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Clause vs Span - What's the difference?

clause | span | Related terms |

Clause is a related term of span.


As a noun 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.

As a verb clause

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

As an adjective span is

hairless, glabrous.

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).
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • span

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) spann

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; eighth of a fathom.
  • Hence, a small space or a brief portion of time.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Yet not to earth's contracted span / Thy goodness let me bound.
  • * Farquhar
  • Life's but a span ; I'll every inch enjoy.
  • * 2007 . Zerzan, John. Silence .
  • The unsilent present is a time of evaporating attention spans ,
  • The spread or extent of an arch or between its abutments, or of a beam, girder, truss, roof, bridge, or the like, between supports.
  • The length of a cable, wire, rope, chain between two consecutive supports.
  • (nautical) A rope having its ends made fast so that a purchase can be hooked to the bight; also, a rope made fast in the center so that both ends can be used.
  • (obsolete) A pair of horses or other animals driven together; usually, such a pair of horses when similar in color, form, and action.
  • (mathematics) the space of all linear combinations of something
  • Etymology 2

    Old English spannan

    Verb

    (spann)
  • To traverse the distance between.
  • The suspension bridge spanned the canyon as tenuously as one could imagine.
  • To cover or extend over an area or time period.
  • The parking lot spans three acres.
    The novel spans three centuries.
    World record! 5 GHz WiFi connection spans 189 miles. [http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/27/world-record-5ghz-wifi-connection-spans-189-miles/]
  • * Prescott
  • The rivers were spanned by arches of solid masonry.
  • To measure by the span of the hand with the fingers extended, or with the fingers encompassing the object.
  • to span''' a space or distance; to '''span a cylinder
  • * Bible, Isa. xiviii. 13
  • My right hand hath spanned the heavens.
  • (mathematics) to generate an entire space by means of linear combinations
  • (intransitive, US, dated) To be matched, as horses.
  • To fetter, as a horse; to hobble.
  • Etymology 3

    Verb

    (head)
  • (archaic, nonstandard) (spin)
  • *
  • * '>citation
  • *:a giant pick-up truck span out of control during a stunt show in a Dutch town, killing three people