Clauses - Complete Notes for Competitive Exams
🔹 What is a Clause?
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb.
It can be either:
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Independent/Main Clause – Can stand alone as a complete sentence.
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Dependent/Subordinate Clause – Cannot stand alone; depends on the main clause.
🔹 Types of Clauses
| Clause Type | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Independent Clause | Has a subject and verb; complete thought. | She passed the exam. |
| 2. Dependent Clause | Has a subject and verb; not a complete thought. | Although she was tired |
| 3. Noun Clause | Functions as a noun (subject, object). | What he said was true. |
| 4. Adjective Clause (Relative Clause) | Describes a noun, starts with who, which, that. | The book that you gave me is great. |
| 5. Adverb Clause | Modifies verb/adjective, starts with when, if, because, although. | I left because I was tired. |
| 6. Conditional Clause | Expresses conditions, starts with if, unless, provided that. | If you study, you will pass. |
🔹 Use of Clauses
| Use | Clause Example |
|---|---|
| As subject | What she said made everyone laugh. |
| As object | I believe that he is honest. |
| Giving reason | He left because he was ill. |
| Showing time | When she arrived, the show began. |
| Modifying noun | The girl who sings well is my sister. |
🔹 Common Mistakes by Students
| Mistake | Correct Form |
|---|---|
| ❌ Misusing that with people | ✅ The boy who helped me... (not that) |
| ❌ Using incomplete subordinate clause | ✅ If you work hard, you will succeed. |
| ❌ Confusing adjective and noun clauses | ✅ I know that she lied (noun clause) |
| ❌ No main clause after dependent | ✅ Although he is rich, he is humble. |
| ❌ Redundant pronouns in adjective clauses | ✅ The book that I read (not 'that I read it') |
🔹 Most Frequently Asked Concepts in Exams
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Identify the type of clause.
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Error spotting in adjective/noun clauses.
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Fill in the blanks with suitable connectors.
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MCQ based on complex/compound sentence structure.
🧠 Practice Questions (MCQs)
✅ Previous Year & Most Repeated
1. Identify the noun clause:
“I don’t know why she left early.”
a) I don’t know
b) why she left early
c) she left early
d) know why
👉 Answer: b) why she left early
2. Pick the correct adjective clause:
The man ____ helped me was kind.
a) who
b) which
c) whom
d) what
👉 Answer: a) who
3. Which is a dependent clause?
a) She is playing.
b) I believe her.
c) Because he was late
d) They went home.
👉 Answer: c) Because he was late
4. Choose the sentence with an adverb clause:
a) He is the boy who won the prize.
b) I know that he is right.
c) He left because it was late.
d) What he said is wrong.
👉 Answer: c) He left because it was late.
5. Error Spotting:
The man that helped us was very generous.
a) No error
b) Replace "that" with "who"
c) Replace "helped" with "helps"
d) Remove "very"
👉 Answer: b) Replace "that" with "who"
6. What kind of clause is underlined?
If you work hard, you will succeed.
a) Adjective
b) Adverb
c) Noun
d) Main clause
👉 Answer: b) Adverb
7. Select the sentence with a noun clause:
a) I know the reason.
b) I know that he is guilty.
c) I know the guilty man.
d) I know him.
👉 Answer: b) I know that he is guilty.
8. Identify the clause type:
This is the place where I met her.
a) Adverb clause
b) Noun clause
c) Adjective clause
d) Conditional clause
👉 Answer: c) Adjective clause
9. What type of sentence is this?
Although he worked hard, he failed.
a) Simple
b) Compound
c) Complex
d) Interrogative
👉 Answer: c) Complex
10. Fill in the blank with correct clause starter:
I know _______ she lied.
a) what
b) why
c) that
d) if
👉 Answer: c) that
📚 Tips to Master Clauses:
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Learn subordinating conjunctions (because, although, since, if).
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Practice spotting the subject-verb structure.
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Practice transformation: simple to complex and vice versa.
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Focus on error spotting, a common exam pattern.
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