clauses
Sentences within sentences
Clauses are distinct sections of a legal document, contract, or formal agreement, each addressing a specific provision or condition: The escape clause lets either party withdraw, Read the fine print—there's a clause about cancellation fees.
In grammar, a clause is a unit containing a subject and verb, either standing alone as a sentence or functioning as part of one: The clause "when she arrived" modifies the main verb.
Shared position between parties
- termsConditions of an agreement
- partiesOrganized social gatherings
- bindingLegally or morally required
- obligationsRequired responsibilities
enforceable · breach · termination · amendment · confidentiality · indemnity · warranty · arbitration
Complete thought, grammatically
- subjectMatter under discussion
- predicateSentence's non-subject portion
- dependentRequiring outside support
- independentFree from external control
relative · subordinate · conjunction · phrase · syntax · structure · parse · complement
Enacted written rule
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
- amendmentChange to official text
- provisionPreparatory supply or clause
article · section · subsection · paragraph · enactment · codification · exemption · exclusion
Combined into one
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
- nestedContained within another
- interlockingEngaging by overlap
multilayered · lengthy · dense · elaborate · serpentine · labyrinthine · tangled · knotty
agreement
Shared position between parties
obligations · enforceable · breach · termination · amendment · confidentiality · indemnity · warranty · arbitration · liability
sentence
Complete thought, grammatically
- subjectMatter under discussion
- predicateSentence's non-subject portion
- dependentRequiring outside support
independent · relative · subordinate · conjunction · phrase · syntax · structure · parse · complement · object
statute
Enacted written rule
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
- amendmentChange to official text
provision · article · section · subsection · paragraph · enactment · codification · exemption · exclusion · operative
compound
Combined into one
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- convolutedExcessively complex or twisted
- nestedContained within another
interlocking · multilayered · lengthy · dense · elaborate · serpentine · labyrinthine · tangled · knotty · byzantine
if
Conditional clause marker
whereas · although · because · since · while · before · after · whenever · wherever · though
- language artsreading comprehension, grammar rules, vocabulary building, phonics, spelling bees
- lawslaws, statute, ordinance, acts, statutes
- Magna CartaKing John, Runnymede, charter, royal seal, barons
- English grammarnouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns
- fine printfine print, small print, disclaimer, disclaimers, terms
- requirementsrequirement, requirements, prerequisite, requisite, requisites
- Santa ClausLegendary yuletide gift-giver
- Mrs. ClausToy-maker's spouse
- grandfather clauseExemption preserving prior status
- Mrs ClausSanta's spouse
- contract clausesBinding terms in agreements
- independent clauseSelf-sufficient grammatical unit