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Clauses
Techniques > Use of language > Syntax > Clauses Subject | Verb | Object | Complement | Adverbial | See also
The clause is the basic unit of syntactical communication within a sentence, which can contain multiple clauses. It has five basic elements: the subject, verb, object, complement and adverbial. SVOCA, to you. SubjectThe subject of the clause is the topic of the clause, telling the read what the clause is about. It is usually a noun, although it can also be pronoun or even a list of items. The cat sat on the mat VerbThe verb expresses meaning such as action, sensation and states of being. It tells you what the subject is doing. The cat sat on the mat ObjectThe object of the clause is who or what is the recipient of the verb's action. It is usually a noun. The cat sat on the mat ComplementA complement gives extra information about the subject or object (and hence are noun complements or verb complements). The big, fat cat sat on the rather strange mat AdverbialThe adverbial adds information about the situation, such as where, when or how it took place. The cat sat on the mat in the corner The adverbial is often an adverb but can also be a noun, a noun phrase or a prepositional phrase. See alsoClause arrangement, Sentences, Using compound sentences
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