Sentence vs Clause
Sentences and clauses are two elements of language that may seem similar, but they are in fact different. A sentence is complete in both construction and meaning, containing a subject, object, and verb. On the other hand, a clause is incomplete in meaning and does not always contain an object. Both clauses and sentences play important roles in the English language.
Key Takeaways
- A sentence is complete in construction and meaning, while a clause is incomplete in meaning.
- A sentence contains a subject, object, and verb, while a clause usually contains only a subject and predicate.
- There are various types of sentences, including declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, and imperative sentences.
What is a Sentence?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines a sentence as “a set of words that is complete in itself, typically containing a subject and predicate, conveying a statement, question, exclamation, or command, and consisting of a main clause and sometimes one or more subordinate clauses.” Sentences can be declarative or assertive, interrogative, exclamatory, or imperative.
Examples of sentences include:
– Francis goes to church every day.
– Robert lives in the nearby village.
These sentences are complete because they contain a subject, object (direct or indirect), and verb.
What is a Clause?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a clause is “a unit of grammatical organization next below the sentence in rank and in traditional grammar said to consist of a subject and predicate.” Clauses are incomplete in both construction and meaning and often form part of a sentence. Sometimes, two clauses make up a sentence, as in the following examples:
– She was tired, but she went to work.
– As you know, I work very hard.
In these sentences, two clauses are joined together to form complete sentences. Clauses typically contain a subject and predicate, but not an object.
Differences between Sentences and Clauses
The main differences between sentences and clauses are:
– Sentences are complete in construction and meaning, while clauses are incomplete in meaning.
– Sentences contain a subject, object, and verb, while clauses usually contain only a subject and predicate.
– There are various types of sentences, such as declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, and imperative, while clauses do not have these distinctions.
– Clauses often form part of a sentence, while sentences do not form part of clauses.
