What is a Clause?
Clause : A clause consists of a subject and a verb and is the smallest grammatical unit that expresses a thought.
In its simplest form, a clause in grammar is a subject plus a verb. The subject is the entity “doing” the action of the sentence and the verb is the action that subject completes. A clause creates a complete thought (an idea or a statement that can stand alone).
Examples of Clauses in Sentences
- Subject + verb. = complete thought (IC)
- I eat. = complete thought (IC)
- Sharon speaks. = complete thought (IC)
A clause may include the verb predicate as well. But, it must include at least the subject and verb to be considered a clause.
Examples of clauses:
- Subject + verb (predicate). = complete thought (IC)
- I eat bananas. = complete thought (IC)
- Sharon speaks loudly. = complete thought (IC)
It should be noted, too, that a clause in a sentence is different from a phrase in that it must contain a subject and a verb.