What is a clause?

A clause is a part of a sentence. There are two main types: independent (main clauses), dependent (subordinate clauses). Independent Clauses An independent clause is a complete sentence; it contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought in both context and meaning. For example: The door opened. Independent clauses can be joined by a coordinating conjunction to form complex or compound sentences. Co-ordinating Conjunctions and or yet but nor for so

For example: Take two independent clauses and join them together with the conjunction and: " The door opened." "The man walked in." = The door opened and the man walked in.

Dependent Clauses A dependent (subordinate) clause is part of a sentence; it contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. They can make sense on their own, but, they are dependent on the rest of the sentence for context and meaning. They are usually joined to an independent clause to form a complex sentence. Dependent clauses often begin with a a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun (see below) that makes the clause unable to stand alone.

Subordinating Conjunctions after before in order that since though whenever whether Relative Pronouns that who whose For example: The door opened because the man pushed it. which whoever whosever whichever whom whomever although even if once so that unless where while as even though provided that than until whereas why because if rather than that when wherever

Purpose, reason and result clauses

Aim: You will often need to use purpose, reason and result clauses in your written and spoken work at university. This page provides you with reference and practice material on these three types of adverbial clause. 1. Purpose clauses You use a purpose clause when you want to state the purpose of the action in the independent clause. The most common type of purpose clause is a to-infinitive clause.

Sarah went to the computer lab to print out

her research report. In formal writing, in order to and so as to are often used.

The company conducted a detailed survey in In formal writing, you can also introduce a purpose clause with so that or in order that. These finite purpose clauses usually contain a modal.

order to gauge its clients views.

Dr Chan adjusted the overhead projector so that the students would be able to see the chart more clearly. The lecturer finished his lecture five minutes early so that the students could come and ask him questions.

The difference between so and so that is that so that implies that the cause was deliberately done by someone in order to get a specific result. Click here for . There are a number of other ways of expressing purpose in English. These are some of the most common ones: with a view to, with the intention of, with the object/aim of, for the purpose of If you use these phrases, make sure that the verb is in the _ing form.

The university introduced two new English courses with a view to enhancing students proficiency in the language.

2. Reason clauses In your written and spoken assignments you will often need to answer the question Why?. When you want to explain why something happens, you can use a reason clause introduced by the conjunctions because, as or since. As she wanted to practise her spoken English, Carrie regularly took part in the ELCs Big Mouth Corner. Mark joined the English Drama Club because he wanted to improve his intonation.

Dont use so in sentences beginning with since, as or because. Here is a common mistake: Since he was interested in movies, so David joined the PolyU International Film Society.

You can also use the prepositional phrases because of and on account of to express reason. We were unable to carry out the experiment on account of a malfunction in the computer. We were unable to carry out the experiment because the computer malfunctioned.

As you will see in the Vocabulary section below, there are many other ways of indicating reason and cause in English. 3. Result clauses When you want to indicate the result of an action or situation, you can use a result clause. Result clauses are introduced by conjunctions such as so, so... that, or such that. The lecture was boring and irrelevant, so some of the students began to fall asleep. Peter was having problems with mathematics, so he went to see his tutor to ask for advice.

There were so many books on the subject that Cindy didnt know where to begin. There was such a lot of material to cover that Ivan found it difficult to keep up with his studies.

There are many other ways of talking about the result of an action or situation. In some situations you may prefer to use and as a result or with the result that. The lecture was boring and irrelevant, and as a result some of the students began to fall asleep. The lecture was boring and irrelevant, with the result that some of the students began to fall asleep.

As a result can also be used at the beginning of a new sentence. The lecture was boring and irrelevant. As a result, some of the students began to fall asleep.

The following words and phrases are used in the same way. Therefore, Thus, In consequence, Consequently, For this/that reason Causal relations can be expressed by ing-clauses of result. The government increased the duty on wine. As a result, there was a fall in demand. The government increased the duty on wine, resulting in a fall in demand.

Exercise Choose the correct word from the list (as, so, so that, because, with the result that, in order that, with a view to=with the aim of)
19.
1 1

Kelvin changed his major from Geography to Business Studies improving his job prospects.

20. Dr. Leung arranged some extra tutorials give her students more opportunities to ask questions before the examination

A key piece of equipment broke down .the laboratory session had to be cancelled. 1 1 Tony has a very good foundation in English, he had little difficulty in passing the examination. 1 1 Professor Li repeated the point in Cantonese the students would fully understand. 1 1 David was. busy with his final-year project that he was unable to take part in extra-curricular activities. 1 1 It was a successful lecture series that the English Language Centre decided to repeat it the following semester. 1 1 The examination had to be postponed the typhoon. 1 1 Amy joined the English Club .. she wanted to increase her circle of friends.
1 1

Exercises PURPOSE CLAUSES

1) He opened the window.He wanted to let fresh air in.(in order to) He opened the window 2)I took my camera.I wanted to take some photos.(so that) I took my camera .. 3)He studied really hard.He wanted to get better marks.(in order to) He studied really hard.. 4)Jason learns Chinese.His aim is to work in China.( to) Jason learns Chinese

5)Ive collected money.I will buy a new car.(so that) Ive collected money 6)Many people left Turkey in 1960s.They wanted to find jobs in Germany.( in order to) Many people left Turkey in 1960s. 7)She attends to a course.She wants to learn chess.(to) She attends to a course 8)Linda turned on the lights.She wanted to see better.(so that) Linda turned on the lights 9)I will come with you.I want to help you.(in order to) I will come with you. 10)We are going to cinema.We will watch a horror film.(to) We are going to cinema 11)You must take your umbrella so that you wont get wet.(in order) You must take your umbrella 12)He waited at the counter.He wanted to see her.(in order) He waited at the counter. 13)We all put on our coats.We were feeling cold.(so that) We all put on our coats..keep warm.

Fill in the gaps with : lest(=in case, in order to avoid, for fear that, in order to prevent), so that, in order to.
1. I will give you this English book . you can pass your exam. 2. We keep our meat in the fridge it doesn't go bad. 3. Yvonne is borrowing some English books .. learn more of this language. 4. I have to leave early I won't miss my plane. 5. Elizabeth is putting on her warm jacket .. she catches a cold.

6. I didn't tell her about her husband's sickness she worried. 7. He should come here as soon as possible . repair our car. 8. He spoke so loudly .. wake Mary.He is a naughty boy. 9. Yvonne is learning English .. she can read English books. 10. He went to school .. practise his English. 1. I will give you this English book lest so that you can pass your exam. 2. We keep our meat in the fridge in order to so that it doesn't go bad. 3. Yvonne is borrowing some English books so that in order to learn more of this language. 4. I have to leave early lest so that I won't miss my plane. 5. Elizabeth is putting on her warm jacket lest she catches a cold. 6. I didn't tell her about her husband's sickness so that lest she worried. 7. He should come here as soon as possible lest in order to repair our car. 8. He spoke so loudly lest in order to wake Mary.He is a naughty boy. 9. Yvonne is learning English lest so that she can read English books. 10. He went to school so that in order to practise his English.