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Clause vs Portion - What's the difference?

clause | portion | Related terms |

Clause is a related term of portion.


As nouns the difference between clause and portion

is that clause is (grammar|informal) a group of two or more words which include a subject and any necessary predicate (the predicate also includes a verb, conjunction, or a preposition) to begin the clause; however, this clause is not considered a sentence for colloquial purposes while portion is portion.

As a verb clause

is (shipping) to amend (a bill of lading or similar document).

clause

English

(wikipedia clause)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (rfc-sense) (grammar, informal) A group of two or more words which include a subject and any necessary predicate (the predicate also includes a verb, conjunction, or a preposition) to begin the clause; however, this clause is not considered a sentence for colloquial purposes.
  • (grammar) A verb along with its subject and their modifiers. If a clause provides a complete thought on its own, then it is an independent (superordinate) clause; otherwise, it is (subordinate) dependent.
  • *
  • However, Coordination facts seem to undermine this hasty conclusion: thus, consider the following:
    (43)      [Your sister could go to College], but [would she get a degree''?]
    The second (italicised) conjunct is a Clause''' containing an inverted Auxiliary, ''would''. Given our earlier assumptions that inverted Auxiliaries are in C, and that C is a constituent of S-bar, it follows that the italicised '''Clause''' in (43) must be an S-bar. But our familiar constraint on Coordination tells us that only constituents belonging to ''the same Category'' can be conjoined. Since the second '''Clause''' in (43) is clearly an S-bar, then it follows that the first '
    Clause must also be an S-bar — one in which the C(omplementiser) position has been left empty.
  • (legal) A separate part of a contract, a will or another legal document.
  • Usage notes

    In When it got dark, they went back into the house'', “''When it got dark” is a dependent clause within the complete sentence. The independent clause "they went back into the house" could stand alone as a sentence, whereas the dependent clause could not.

    Derived terms

    (types of grammatical clauses) * adjective clause * adverbial clause * appositive clause * concessive clause * comment clause * comparative clause * coordinate clause * defining relative clause * dependent clause, subordinate clause * independent clause, main clause, superordinate clause * finite clause * if clause, conditional mood, conditional clause * nondefining relative clause * non-finite clause * noun clause, nominal clause * relative clause * restrictive clause * verbless clause (grammatical terms) * clause element * clause function * subclause (part of a legal document) * noncompete clause

    Verb

    (claus)
  • (shipping) To amend (a bill of lading or similar document).
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • portion

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An allocated amount.
  • That which is divided off or separated, as a part from a whole; a separated part of anything.
  • One's fate; lot.
  • * Bible, Luke xii. 46
  • The lord of that servant will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
  • * Keble
  • Man's portion is to die and rise again.
  • The part of an estate given or falling to a child or heir; an inheritance.
  • * Bible, Luke xv. 12
  • Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.
  • A wife's fortune; a dowry.
  • * 1613 , , V. iv. 31:
  • Commend me to her, and to piece her portion / Tender her this.

    Usage notes

    Relatively formal, compared to the more informal part or more concrete and casual piece. For example, “part of the money” (both informal) but “portion of the proceeds” (both formal).

    Synonyms

    * part * piece

    Derived terms

    * portionless * proportion

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To divide into amounts, as for allocation to specific purposes.
  • To endow with a portion or inheritance.
  • Him portioned maids, apprenticed orphans, blest. — Alexander Pope.

    Usage notes

    * Particularly used as portion out. * Relatively formal, compared to the more informal divide, divide up, or the casual divvy, divvy up.

    Synonyms

    * divide, divide up * divvy, divvy up

    Derived terms

    * portion off * portion out