Clause (noun) refers to a unit of grammatical structure that contains a subject and a predicate, functioning as a sentence or a part of a sentence. It can be independent (a complete thought) or dependent (not a complete sentence). In legal or formal contexts, a clause is a provision or stipulation within a contract or document. It is also used more broadly to denote any grammatical group that includes a subject and a predicate.
- Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing the vowel: substituting /ɔ/ with /æ/ or /ɒ/ leading to /klæs/ or /klæs/. Correct by practicing with a mid-back rounded vowel, ensuring lips round slightly and jaw drops minimally. 2) Adding an extra vowel after /kl/: avoid inserting a schwa between /l/ and /ɔ/; keep it as a tight consonant blend /klɔz/. Practice by saying /klɔz/ in isolation and then in context. 3) Over-rolling the /l/: keep a light, vocalized /l/ without extra energy; a heavy /l/ can distort the word. Practice with tongue-tip tips lightly touching the alveolar ridge.
- US vs UK vs AU: US often shortens vowels slightly but still uses /ɔ/ or /ɑ/ depending on dialect; UK uses /ɔː/ in many varieties, longer vowel, more rounded lips; AU tends to /ɔː/ as well, with less vowel height contrast than US. IPA references: US /klɔz/ or /klɑz/, UK /klɔːz/, AU /klɔːz/. Key differences: rhoticity is neutral here; vowel duration longer in UK/AU; lip rounding slightly more pronounced in UK/AU. Practice by alternating between /klɔz/ and /klɔːz/ across accents, matching vowel height and length.
"- The contract includes a confidentiality clause that restricts disclosure."
"- Although he was tired, he finished the project on time, a clear example of a complete clause."
"- The sentence “If it rains, we’ll cancel the picnic” has a dependent clause and an independent clause."
"- She did not agree to that clause, so she proposed an alternative provision."
Clause originates from the Latin clausa, from claudere ‘to close.’ The English form emerged via Old French clause in the medieval period, borrowing into law and grammar, where it denoted a segment of a will, contract, or document. The sense broadened through Middle English to include a grammatical phrase containing a subject and predicate. The legal sense of a provision (as in a contract) solidified in the 14th–16th centuries, with the general grammatical sense expanding in the 17th–19th centuries as linguistic analysis grew. First known use in English law documents dates to the 14th century, while the grammar sense appears in style and rhetoric treatises of the 17th century, reflecting the shift from formal legal clauses to broader statements within sentences. The term has remained stable in modern use, retaining both legal and grammatical meanings but with distinct contexts: legal text uses “clause” for provisions; grammar treats it as a syntactic unit containing a subject and predicate.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Clause" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Clause"
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Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /klɔːz/ (US: /klɑːz/ or /klɔz/ depending on vowel merging), with a single syllable and a voiced final z. Start with a “cl” blend (lip-tongue position: lips rounded slightly, tongue high at the back for /ɔ/), then end with a voiced alveolar sibilant /z/. In rapid speech, it can sound like /klɑːz/ in some American dialects. Audio references include standard dictionaries or pronunciation channels for confirmation.
Two common mistakes are pronouncing it as /klæz/ with a short /æ/ as in cat, or reversing the /l/ and /r/ timing leading to /krləz/. The correct approach is to maintain the /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ quality in the vowel after /kl/, then immediately voice the final /z/. Ensure the /l/ is light and not vocalized as a separate syllable; keep the sequence tight to avoid an extra vowel.
In US English, you often hear /klɔz/ with a rounded back vowel; in UK English, /klɔːz/ with a longer, tense vowel; in Australian English, /klɔːz/ or /klɔz/ with a more centralized /ɔː/ in some speakers. The main variation is vowel quality and duration, with US tending to a slightly shorter vowel than UK/AU. The final /z/ remains voiced in all three, but the preceding vowel length varies subtly by accent.
The difficulty often comes from a tight consonant cluster /kl/ followed immediately by /ɔ/ and the voiced final /z/. Some speakers unintentionally insert an extra vowel or mispronounce /ɔ/ as /æ/ or /ɒ/. Focus on keeping the /l/ light and the vowel rounded and stable before the /z/. Also ensure your jaw relaxes slightly to avoid a tense, clipped ending.
A unique aspect is the need for precise vowel quality in the stressed nucleus of the vowel after the /kl/ cluster. The difference between /ɔ/ (open-mid back rounded) and /ɒ/ (open back) changes the perceived quality of the word in different dialects. Mastery includes keeping the vowel centralized enough to avoid an /ɪ/ or /æ/ substitute and maintaining a clean, voiced /z/ at the end.
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- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker saying Clause in a sentence (legal or grammar texts) and repeat after them, matching timing and intonation. - Minimal pairs: /klɔz/ vs /klæz/ (clause vs clause? Not a perfect minimal pair; but contrast with “claws” /klɔːz/ and “clots” /klɒts/ as rhythm checks). Practice with rehearsal: /klɔz/ in isolation, then in phrases like “the clause says,” “within the clause,” to build phrase-level rhythm. - Rhythm: emphasize the one-syllable word as a single beat; practice blending with surrounding words, maintain a steady tempo. - Stress: primary stress naturally on the word; in longer sentences, ensure the clause receives its natural weight. - Recording: record yourself, compare to a native, adjust vowel height and lip rounding. - Speed progression: start slow, then normal, then fast in context sentences. - Context practice: “This clause states the liability” / “The clause in section 5 defines remedies.”
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