---
title: clause — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clause» in the school dictionary: In grammar, a clause is a group of words that has a verb and usually a subject: «when the bell rang» and «we went outside» are clauses. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clause

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** clause, words, bell, we, main clause, subordinate clause · **What happens:** be, have, ring, go, make, not do · **To what, where:** group, grammar, verb, clauses, sense, main clause · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«clause» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [clause in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clause.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In grammar, a clause is a group of words that has a verb and usually a subject: «when the bell rang» and «we went outside» are clauses.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clause:m1:1
# text = In grammar, a clause is a group of words that has a verb and usually a subject: «when the bell rang» and «we went outside» are clauses.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	grammar	grammar	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	acl:relcl	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obj	_	_
15	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
16	usually	usually	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
17	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	subject	subject	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	24	punct	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	24	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	24	advmod	_	_
22	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	bell	bell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nsubj	_	_
24	rang	ring	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	33	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	24	punct	_	_
26	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	29	cc	_	_
27	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	29	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	29	nsubj	_	_
29	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	24	conj	_	_
30	outside	outside	ADV	RB	_	29	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	29	punct	_	_
32	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	33	cop	_	_
33	clauses	clause	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a clause | a group |  | grammar |  | of words | tree rules |
| 2 | **have** | present | words | a verb and a subject |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent verb=Patient |
| 3 | **ring** *in a quote* | past | the bell |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **go** *in a quote* | past | we |  |  |  |  | outside *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 5 | **is a** | present |  | clauses |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A main clause makes sense on its own as a sentence; a subordinate clause does not and needs a main clause.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clause:m2:1
# text = A main clause makes sense on its own as a sentence; a subordinate clause does not and needs a main clause.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	sense	sense	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	its	its	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	own	own	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	xcomp	_	_
9	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	subordinate	subordinate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	nsubj	_	_
16	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	parataxis	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	16	advmod	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present | a main clause | sense |  |  |  | own *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset sense=Product |
| 2 | **not** **do** | present | a subordinate clause |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **need** | present | a subordinate clause *not said here* | a main clause |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: law — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clause is one section or rule in a written agreement or law.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clause:m3:1
# text = A clause is one section or rule in a written agreement or law.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	section	section	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	rule	rule	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	in	in	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
10	written	write	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	11	amod	_	_
11	agreement	agreement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
13	law	law	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a clause | one section or rule |  | a written agreement or law |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **write** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I went home» is a main clause.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clause:x1:1
# text = «I went home» is a main clause.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	went	go	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	csubj	_	_
4	home	home	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	main	main	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **go** *in a quote* | past | I |  |  |  |  | home *property* | vn disappearance-48.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a main clause |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Because it was raining» is a subordinate clause; it cannot stand alone.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clause:x2:1
# text = «Because it was raining» is a subordinate clause; it cannot stand alone.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
3	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	raining	rain	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	subordinate	subordinate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
13	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	stand	stand	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	conj	_	_
16	alone	alone	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rain** *in a quote* | past · progressive | it |  |  |  |  |  | vn weather-57 «It V PP.theme» |
| 2 | **is a** | present | raining | a subordinate clause |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **stand** | can | clause |  |  |  |  | alone *property* | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Join the two clauses with «but».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clause:x3:1
# text = Join the two clauses with «but».
1	Join	join	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	4	nummod	_	_
4	clauses	clause	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | imperative | you *not said here* | the two clauses |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clause=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«The dog that barked» has a relative clause: «that barked».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clause:x4:1
# text = «The dog that barked» has a relative clause: «that barked».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dog	dog	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
4	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	5	nsubj	_	_
5	barked	bark	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	relative	relative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	14	nsubj	_	_
14	barked	bark	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **bark** *in a quote* | past | the dog |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **have** | present | the dog | a relative clause |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **bark** *in a quote* | past | that |  |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Every clause has a verb.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clause:x5:1
# text = Every clause has a verb.
1	Every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	2	det	_	_
2	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	verb	verb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | every clause | a verb |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent verb=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad read every clause of the phone contract before signing.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clause:x6:1
# text = Dad read every clause of the phone contract before signing.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	read	read	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	every	every	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	4	det	_	_
4	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	phone	phone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	contract	contract	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	_
9	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	signing	sign	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	2	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **read** | past | Dad | every clause of the phone contract |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **sign** | gerund | Dad *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn image\_impression-25.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A comma often comes after a subordinate clause at the start of a sentence.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clause:x7:1
# text = A comma often comes after a subordinate clause at the start of a sentence.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	comma	comma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	comes	come	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	subordinate	subordinate	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	clause	clause	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
9	at	at	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	start	start	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nmod	_	_
12	of	of	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | present | a comma |  |  |  | after a subordinate clause at the start of a sentence | often *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **start** |  |  | a sentence |  |  |  |  | nom start «event transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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