9. What is a clause?

• a. A group of words that does not contain a subject and a verb and functions

as one part of speech.

b. A group of words that contains a subject and a verb.

c. A group of words that has a gerund or infinitive.

d. A group of words that follows a linking verb and functions as one part

of speech.

b

Explanation:

A clause is the part of a sentence that necessarily includes a verb to express the action of the sentence and also a subject that performs that action. While the verb is always explicitly states, the subject can be understood and not mentioned in the written sentence.

A clause, however, does not always make sense on its one. An independent clause can indeed stand alone as a sentence, but a dependent clause only forms part of a sentence and does no make sense by itself.