46. A clause is a group of words that forms part of a sentence and that contains a subject and a predicate.
A clause used as a part of speech is called a subordinate clause. All other clauses are said to be independent.
Clauses of the same order or rank are said to be coördinate.
Sentences may be simple, compound, or complex.
1. A simple sentence has but one subject and one predicate, either or both of which may be compound.
2. A compound sentence consists of two or more independent coördinate clauses, which may or may not be joined by conjunctions.
3. A complex sentence consists of two or more clauses, one of which is independent and the rest subordinate.
A compound sentence in which one or more of the coördinate clauses are complex is called a compound complex sentence.
I. Simple Sentences
- Iron rusts.
- George V is king.
- Dogs, foxes, and hares are quadrupeds. [Compound subject.]
- The defendant rose and addressed the court. [Compound predicate.]
- Merton and his men crossed the bridge and scaled the wall. [Both subject and predicate are compound.]