What is a Clause?
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It expresses a complete thought, even if it's a simple one. Here's a breakdown:
* Subject: The person, place, or thing that performs the action of the verb.
* Verb: The action word or state of being.
Types of Clauses:
* Independent Clause: Can stand alone as a complete sentence.
* Dependent Clause: Cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on an independent clause for its meaning.
Examples:
* Independent Clause: The dog barked loudly. (Subject: "dog", Verb: "barked")
* Dependent Clause: Because the dog was hungry. (Subject: "dog", Verb: "was")
Underlined Clauses
When you see a clause underlined, it usually indicates one of the following:
1. Emphasis: The writer wants to draw attention to a particular idea or thought.
2. Grammatical Structure: The underlined clause might highlight a dependent clause that is grammatically connected to an independent clause.
3. Contrast: The underlined clause may contrast with another clause, emphasizing the difference between them.
Example of Underlined Clause:
"The students were excited for the field trip, *but they were disappointed when it rained.*"
* The underlined clause, "but they were disappointed when it rained", is a dependent clause that contrasts with the independent clause "The students were excited for the field trip".
Key Points:
* Not all underlined clauses are dependent clauses.
* The reason for underlining a clause depends on the context and the writer's intention.
Let me know if you would like more examples or have any other questions!