Clause

In grammar, a clause is the smallest grammatical unit that can express a complete proposition. A typical clause in English contains minimally a subject and a predicate. In other languages, the subject is often omitted if it is retrievable from context. A simple sentence usually consists of a single finite clause with a finite verb that is independent. More complex sentences may contain multiple clauses. Main clauses (= matrix clauses, independent clauses) are those that could stand as a sentence by themselves. Subordinate clauses (= embedded clauses, dependent clauses) are those that would be awkward or nonsensical if used alone.

Read more about ClauseTwo Major Distinctions, Clauses According To A Distinctive Syntactic Trait, Clauses According To Semantic Predicate-argument Function, Representing Clauses, Clauses Vs. Phrases, Non-finite Clauses

Other articles related to "clause, clauses":

Non-finite Clauses - Small Clauses
... schools of syntax and grammar view as non-finite clauses is the so-called small clause ... A typical small clause consists of a noun phrase and a predicative expression, e.g ... constituents, a fact that undermines their status as clauses ...
Extradition Clause
... The Extradition clause or Interstate rendition clause of the United States Constitution refers to Article IV, Section 2, Clause 2, which provides for the ...
Eternity Clause
... An eternity clause is a colloquial term for a legal provision aiming to ensure that a constitution or basic law cannot be changed by subsequent legal amendments ... Eternity clauses are a type of entrenched clause, and exist in the constitutions of the Czech Republic, Germany, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Morocco and Norway ...
Fugitive Slave Clause - Mootness
... In 1864, during the Civil War, an effort to repeal this clause of the Constitution failed ... United States Constitution banned slavery, and thus made the clause mostly moot ... been noted in connection with the Fugitive Slave Clause that people can still be held to service or labor under limited circumstances the U.S ...
Stromberg V. California - Opinions - Justice Pierce Butler - Procedural Challenges
... show that the defendant separately challenged in the trial court the validity of the first clause ... however, state that the constitutionality of the first clause was “questionable,” taking particular issue with the phrase “of opposition to organized government.” The Court of Appeals suggested that ... jury could have found her guilty of violating the first clause of the statute that the Court of Appeals did not rule on the question of whether such a first-cla ...

Famous quotes containing the word clause:

    Long ago I added to the true old adage of “What is everybody’s business is nobody’s business,” another clause which, I think, more than any other principle has served to influence my actions in life. That is, What is nobody’s business is my business.
    Clara Barton (1821–1912)