Last week, we started discussing the differences between a phrase, clause and a sentence. We defined a phrase as a group of words without a subject and a predicate, though standing together to form a part of a sentence. While ‘predicate’ is the part of the clause containing the verb and saying something about the subject, a clause is a group of words or phrases with a subject and predicate. Today, we shall compare the clause and a sentence.
Ordinarily, a sentence has a higher grammatical status than a clause, the way the latter is higher than a phrase. For a group of words to be called a sentence, it has to make a complete thought. It is, however, not all the time that a clause does that. Once it does not have a main verb alongside a subject, it is not qualified to be called a sentence. So, it is not in all cases that a clause has the status of a sentence.
A clause as a sentence
There are times when a clause constitutes a sentence. Once it makes a complete thought and has a subject and a predicate, it becomes a sentence. In this wise, it also starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, question mark or an exclamatory mark:
She bought sugar. (A clause, a sentence)
Three of the guys have gone. (A clause, a sentence.)
Note that the sentences here are called simple sentences because each consists of a single independent clause.
When a clause is not a sentence
A clause that cannot stand alone does not have a sentence’s status. Such is a subordinate or dependent clause which needs an independent clause to make a complete thought. In this case, even if the clause begins with a capital letter, it can normally not end with either the full stop, question mark or an exclamatory mark:
Since they came late (a subordinate clause, but not a sentence)
If PDP features Atiku and Wike (A subordinate clause of condition, also not a sentence)
For the two to make sense, an independent clause has to be added to each:
Since they came late, they had to wait till the end of the programme.
If PDP features Atiku and Wike, something dramatic may happen during the election.
Now, we have in each of the statements a sentence made up of a main clause and a subordinate one. Such a structure that combines an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses is called a complex sentence.
When a sentence has two main clauses
A sentence with two independent clauses is called a compound sentence. Examples are:
The girl made five promises and she has fulfilled all.
Dr Akin is a committed physician but he has relocated to America.
The two main clauses in each are:
The girl made five promises.
She fulfilled all.
Dr Akin is a committed physician.
He has relocated to America.
Compound-complex
Another issue that proves a sentence is ‘bigger’ than a clause is that it can contain two or more main clauses and at least a subordinate clause. This is called a compound-complex sentence:
As soon as the children heard the bell, they started shouting and embracing one another.
Here we have two main clauses:
They started shouting.
They started embracing one another.
This is apart from the subordinate:
As soon as the children heard the bell.
- To be continued
