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Clauses:

A Clause is a set of words that forms a part of a sentence and has a subject and a predicate of its own.

If a clause makes sense of its own then it is called Principal or Main Clause. If it doesn’t and is dependent on the Main Clause, then it is called Dependent or Subordinate Clause.

Eg.: The fellow is seldom fired by his boss who is fired with enthusiasm for his work.

Main Clause:                 The fellow is seldom fired by his boss.

Subordinate Clause:      Who is fired with enthusiasm for his work.

Here’s a good pun for U:

Show me Santa’s helpers, and I will show you subordinate clauses.

Now there are three types of Clauses depending on the work they do.

1)     Adverb Clause.

2)     Adjective Clause.

3)     Noun Clause.

Adverb Clause: Any clause that does the work of an Adverb, i.e., says anything about the verb or action that is being done is an Adverb Clause.

Last night Fred was killed, when he rammed his bike into a truck assuming it to be two motocycles running side-by-side.

In the above sentence the subordinate clause in italic does the work of an Adverb and says something about the verb “killed.” Hence it is called Adverb Clause.

Adjective Clause: Any clause that does the work of an Adjective, i.e., says anything about a noun, place, or thing is an Adjective Clause.

Talent hits the target which no one else can hit. Genius hits the target which no one else can see.

In the above sentences the subordinate clause in italic does the work of an Adjective and says something about the Noun “target.” Hence it is called an Adjective Clause.

Noun Clause: Any clause that does the work of a Noun, i.e., works as the object of a verb is a Noun Clause.

I have discovered that I have no particular talent, I am merely extremely inquisitive.

In the above sentence the subordinate clause in italic does the work of a Noun and works as an object for the verb “discovered.” Hence it is called a Noun Clause.