Types of Clauses

Business correspondence can be defined as the exchange and communication of information through written format involving different kinds of business activities. These types of correspondences take place among customers, organizations, and within the organizations themselves. There are major forms of business correspondence which include business memos, business faxes, business letters, and business emails. To carry out this written communication, the grammar and vocabulary used in these write-ups must be professional and correct. It is in that respect that types of clauses are studied here. The article will discuss types of subordinate clauses, types of adverbial clauses, adjective and noun clauses. 

Types of Clauses

Clauses are a group of words having a finite verb. There are two major types of clauses which are independent clauses and dependent or subordinate clauses. In the following sections, types of the subordinate clause- adverbial, adjective and noun clauses are discussed. 

Types of Subordinate Clauses

There are three types of subordinate clauses. Those are:

• Noun Clauses

These types of clauses replace the noun in a sentence. An example includes- Whoever you select to be on the management team must be qualified. 

• Adjective Clauses

It can be used within the independent clause or outside of it, and while containing a verb and a subject, does not make a coherent sense on its own. Relative clauses are mostly introduced by relative pronouns. An example includes- The proposal that you made in the meeting brought forth important strategic considerations. 

• Adverbial Clauses

It acts as a modifying agent and enhances other parts of sentences. relative verbs are introduced by an adjective clause or it is used to modify noun phrases or nouns in the sentences. An example of an adverbial subordinate clause: The business venue where they conducted the meeting has been finalized as the new office venue. 

Table 1 shows differences between Independent and Dependent Clauses

Types of Adverbial Clause

There are 8 types of clauses which are as follows:

• Adverbial Clause of Time

This denotes when a particular action in the sentence is taking place. As soon as he concluded the meeting, everybody in the conference room applauded. 

• Adverbial Clause of Place

This denotes an action in the sentence and the particular location where it is taking place. The new R&D department is located on the third floor. 

• Adverbial Clause of Manner

It refers to how an action is taking place in a given sentence. The marketing mix must be used in the way it has been shown in the presentation.

• Adverbial Clause of Reason

It tells us why action is happening. He lost the investments as his shares plummeted. 

• Adverbial Clause of Condition

It depicts the condition in which the action is happening. They will only attend the survey if proper measures have been taken. 

• Adverbial Clause of Concession

It states how the main clause is being admitted. Although she was ill, she went to the office. 

• Adverbial Clause of Degree

This shows the degree of the action taking place. The factory in Delhi is bigger than the factory in Mumbai. 

• Adverbial Clause of Purpose

These types of clauses are used with subordinating conjunctions. I came here so I can talk you out of the arrangement. 

Use of Clauses

Following are the different uses of various types of clauses.

• It creates sentences without performatives and is concise
• Polishes business correspondence
• Outlines important information in a systematic and easily understandable way

Conclusion

Types of clauses are very important in business correspondence. It is also used in business correspondence to concisely communicate the summarized form of some important information. It also helps in managing and ensuring a good flow of information and communication. It is therefore also used in training and development programs, in communicating management and business concepts as well as used in management training.