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Lesson 5: Clauses

Take a careful look at the following sentences:

a. My maternal uncle is a wealthy man. (adjective)
describes ‘uncle’.
b. My maternal uncle is a man of great wealth. (phrase)

describes ‘uncle’
c. My maternal uncle is a man who owns great wealth. (clause)
describes ‘uncle’

A Clause is a group of words that consists of a subject and a predicate

(one main verb + an object/words). A clause is just a part of a longer
sentence.

Example: Anu often visits the Netherlands because she likes the climate.

(main / independent clause) (dependent clause)

There are two subjects ‘Anu’ and ‘she’ and two predicates ‘often visits
the Netherlands ‘and ‘likes the climate’. But the combination of these
two clauses makes a sentence.

Main Clause/Principal Clause: She often visits the Netherlands.
This clause stands on its own.

Dependent Clause: Because she likes the climate.
This clause does not make complete sense unless it is combined with
an appropriate clause like the above one.

41 Hello Grammar 6