Текст № 7. A clause consists of a subject and a predicate

A clause consists of a subject and a predicate. The subject is typically a noun phrase, though other kinds of phrases (such as gerund phrases) work as well, and some languages allow subjects to be omitted. The predicate is a finite verb phrase: a finite verb together with zero or more objects, zero or more complements, and zero or more adverbials.

There are two types of clauses: independent and subordinate (dependent). An independent clause demonstrates a complete thought; it is a complete sentence. A subordinate clause is not a complete sentence.

A simple complete sentence consists of a single clause (subject and predicate). Other complete sentences consist of two or more clauses.

One traditional scheme for classifying English sentences is by the number and types of finite clauses:

• A simple sentence consists of a single independent clause with no dependent clauses.

• A compound sentence consists of multiple independent clauses with no dependent clauses. These clauses are joined together using conjunctions, punctuation, or both.

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

• A complex-compound sentence (or compound-complex sentence) consists of multiple independent clauses, at least one of which has at least one dependent clause.