What Is an Existential Sentence in English Grammar? - ThoughtCo
The verb most often used in existential sentences is a form of be, though other verbs (e.g., exist, occur) may follow the existential there.
clause
"What the there construction does is highlight a <anchor>clause</anchor> as a whole, presenting it to the listener or reader as if everything in it is a new piece of information. It gives the entire clause a fresh status. In this respect, existential sentences are very different from the other ways of varying information structure, which focus on individual elements inside a clause."
Recognize and Use Clauses in English Grammar
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# How to Recognize and Use Clauses in English Grammar

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![Martin Luther King Jr. making &#39;I Have a Dream&#39; speech](https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/jfy0EX8YDEuzFXzC5WEqrZIjEDs=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/MLK_Ihaveadream-58bde3733df78c353cdc0cf5.jpg)

"We cannot walk alone"( from Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech) is an independent clause.Bettmann / Contributor / Getty Images

[English](https://www.thoughtco.com/english-4688281)

- [English Grammar](https://www.thoughtco.com/english-grammar-4133049)  - [An Introduction to Punctuation](https://www.thoughtco.com/punctuation-definition-1691702)
- [Writing](https://www.thoughtco.com/writing-4133048)

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[Richard Nordquist](https://www.thoughtco.com/richard-nordquist-1688331)

[Richard Nordquist](https://www.thoughtco.com/richard-nordquist-1688331)

English and Rhetoric Professor

- Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
- M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
- B.A., English, State University of New York

Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks.

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Updated on June 27, 2019

A clause is the basic building block of a sentence; by definition, it must contain a subject and a verb. Although they appear simple, clauses can function in complex ways in English grammar. A clause can function as a simple sentence, or it may be joined to other clauses with conjunctions to form complex sentences.

A clause is a group of words that contains a [subject](https://www.thoughtco.com/subject-grammar-1692150) and a [predicate](https://www.thoughtco.com/predicate-grammar-1691660). It may be either a complete [sentence](https://www.thoughtco.com/sentence-grammar-1692087) (also known as an [independent or main clause](https://www.thoughtco.com/independent-clause-grammar-1691159)) or a sentence-like construction within another sentence (called a [dependent](https://www.thoughtco.com/dependent-clause-grammar-1690437) or [subordinate clause](https://www.thoughtco.com/subordinate-clause-grammar-1692149)). When clauses are joined so that one modifies another, they are called matrix clauses.

**Independent**: Charlie bought a '57 Thunderbird.

**Dependent**: Because he loved classic cars

**Matrix**: Because he loved classic cars, Charlie bought a '57 Thunderbird.

Clauses can function in several ways, as outlined below.

## Adjective Clause

This dependent clause ( [adjective clause](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-adjective-clause-p2-1689063)) is also known as a relevant clause because it usually contains a relative pronoun or relative adverb. It is used to modify a subject, much as an adjective would, and is also known as a [relative clause](https://www.thoughtco.com/relative-clause-grammar-1692042).

**Example:** This is the ball _that Sammy Sosa hit over the left-field wall_ in the World Series.

## Adverbial Clause

Another dependent clause, [adverbial clauses](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-adverbial-clause-1689190) function like an adverb, indicating time, place, condition, contrast, concession, reason, purpose, or result. Typically, an adverbial clause is set off with a comma and subordinating conjunction.

**Example:** _Although Billy loves pasta and bread_, he's on a no-carb diet.

## Comparative Clause

These [comparative subordinate clause _s_](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-comparative-clause-1689880) use adjectives or adverbs such as "like" or "than" to draw a comparison. They are also known as _proportional clauses_.

**Example:** Julieta is a better poker player _than I am_.

## Complement Clause

[Complementary clauses](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-complement-clause-grammar-1689885) function like adjectives modifying a subject. They usually begin with a subordinating conjunction and modify the subject-verb relationship.

**Example:** I never expected _that you would fly to Japan_.

## Concessive Clause

A subordinate clause, the [concessive clause](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-concessive-grammar-1689782) is used to contrast or justify the main idea of the sentence. It is typically set off by a subordinating conjunction.

**Example:** _Because we were shivering_, I turned up the heat.

## Conditional Clause

[Conditional clauses](https://www.thoughtco.com/conditional-clause-grammar-1689905) are easy to recognize because they usually begin with the word "if." A type of adjectival clause, conditionals express a hypothesis or condition.

**Example:** _If we can reach Tulsa_, we can stop driving for the night.

## Coordinate Clause

[Coordinate clauses](https://www.thoughtco.com/coordinate-clause-grammar-1689804) usually begin with the conjunctions "and" or "but" and express relativity or relationship with the subject of the main clause.

**Example:** Sheldon drinks coffee, _but Ernestine prefers tea_.

## Noun Clause

As the name suggests, [noun clauses](https://www.thoughtco.com/noun-nominal-clause-1691440) are a sort of dependent clause that functions as a noun in relation to the main clause. They are typically offset with " [that](https://www.thoughtco.com/that-clause-definition-1692539)", " [which](https://www.thoughtco.com/wh-clause-grammar-1692498)," or " [what](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-clause-1692605)."

**Example:** _What I believe_ is irrelevant to the conversation.

## Reporting Clause

The [reporting clause](https://www.thoughtco.com/reporting-clause-1691911) is more commonly known as attribution because it identifies who is speaking or the source of what is being said. They always follow the noun or noun clause.

**Example:** "I'm going to the mall," _shouted Jerry_ from the garage.

## Verbless Clause

This kind of subordinate clause may not seem like one because it lacks a verb. [Verbless clauses](https://www.thoughtco.com/verbless-clause-1692588) provide tangential information that informs but is not directly modifying the main clause.

**Example:** _In the interest of brevity_, I will keep this speech short.

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Nordquist, Richard. "How to Recognize and Use Clauses in English Grammar." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/what-is-clause-grammar-1689850.Nordquist, Richard. (2023, April 5). How to Recognize and Use Clauses in English Grammar. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-clause-grammar-1689850Nordquist, Richard. "How to Recognize and Use Clauses in English Grammar." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-clause-grammar-1689850 (accessed September 14, 2024).

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- [Nonrestrictive Relative Clause](https://www.thoughtco.com/nonrestrictive-relative-clause-1691350)
- [What Is Reposition Stranding in Grammar?](https://www.thoughtco.com/preposition-stranding-grammar-1691666)
- [Definition and Examples of Correlative Conjunctions](https://www.thoughtco.com/correlative-conjunction-grammar-1689937)
- [Complement Clause in Grammar](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-complement-clause-grammar-1689885)
- [What are 'Wh- Words' in Grammar?](https://www.thoughtco.com/wh-word-grammar-1692497)
- [Definition and Examples of Postmodifiers in English Grammar](https://www.thoughtco.com/postmodifier-grammar-1691519)
- [antecedent (grammar)](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-antecedent-grammar-1689099)
- [Subordination in English Grammar](https://www.thoughtco.com/subordination-grammar-1692155)

- [What Is Embedding in Grammar?](https://www.thoughtco.com/embedding-grammar-1690643)
- [Matrix Clause](https://www.thoughtco.com/matrix-clause-grammar-1691371)
- [How to Use a Nonfinite Verb in English](https://www.thoughtco.com/nonfinite-verb-term-1691435)
- [Conditional Clause in Grammar](https://www.thoughtco.com/conditional-clause-grammar-1689905)
- [Free (Nominal) Relative Clause](https://www.thoughtco.com/free-nominal-relative-clause-1690808)
- [Definition and Examples of a Verbless Clause in English](https://www.thoughtco.com/verbless-clause-1692588)
- [Comma Splices](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-comma-splice-1689897)
- [Definition of Compound Sentences and How to Use Them](https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-compound-sentence-1689895)

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