sentenceclause

A sentence-clause is a fundamental unit of grammar in English and many other languages. It is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate, expressing a complete thought. Sentence-clauses can be independent (also known as main clauses) or dependent (also known as subordinate clauses).

Independent clauses can stand alone as sentences, as they express a complete thought. For example, "The cat sat on the mat" is an independent clause. Dependent clauses, on the other hand, cannot stand alone as they do not express a complete thought. They often begin with subordinating conjunctions such as "because," "although," or "if." For example, "because it was raining" is a dependent clause.

Sentence-clauses can be combined to form complex sentences. This is done by joining an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses using conjunctions or relative pronouns. For example, "I went to the store because it was raining" is a complex sentence consisting of an independent clause and a dependent clause.

The structure of sentence-clauses is crucial for clear and effective communication. Understanding how to identify and use sentence-clauses correctly is essential for mastering English grammar.