A content clause (also called a finite clause or an independent clause):

• expresses that a subject (person, place, thing, object, concept, etc.) takes action to do something, causes something to happen, or experiences or undergoes a change in state.
• functions as:
  • a simple clause. The leaves fell.
  • as a coordinate clause: The leaves fell and they blew away.
  • as a subordinate clause:
    • a subject. That the leaves had fallen was noticeable.
    • a predicate complement. We know that leaves fall.
    • the complement to a preposition in an adjunct phrase. They noticed the tree because its leaves had fallen.
• takes form as:
  • a simple clause:
    • with at minimum a subject and predicate. Wind blows. [N + V]
    • with phrases (NP, AdjP, AdvP, PP etc.) and a predicate (VP) The wind is blowing the leaves. [NP + VP + NP]
    • with complements—elements required by the subject and predicate to make sense. The boy put the leaf down. [NP + V + NP + PP]
  • a clause with dependents:
    • may also include adjuncts—nonessential element. The wind blew the leaves on the ground.
    • may also include supplements—nonessential elements that are loosely related, expressing opinion or related to the speech act. Perhaps, the wind blew them off. Frankly, I have no idea. See Stance Adverbs.
  • a subordinate clause (also called "embedded clause")
    • a declarative clause, marked by that, which completes a thought. (e.g., know, think, agree, believe). I think that you are right. See Declarative.
    • a statement clause, marked by that, which embeds quoted speech. (e.g., say, admit, announce) in a statement. He says that you are right. See Statements.
    • an imperative clause, marked by that, which embeds an order or strong wish. (e.g., insist, order, tell) in a statement. He insisted that we clean up. See Imperatives.
    • a closed question clause, marked by if or whether, which embeds a question. (answerable by yes or no) in a statement; He asked whether the leaves had fallen. See Yes-No Questions.
    • an open question clause with an interrogative pronoun as the head of the clause—who, what, why, when, where, how—which embeds a question in a statement. He told me why they had fallen. See Wh-Question.

The name "content clause" differentiates this basic clause from the two other clause types—relative clause (modifying) and comparative clause (comparing). (Huddleston 2 §10)

Modern grammar description separates:

(1) function "what a word, phrase or clause does in a clause" (e.g., subject, predicate, modifier) For example, the function of Subject can be realized by a noun, noun phrase, a gerund, an infinite or a clause.

(2) word category "what a word, phrase or clause is called" (e.g., Noun, Verb, Adjective, Adverb) This has also been referred to as "part of speech". The members of a particular word/phrase category share properties with other words/phrases in the same category.

Renamed Terms

• Adjective Clause is a traditional grammar term for a clause that modifies a noun. However, in modern description "Adjective" is a term reserved for the word category Adjective (Adjective Properties). The clause is a modifier (not an adjective) to the noun. For this reason, the clause is referred to as a relative clause because it relates additional information to the noun.
• Adverb Clause is a traditional grammar term for a clause that modifies the verb. However, the adverbs (when, while, because, since, though, if , so, etc.) have been reanalyzed and moved to the category Preposition (Preposition Properties). The structure is now called a Prepositional Phrase (not a clause). See Connective Prepositions.
• Noun Clause is a traditional grammar term for an embedded clause that functions as the subject or "object" (predicate complement), of the clause in a similar way that a noun does. However, a clause is a structure; it cannot be a word, a "noun". (See Noun Properties). For this reason, the structure is called a subordinate clause or content clause because it adds information or content in a complex form within a clause.

See The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language, 11 §3.1 and Longman Grammar Of Spoken And Written English, 2.13.

Noun Phrase vs. That-Clause as Subject

That-Clause as Subject

That-Clause + (be) + Adj/N

Verb + "That" clause

Verb + "That" clause List

"Object" vs. "Predicate Complement" (term dispute)

Agreement

Common Mistakes

Grammar Notes

Practice 1 – complete sentence

Practice 2 – edit sentence

That we need more people in math and science is clear to all. (subject)

We know that we need more people in math and science. (complement or "object")

Quoted vs. Reported Speech

Omit That

Subordinate Cls Adjustments

Deixis

Restating vs. Expressing Cognitive State

Backshifted vs. Not Backshifted

Expressions

Grammar Notes

Practice 1 – complete sentence

Practice 2

Practice 3

She said, "It's raining here."

She said that it was raining there.

Say Word List

Tell Word List

Add Word List

Formal / Informal Agreement

Practice 1 – complete sentence (MC)

Practice 2 – correct / incorrect

Practice 3 – edit

She said to me that it is nearby.

She told me that it is nearby.

She added that it is nearby.

Subordinate Imperatives (Mandative)

Infinitive Imperative (infinitive vs. should)

That + imperative clause

Cls w/subjunctive verb forms 1st, 2nd, 3rd person

Command Verb List

Negation in Imperatives

Common Mistakes

Grammar Notes

Practice 1 – complete sentence

Practice 2 – complete sentence

Practice 3 – edit the sentence

The doctor said, Get some rest."

The doctor said to get some rest.

The doctor said (that) I should get some rest.

The doctor told me to get some rest.

The doctor advised that I get some rest.

Quoted vs. Reported Speech

Steps to Subordinating a Wh- Qustion

Adjust Perspective – Deixis

Adjust Tense (Agreement)

Add Comment on Wh- Question

Keep Question Word Order (rhetorical device)

Shorten Clause w/ Infinitive

Common Mistakes

Grammar Notes

Practice 1 – multiple choice

Practice 2 – correct / incorrect

Practice 3 – read and edit

My friend said, "How are you?"

My friend asked how I was.

Quoted vs. Reported Speech

Steps to Subordinating a Yes-No Question

Adjust Tense (Agreement)

Coment on Y/N Question

If vs. Whether

Keep Question Order (rhetorical device)

Common Mistakes

Grammar Notes

Practice 1 – complete sentence

Practice 2 – correct - incorrect

Practice 3 – edit paragraph

Using if vs. whether

My friend said, "Are you coming with us?"

My friend asked whether I was going with them.

Cleft Clauses

What Clefts

It Clefts

Who/ Where/ What/ Why Clefts

Grammar Notes

Practice 1 – identify

Practice 2– complete

Practice 3– edit

His energy amazed me.

What amazed me was his energy.

His energy was what amazed me.

It amazed me that he had so much energy.

It Placeholder

It Expressions

Common Mistakes

Grammar Notes

Practice 1 – complete sentence

Practice 2 – correct/incorrect

Practice 3 – edit sentence

It is obvious to all that Fred is a funny comedian.
That Fred is a funny comedian is obvious to all.

It amazed us what he said. (that which)
What he said amazed us.

It was a particularly funny joke.
There was a particularly funny joke.

It seems, It occurs, It is likely

It seems [adj] to me that

Common Mistakes

Practice 1 – complete sentence

It seems that she is doing well.

It appears to me that she likes her classes.

It occurred to me that she would probably like that.

It happens that she knows an old friend of mine.

It strikes me as odd that she would quit ballet.

It seems odd to me that she would quit anything.

Focus on Reason

Specifying "be"

Specifying Word List

Article Use

Prepositional Modifiers

Common Mistakes

Grammar Notes

Practice 1 – complete sentence

Practice 2 – correct/incorrect

Practice 3 – edit sentence

The reason that he can't find a job is the weak economy.
He can't find a job because the economy is weak.

The reason is logical. "be - describing"

The reason is the economy. "be - specifying"

→The reason is that the economy is weak.

~The reason why is that the economy is weak.

~The reason is because the economy is weak.

~The reason for that is that the economy is weak.

That which / What

Forming a What Phrase

What-Clefts

It–Clefts

What–Clause Reversal

Agreement

Common Mistakes

Grammar Notes

Practice 1 – complete sentence

Practice 2 – correct/incorrect

Practice 3 – edit sentence

What he saidwas funny. (that + which he said)

What was funnywas his expression.

Whoever Subject Phrase

Whatever

Whichever

However

Clause Order

Wh-ever Determiner

Commonly Confused

Who ever vs. Whoever

However—But

Whatever-Slang

Common Mistakes

Practice – complete the sentence (MC)

Whatever you say is confidential.

You can take whomever you want.

Whatever way will be fine.

Whatever!

Two Placement Options

Preposition Placement in an Infinitive or Passive Clause

Omitting Prepositions

Preposition Placement in a Modifying Clause

Preposition Placement for Verbal Idioms

Common Mistakes

Grammar Notes (show-hide arrow)

Practice 1 – complete the sentence (MC)

Practice 2 – formal or informal

Practice 3 – edit the sentence

Who did you give your number to?

To whom did you give your number? very formal

Can you tell me — what kind of person you are interested in?

Can you tell me — in what kind of person you are interested?

The word — that you looked up — is not in my dictionary.

The word — up which you looked — is not in my dictionary.

"Cats Everywhere" Practice embedding clauses within sentences for this context.

The old lady next door must have a lot of cats. I don't know how many…

"Interview with a Marathon Runner" Practice reported speech for this context.

"I've been running about five years now."

The runner replied that…