What Is a Sentence? | What Is a Clause? | Independent | Dependent

Understanding Sentences and Clauses: The Building Blocks of Communication

As teachers, parents, or students, we often use sentences every day without thinking about how they work. But when it comes to learning English grammar deeply, understanding what a sentence is and how it is built from clauses is a powerful skill.

In this article, we’ll break down the meaning of a sentence, explore its types, and show you how every sentence is made up of one or more clauses.

What Is a Sentence?

A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. It must contain:

1. A Subject – the person, thing, or idea the sentence is about.

2. A Predicate – what is said about the subject, usually starting with a verb.

A sentence must make sense on its own, start with a capital letter, and end with the correct punctuation mark — a full stop (.), a question mark (?), or an exclamation mark (!).

Examples of Sentences

• The boy is running.

• I enjoy reading books.

• Will you come to the meeting?

• Wow! That’s amazing!

Types of Sentences by Function

1. Declarative Sentence – Makes a statement.

   • Example: The sun sets in the west.

2. Interrogative Sentence – Asks a question.

   • Example: Where are you going?

3. Imperative Sentence – Gives a command or request.

   • Example: Please close the door.

4. Exclamatory Sentence – Shows strong feeling.

   • Example: What a beautiful day!

What Is a Clause?

A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate. It can either stand alone or depend on another clause for its meaning.

There are two main types:

1. Independent Clause

An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

• The sun is shining.

• They will travel to Abuja tomorrow.

2. Dependent (Subordinate) Clause

A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. It needs an independent clause to make sense.

• because the sun is shining

• when they travel to Abuja tomorrow

How Sentences Are Built from Clauses

Think of a clause as a brick and a sentence as the building.

• A simple sentence is made from one independent clause.

  • Example: The children are playing.

• A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

  • Example: The children are playing because the weather is warm.

• A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction (like and, but, or).

  • Example: The sun is shining and the birds are singing.

Rule of thumb: Every sentence must have at least one independent clause — without it, the sentence is incomplete.

Why This Matters for Learners

Understanding the relationship between clauses and sentences helps in:

• Writing clearer and more varied sentences.

• Avoiding sentence fragments (incomplete thoughts).

• Improving both spoken and written communication.

Final Thought:
Sentences are the vehicles of our thoughts, and clauses are the engines that drive them. Once you master how they work together, you’ll find expressing yourself in English becomes more natural, precise, and powerful.