clause
noun[C]
uk/klɔːz/us/klɑːz/clausenoun[C](LEGAL DOCUMENT)
law
aparticularpartof a writtenlegaldocument, forexamplealawpassedby Parliament or acontract(= anagreement):
（法律文件的）条款，款项They haveadded/deleted/amendeda clause in thecontractwhich says thecompanycan makepeopleredundantforeconomicreasons.他们在合同中增加／删除／修改了一项条款，该条款称公司可以因为经济原因裁减人员。
Clause 4 of theconstitutionisthoughtto be the mostimportantsection.宪法第四条被认为是最重要的部分。
- There was apenaltyclause which said you had topayhalfthecostif youcancelledyourbooking.
- The clause wasaddedto thecontractat Carlos'srequest.
- Hepointedto the clause aboutpayment.
Official documents
- accounts
- affidavit
- aleatory
- annal
- apostille
- certify
- driving licence
- filing
- free pass
- get-out clause
- Green Paper
- Hansard
- prenuptial agreement
- proceedings
- pt
- PTO
- recertification
- recertify
- renewable
- warrant
clausenoun[C](GRAMMAR)
B2languagespecialized
agroupof words, consisting of asubjectand afiniteformof averb:
从句In thesentence"I can'tcookvery well but I makequitegoodpancakes", both "I can'tcookvery well" and "I make goodpancakes" aremain/independentclauses(= they are ofequalimportanceand could eachexistas aseparatesentence).在 I can't cook very well but I make good pancakes（我菜烧得不太好，可是蛋饼煎得很不错）这句话中，I can't cook very well 和 I make good pancakes 都是主句／独立分句。
In thesentence"I'll get you somestampsif I go totown", "if I go totown" is asubordinate/dependentclause(= it is not asimportantas themainpartof thesentenceand could notexistas aseparatesentence).在 I'll get you some stamps if I go to town（如果我去城里，会给你带些邮票）这句话中，if I go to town 是从句／从属分句。
- In thesentence'The woman who Imetwaswearingabrownhat', 'who Imet' is arelativeclause.
- Thesentence'Although he'squiet, he's notshy'beginswith a concessive clause.
- Asentencemight consist of amainclause and asubordinateclause,linkedby aconjunction.
- InEnglish, aconditionalclause usuallybeginswith 'if'.
- Studentslearnhow toidentifydifferent clauses within acomplexsentence.
- In thesentence'The woman who Imetwaswearingabrownhat', 'who Imet' is arelativeclause.
Linguistics: sentences & expressions
- aphorism
- backchannel
- coin
- complex sentence
- compound sentence
- declarative sentence
- defining
- dicta
- dictum
- epigram
- epigrammatic
- idiom
- jawbreaker
- motto
- phrase
- proverbial
- sentence
- slogan
- soundbite
- tail
Grammar
Clauses
A clause is the basic unit of grammar. Typically a main clause is made up of a subject (s) (a noun phrase) and a verb phrase (v). Sometimes the verb phrase is followed by other elements, e.g objects (o), complements (c), adjuncts (ad). These other elements are sometimes essential to complete the meaning of the clause:…Clauses: introduction
A clause is the basic unit of grammar. Typically a main clause is made up of a subject (s) (a noun phrase) and a verb phrase (v). Sometimes the verb phrase is followed by other elements, e.g objects (o), complements (c), adjuncts (ad). These other elements are sometimes essential to complete the meaning of the clause:…Main (independent) clauses and subordinate (dependent) clauses
Main (or independent) clauses can form sentences on their own. They aren’t dependent on other clauses. They are always finite (they must contain a verb which shows tense).…Clauses: coordinated
We can combine clauses of the same grammatical type to form sentences using coordinating conjunctions:…Clauses: finite and non-finite
Finite clauses must contain a verb which shows tense. They can be main clauses or subordinate clauses:…Finite clauses
Finite clauses must contain a verb which shows tense. They can be main clauses or subordinate clauses:…Non-finite clauses
Non-finite clauses contain a verb which does not show tense. We usually use non-finite verbs only in subordinate clauses. We usually understand the time referred to from the context of the main clause. We often use a non-finite clause when the subject is the same as the subject in the main clause:…Clauses and sentences
A clause is the basic unit of grammar. A clause must contain a verb. Typically a clause is made up of a subject, a verb phrase and, sometimes, a complement:…What is a clause?
A clause is the basic unit of grammar. A clause must contain a verb. Typically a clause is made up of a subject, a verb phrase and, sometimes, a complement:…What is a sentence?
A sentence is a unit of grammar. It must contain at least one main clause. It can contain more than one clause. In writing, a sentence typically begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop:…Clause types
There are four basic types of main clause: declaratives (statements), interrogatives (questions), imperatives (orders/instructions) and exclamatives (used for exclamations).…Declarative clauses
Declarative clauses most commonly function as statements. The usual word order is subject (s) + verb (v) + x. Declaratives can be affirmative or negative. They make statements about how things are and how they are not.…Interrogative clauses
Interrogative clauses most commonly function as questions. The usual word order is (wh-word) + auxiliary/modal verb (aux/m) + subject + verb + x:…Imperative clauses
Imperative clauses most commonly function as commands, instructions or orders. The usual word order is verb + x. We do not usually include the subject in an imperative clause. We use the base form of the verb:…Exclamative clauses
Exclamative clauses usually have one of the following word orders:…Cleft sentences (It was in June we got married.)
We use cleft sentences, especially in speaking, to connect what is already understood to what is new to the listener. In a cleft sentence, a single message is divided (cleft) into two clauses. This allows us to focus on the new information.…It-cleft sentences
It-clauses are the most common type of cleft clause. The information that comes after it is emphasised for the listener. The clause which follows the it-clause is connected using that and it contains information that is already understood. We often omit that in informal situations when it is the object of the verb:…Wh-cleft sentences (What I need is a holiday)
Wh-cleft sentences are most often introduced by what, but we can also use why, where, how, etc. The information in the wh-clause is typically old or understood information, while the information in the following clause is new and in focus:…