Clauses in English Grammar: What is a Clause?

The easiest way to explain a clause in grammar is a subject + verb. The subject is the entity performing the action of the sentence and the verb is the action that subject completes. A clause creates a complete thought. There are a number of different clauses these include: main clause (independent clause), subordinate clause (dependent clause), and relative clause. Main clause: I will do my homework before I eat dinner. Subordinate clause: I will do my homework before I eat dinner. Relative clause: The bathroom, that is downstairs, needs to be fixed. In these examples, the clause is in bold. Check out our types of clauses list.

Types of Clauses Sentence Examples

Practice clauses in sentences. A clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb. Have a go and make your own sentences with the types of clauses sentence list poster above and sentences below.

• Main clause sentences:
• I will do my homework before dinner.
• Gary chose the colour he liked best.
• A teacher is a person who teaches students.
• The door opened.
• I play in the yard.



• Subordinate clause sentences:
• When the train stops we will get off it.
• These are the people who work at our school.
• My brother is the one who lives in that house.
• Where is the milk that was in the kitchen?
• If you work on Saturday, I will look after the children.



• Relative clause sentences:
• The bathroom, that is downstairs, needs to be fixed.
• The cat, which scratched my mum, is wild.
• My mother, who is from Sweden, only speaks a little English.
• Gary's cousin, who is very tall, cannot sit in the car.
• This is the man who comes to the park every day.

Clause Games and Worksheets

Looking for more resources related to clauses? Check out our comprehensive list of worksheets and video games. Download worksheets and play interactive games for free.

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