lauses

Lauses is not a standard term in English linguistics; when encountered, it typically refers to clauses, the fundamental units that make up sentences. A clause is a group of words that contains at least a subject and a predicate.

Clauses fall into two broad categories: independent (main) clauses, which can stand alone as a sentence, and dependent (subordinate) clauses, which cannot stand alone and function within a larger sentence. Dependent clauses are often introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as that, because, if, when, or who, and they serve various roles within the sentence.

Common types of dependent clauses include noun clauses, which act as a noun phrase (for example, "that you are coming"), relative clauses that modify a noun (for example, "the book that I bought"), and adverbial clauses that modify the verb by indicating time, reason, condition, or manner (for example, "When it rains, we stay indoors"). Non-finite clauses, such as infinitival clauses ("to go"), present participle clauses ("doing"), or past participle clauses ("written"), do not have a finite verb form and often function as complements or modifiers within a larger clause.

Clauses are combined through coordination and subordination to form complex sentences. Punctuation, especially commas, often marks the boundary between a main clause and a subordinate clause, though usage varies by language and style.

In summary, clauses are the building blocks of sentence structure, capable of standing alone or connecting with other clauses to express more complex ideas. The term lauses, if encountered, is most likely a variant or misspelling of clauses. See also clause (linguistics), subordinate clause, and coordination.