A clause is a grammatical unit that contains a subject and a verb. It can function as a sentence on its own, or as a part of a larger sentence. There are two main types of clauses: independent clauses and dependent clauses.

1. Independent Clause: An independent clause is a clause that can stand alone as a sentence, expressing a complete thought. It contains a subject and a verb, and expresses a complete idea.

Example: “She ate the sandwich.”

1. Dependent Clause: A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, cannot stand alone as a sentence because it does not express a complete thought. It contains a subject and a verb, but it depends on an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

There are three types of dependent clauses:
a. Adverbial Clause: An adverbial clause modifies the verb in the independent clause by expressing when, where, why, how, to what extent or under what conditions the action in the independent clause occurs.
Example: “After she finished her work, she went to bed.”
b. Adjectival Clause: An adjectival clause modifies a noun or a pronoun in the independent clause by giving additional information about it.
Example: “The man who sold me the car was very helpful.”
c. Noun Clause: A noun clause functions as a noun in a sentence. It can act as the subject, object, or complement of a sentence.
Example: “What he said made her angry.”
Overall, clauses are essential components of sentences that help to provide structure and meaning. Understanding the different types of clauses and how they function in sentences can help to improve one’s writing and communication skills.