A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It can express a complete thought, making it an independent clause, or it can be part of a larger sentence, known as a dependent clause. For example, in the sentence "She runs every morning," the clause "She runs" is independent because it stands alone as a complete idea. Clauses are essential in constructing sentences and can be combined to add complexity. For instance, in the sentence "Although it was raining, the children played outside," "Although it was raining" is a dependent clause that provides additional information about the situation. Understanding clauses helps improve writing clarity and variety.