What is a Clause? (ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶ କ’ଣ?)

A clause is a group of words that forms part of a longer sentence. It must contain a subject and a predicate (which includes a finite verb).

(Odia: ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶ (Clause) ହେଉଛି ଏକ ଶବ୍ଦ ସମୂହ ଯେଉଁଥିରେ ଏକ କର୍ତ୍ତା (subject) ଏବଂ ଏକ ବିଧେୟ (predicate) ଥାଏ । ଏହା ଏକ ବଡ଼ ବାକ୍ୟର ଅଂଶ ହୋଇପାରେ ।)

Types of Clauses (ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶର ପ୍ରକାର)

1. Independent Clause (ସ୍ୱାଧୀନ ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶ):
• It can stand alone as a complete sentence. It is also called a Main Clause.
• A sentence with only one independent clause is a Simple Sentence.
• A sentence with two or more independent clauses (joined by and, but, or, etc.) is a Compound Sentence.
2. Dependent Clause (ପରାଧୀନ ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶ):
• It cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on the main clause. It is also called a Subordinate Clause.
• A sentence with one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses is a Complex Sentence.

Types of Subordinate Clauses (ପରାଧୀନ ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶର ପ୍ରକାର)

There are three types of subordinate clauses:

1. Noun Clause (ବିଶେଷ୍ୟ ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶ)
2. Relative Clause / Adjective Clause (ବିଶେଷଣ ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶ)
3. Adverb Clause (କ୍ରିୟା ବିଶେଷଣ ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶ)

This chapter focuses on the first two types.

2. Noun Clauses (ବିଶେଷ୍ୟ ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶ)

A Noun Clause is a dependent clause that does the work of a noun. It can be a subject, object, or complement, just like a single-word noun.

(Odia: ଏକ Noun Clause ହେଉଛି ଏକ dependent clause ଯାହା ବାକ୍ୟରେ ଏକ ବିଶେଷ୍ୟ (noun) ପରି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରେ । ଏହା କର୍ତ୍ତା, କର୍ମ ବା ପୂରକ ଭାବରେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିପାରେ ।)

Markers of Noun Clauses (ବିଶେଷ୍ୟ ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶର ସୂଚକ)

Noun clauses are introduced by specific words:

• that (for statements)
• if / whether (for Yes/No questions)
• Wh-words: what, who, whom, whose, which, where, when, why, how
• Wh-ever words: whatever, whoever, whenever, etc.

Functions of Noun Clauses (ବିଶେଷ୍ୟ ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ)

A noun clause can function in many ways in a sentence.

3. Relative Clauses (ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧସୂଚକ ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶ)

A Relative Clause is also called an Adjective Clause (ବିଶେଷଣ ବାକ୍ୟାଂଶ). It is a dependent clause that works like an adjective. It modifies (describes or identifies) a noun or pronoun that comes before it. This noun is called the antecedent (ପୂର୍ବବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ବିଶେଷ୍ୟ).

(Odia: Relative Clause ଏକ ବିଶେଷଣ (adjective) ପରି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରେ । ଏହା ତା' ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଥିବା ବିଶେଷ୍ୟ ବା ସର୍ବନାମ (antecedent) କୁ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା ବା ଚିହ୍ନଟ କରେ ।)

Markers of Relative Clauses (Relative Pronouns)

• who / whom (for people)
• whose (for possession)
• which (for things and animals)
• that (for people, things, and animals)
• where (for places)

Combining Sentences (ବାକ୍ୟ ସଂଯୋଗ)

Relative clauses are used to combine two sentences that share a common noun.

• Sentences: The boy is our monitor. + I have borrowed his book.
• Combined: The boy whose book I have borrowed is our monitor.
• Sentences: I write with the pen. + My father bought the pen for me.
• Combined: I write with the pen which my father bought for me.

Dropping the Relative Pronoun (ସର୍ବନାମ ଛାଡିବା)

The relative pronoun (who, which, that) can be omitted (dropped) only if it is the object in the relative clause.

• Can be dropped: I have read the book (which) you gave me. (Here, "which" is the object of "gave".)
• Cannot be dropped: The boy who is playing is my friend. (Here, "who" is the subject of "is playing".)
• 
  

4. Defining vs. Non-Defining Relative Clauses

This is the most important concept for understanding relative clauses.

Special Use of 'Which' (Non-Defining)

A non-defining clause using which can refer to the entire main clause before it, not just a single noun.

• Example: Satish scored a goal in the last minute, which was fortunate.
• (Here, "which" = the entire fact that "Satish scored a goal in the last minute".)