Meaning & use
clauses
Last updated
Grammatical units containing a subject and a verb that form part of a larger sentence.
See it in a sentence
The sentence contains two clauses joined by a comma.
"Although it was raining" is a dependent clause because it cannot stand alone as a sentence.
A note on using this word
A clause differs from a phrase in that a clause always includes both a subject and a verb, while a phrase does not.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A distinct section or provision within a legal document or contract
The lease contains a clause allowing early termination with 60 days' notice.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “clauses”, then compare your use with the examples above.