TSA CBT Practice Test

What characterizes a clause in sentence construction?

1. It consists only of a subject

2. It contains a group of words with a subject and a verb

3. It is a standalone phrase

4. It is always nonrestrictive

The correct answer is: It contains a group of words with a subject and a verb

A clause is defined as a group of words that contains both a subject and a verb. This structure allows the clause to express a complete thought or action, making it a fundamental building block of sentence construction. Clauses can be independent, able to stand alone as complete sentences, or dependent, requiring additional clauses to give them meaning. By containing both essential components— subject and verb— a clause can convey information beyond merely naming a subject or providing a fragment. The other options do not reflect the full scope of what constitutes a clause. For instance, a clause cannot consist only of a subject, as the absence of a verb would mean that it does not meet the definition of a clause. Similarly, a clause is not a standalone phrase because it still may need context depending on its type, particularly in the case of dependent clauses. Lastly, while clauses can be either restrictive or nonrestrictive, they are not always nonrestrictive; this characterization depends on how they are used in the sentence, so this option is too limiting and not universally applicable.