NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

What does a clause contain?

1. A verb and a preposition

2. A subject and a predicate

3. A noun and an adjective

4. A conjunction and a phrase

The correct answer is: A subject and a predicate

A clause is fundamentally defined as a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate. The subject is the part of the clause that tells us who or what the clause is about, while the predicate contains the verb and provides information about what the subject is doing or what is happening to the subject. This structure allows clauses to convey complete thoughts (as in independent clauses) or form a part of larger sentences (as in dependent clauses). Understanding the components of a clause is crucial for grasping more complex sentence structures and mechanics, which are essential in both written and spoken language. Options that mention a verb without a subject, combination of a noun and an adjective, or elements like conjunctions and phrases do not encapsulate the complete definition of a clause as established in English grammar.