clause
Sentence with subject
A clause is a grammatical unit containing a subject and predicate.
Independent clauses can stand alone as sentences; dependent clauses cannot: Although she was tired needs completion.
In legal and contractual contexts, a clause is a distinct section or provision: The escape clause let them cancel without penalty.
Read the fine print—there's a clause about early termination fees.
Conditional clause in contracts
- caveatWarning or qualification
- qualificationRequired skill or condition
- requirementMandatory condition to fulfill
- conditionState or stipulation
exception · rider · prerequisite · specification · contingency · precondition · mandate · limitation
Rules for arranging words
- predicateSentence's non-subject portion
- subjectMatter under discussion
- subordinateOne lower in rank
- independentFree from external control
dependent · relative · conjunction · phrase · noun · pronoun · adverbial · complement
Shared position between parties
- provisionPreparatory supply or clause
- termsConditions of an agreement
- bindingLegally or morally required
- enforceableAble to be upheld
breach · remedy · party · obligation · execution · signature · negotiation · amendment
Enacted written rule
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
- preamblePreliminary statement before content
- articleWritten piece or grammatical word
section · enacting · severability · codification · statutory · legislative · regulatory · enabling
Words forming partial meaning
- passageSegment of text
- periodPunctuation ending sentences
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
theme · motif · progression · sequence · modulation · antecedent · consequent · melodic
proviso
Conditional clause in contracts
- caveatWarning or qualification
- qualificationRequired skill or condition
- requirementMandatory condition to fulfill
condition · exception · rider · prerequisite · specification · contingency · precondition · mandate · limitation · restriction
syntax
Rules for arranging words
- predicateSentence's non-subject portion
- subjectMatter under discussion
- subordinateOne lower in rank
independent · dependent · relative · conjunction · phrase · noun · pronoun · adverbial · complement · object
agreement
Shared position between parties
- provisionPreparatory supply or clause
- termsConditions of an agreement
- bindingLegally or morally required
enforceable · breach · remedy · party · obligation · execution · signature · negotiation · amendment · termination
statute
Enacted written rule
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
- preamblePreliminary statement before content
article · section · enacting · severability · codification · statutory · legislative · regulatory · enabling · definitional
phrase
Words forming partial meaning
resolution · theme · motif · progression · sequence · modulation · antecedent · consequent · melodic · harmonic
- languagelanguage, word, words, grammar, spelling
- vocabularyword, words, new words, term, terms
- ruleslaw, rule, guideline, bylaw, standard
- legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law
- legalesehereby, herein, hereinafter, hereof, hereto
- contract termscontract terms, agreement, terms, conditions, condition
clausephrase
Words forming partial meaning
word · morpheme · fragment · noun phrase · incomplete sentence
- grandfather clauseExemption preserving prior status
- contract clausesBinding terms in agreements
- independent clauseSelf-sufficient grammatical unit
- escape clauseContract provision permitting withdrawal
- main clausesClauses expressing complete thoughts
- Santa ClausesCostumed holiday gift figures