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# clause

«clause» in Mova's school dictionary: **a group of words that has a verb and usually a subject:…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a clause, clauses)

### meaning for a pupil

1) 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. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clause/#m1)

2) A main clause makes sense on its own as a sentence; a subordinate clause does not and needs a main clause. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clause/#m2)

3) (law) A clause is one section or rule in a written agreement or law. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clause/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

In English grammar lessons pupils join clauses with conjunctions («and», «but», «because», «when») and learn main clauses, subordinate clauses and relative clauses («the boy who won»). Phrases: «main clause», «subordinate clause», «relative clause», «a clause in the contract». In everyday adult life, contracts for phones, homes and jobs have clauses that say what each side must do. «Santa Claus» sounds the same but is a different word.

### examples

- «I went home» is a main clause. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clause/#x1)
- «Because it was raining» is a subordinate clause; it cannot stand alone. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clause/#x2)
- Join the two clauses with «but». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clause/#x3)
- «The dog that barked» has a relative clause: «that barked». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clause/#x4)
- Every clause has a verb. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clause/#x5)
- Dad read every clause of the phone contract before signing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clause/#x6)
- A comma often comes after a subordinate clause at the start of a sentence. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clause/#x7)

### note

Plural «clauses». Homophone trap: «clause» (grammar, law) and «claws» (sharp nails of an animal), and «Claus» in «Santa Claus». A clause has a verb; a phrase usually does not («in the morning» is a phrase).

### In the corpora

- [A clause is a group of words with a verb in it.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/28-clauses-main-subordinate-and-joining-words/0/)
- [Cover each part: «you'll catch the bus» makes sense alone, so that is the main clause.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/28-clauses-main-subordinate-and-joining-words/7/)
- [The comma rule: when the subordinate clause comes first, put a comma after it.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/28-clauses-main-subordinate-and-joining-words/8/)
- [He's right: «while I was gaming» is a subordinate clause and «Mum called» is the main clause.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/28-clauses-main-subordinate-and-joining-words/10/)
- [A clause is a group of words that contains a verb.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/28-clauses-main-subordinate-and-joining-words/14/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «clause» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clause/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.