multiclause

Multiclause refers to sentences that contain more than one clause. A clause is a grammatical unit with a subject and a predicate. Multiclause sentences can be built by combining independent clauses, which can stand alone, or by embedding dependent clauses that rely on another clause for meaning. This concept is used to analyze how ideas are connected within sentences, as opposed to simple sentences that contain just a single clause.

There are two main avenues for forming multiclause sentences. Coordination links two or more independent clauses into a compound sentence, typically with coordinating conjunctions such as and, but, or, or with punctuation. For example: The sun set, and the town lights came on. Subordination embeds one clause inside another, producing complex sentences. This often involves subordinating conjunctions or relative pronouns, such as because, although, if, that, or whom. Examples include: The town slowed down because the parade had ended; The book that you lent me is fascinating. Other multiclause patterns include noun clauses like I think that you are right, and complement clauses such as She wants to go where the weather is warmer.

Multiclause structures enable speakers and writers to express sequence, causality, condition, similarity, and additional information. They also influence prosody and punctuation, since clause boundaries often determine rhythm and pauses. Across languages, preferences for coordination versus subordination vary, and clause-linking can involve particles, word order changes, or clausal markers. In linguistics and natural language processing, multiclause analysis supports parsing, translation, and readability assessment by identifying how clauses relate within a sentence.