
Whenever the wind blows, the windows rattle.
Guru ran to get water when his friend fell.
Mani’s dog, whose name is Judo, is a big Labrador.
Tip: Subordinate clauses always start with a connecting word. The clause can be in the beginning, middle or at the end of the sentence.
Conditional clauses
Clauses that have “If” and express a condition are known as conditional clauses.
For instance: If I had gone to Assam this winter, I would have met my uncle.
Conditional clauses are of three types.
Type 1
If you are not quiet, you will be punished.
If the weather is good, we will play outside.
If it rains, the cat will come inside.
These sentences express an open condition. The condition may or may not be fulfilled. The verb in this clause is in the simple present tense.
Type 2
In the following sentences, the “if” clause is in the simple past tense.
If we had a car, we would go on a tour.
If he behaved well, he would be forgiven.
If I stayed at home, I would be bored.
These verbs do not refer to a past action. They talk of conditions put forward for consideration.
Type 3
Study these sentences:
If I had worked hard, I would have won the prize.
If he had listened to me, he would have got the first prize.
If we had foreseen the tsunami, we would have been prepared.
These “if” clauses express conditions that were not fulfilled in the past.
