Providing reasons

Definition

Providing reasons refers to the act of giving explanations or justifications for a particular statement, action, or belief. It plays a crucial role in subordinate clauses, especially in adverbial clauses where reasons support the main clause, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of the context and rationale behind actions or events.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Adverbial clauses can provide reasons by answering questions like 'why?' or 'for what purpose?' in relation to the main clause.
2. In sentences with adverbial clauses, the reason provided can change the meaning or emphasis of the entire sentence, making it more informative.
3. Relative clauses can also indirectly provide reasons by adding context about a subject, helping clarify why something is significant.
4. Nominal clauses may include providing reasons in instances where the reason is the subject or object of a verb, thus central to understanding an idea.
5. Using providing reasons effectively enhances clarity and depth in writing, making arguments more persuasive and insightful.

Review Questions

• How do adverbial clauses contribute to providing reasons within sentences?
  • Adverbial clauses enhance sentences by providing explanations or justifications that clarify why an action occurs. For instance, in a sentence like 'She left early because she had an appointment', the adverbial clause 'because she had an appointment' gives a reason for her leaving early. This addition helps readers understand the context and significance of her actions, making the overall message clearer.
• Discuss how relative clauses can indirectly support providing reasons in a sentence.
  • Relative clauses can indirectly support providing reasons by offering additional context about nouns. For example, in the sentence 'The book that I borrowed was fascinating', the relative clause 'that I borrowed' provides context that enriches our understanding of which book is being discussed. This extra information can imply reasons for its relevance or importance to the speaker, thus aiding in the overall argument or narrative.
• Evaluate the role of nominal clauses in conveying reasons and their impact on sentence structure.
  • Nominal clauses serve an important role in conveying reasons as they can function as subjects or objects that encapsulate complex ideas. For instance, in 'What she decided surprised everyone', the nominal clause 'What she decided' acts as the subject and hints at underlying reasoning behind her decision. This structure allows for deeper exploration of motivations and justifications within a sentence, ultimately impacting how information is conveyed and understood.

Related terms

Adverbial Clause: A type of subordinate clause that functions as an adverb, providing information such as time, reason, condition, or manner to the main clause.

Relative Clause: A subordinate clause that modifies a noun and provides additional information about it, often introduced by relative pronouns like 'who', 'which', or 'that'.

Nominal Clause: A type of subordinate clause that functions as a noun within a sentence, often acting as the subject or object.