multiclausal

Multiclausal is a linguistic term used to describe sentences or constructions that contain more than one clause. A clause is a syntactic unit that typically includes a subject and a predicate. By contrast, monoclausal constructions express information with a single clause, often through inflection or periphrasis, while multiclausal forms combine multiple clauses in a connected structure.

Multiclausal sentences arise mainly through coordination or subordination. Coordination links clauses of equal syntactic status, as in I washed the car and she vacuumed the house. Subordination embeds one clause within another, as in I went home because I was tired. Multiclausal sentences can include multiple subordinate clauses and relative clauses, yielding complex sentence structures such as The book that the author who I met yesterday recommended is on the shelf.

Typologically, languages vary in how much of their syntax is multiclausal. Some languages are predominantly monoclausal, often relying on rich verbal morphology to express multiple notions within a single clause. Others are multiclausal, using conjunctions, relative pronouns, or clause-chaining strategies to link propositions. In some languages, clause chaining or serial verb constructions create extended multiclausal sequences without visible subordinating markers.

In linguistic analysis, multiclausal constructions are described in terms of clause structure, subordination, coordination, and the interplay of syntax with information structure and discourse. The term helps distinguish sentence typologies and study how different languages realize complex ideas through multiple clauses, as well as how punctuation and prosody mark boundaries between clauses.