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Propositions
A clause is a grammatical unit of meaning containing, at minimum, a subject and verb. There are three different types of clauses.
Independent clauses – Propositions indĂ©pendantes
An independent clause stands alone: it is either a complete sentence or is attached to another independent clause with a coordinating conjunction. As the name indicates, independent clauses, highlighted here in orange, are not dependent upon other clauses, and no other clauses are dependent upon them.
Par exemple…
| Papa Noël vérifie la liste. | Santa Claus is checking the list. | |
| Je suis parti. | I left. | |
| Le livre est sur la table. | The book is on the table. | |
| Je n’ai pas mangĂ© et j’ai faim. | I haven’t eaten and I’m hungry. | |
| Elle est prĂȘte donc on peut commencer. | She’s ready so we can start. |
Main clauses – Propositions principales
A main clause is similar to an independent clause: normally it could stand alone, but there’s a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun attaching it to a subordinate clause. If you say just the green part, you still have a grammatically correct sentence, but the additional meaning or clarification provided by the subordinate clause is missing.
Par exemple…
| Papa NoĂ«l vĂ©rifie la liste qu’il a dressĂ©e. | Santa Claus is checking the list (that) he made. | |
| Je suis parti quand il a appelé. | I left when he called. | |
| Le livre que tu m’as prĂȘtĂ© est sur la table. | The book you loaned me is on the table. | |
| J’ai faim parce que je n’ai pas mangĂ©. | I’m hungry because I haven’t eaten. | |
| Si elle est prĂȘte, on peut commencer. | If she’s ready, we can begin. |
Subordinate clauses – Propositions subordonnĂ©es
A subordinate clause, also called a dependent clause, is just the opposite: it can’t stand alone because it begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun that attaches it to a main clause. If you say just the purple part, you can immediately tell that essential grammar and information, contained in the main clause, are missing.
Par exemple…
| Papa NoĂ«l vĂ©rifie la liste qu’il a dressĂ©e. | Santa Claus is checking the list (that) he made. | |
| Je suis parti quand il a appelé. | I left when he called. | |
| Le livre que tu m’as prĂȘtĂ© est sur la table. | The book you loaned me is on the table. | |
| J’ai faim parce que je n’ai pas mangĂ©. | I’m hungry because I haven’t eaten. | |
| Si elle est prĂȘte, on peut commencer. | If she’s ready, we can begin. |
Subcategory: When a subordinate clause begins with a relative pronoun, it is also known as a relative clause or dependent clause.
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