Which statement best defines a clause?

• A. Contains a finite verb
• B. Has a subject and a predicate
• C. Lacks a verb
• D. Is always a complete sentence

Answer: (A)

Identifying a clause hinges on the presence of a finite verb. A clause is the smallest unit of grammar that carries tense information by using a verb form that agrees with the subject and shows time. That finite verb is what marks it as a clause rather than a mere phrase.

This is why the statement about containing a finite verb is the best choice. It captures the essential feature that distinguishes clauses from other word groups: the verb is marked for tense and subject agreement, giving the clause its predicate and making it capable of standing with a subject to convey a complete action or state.

Consider how this differs from the other options. A clause does involve a subject and a predicate, but simply having a subject and predicate isn’t enough to guarantee a finite verb—many phrases or forms without a finite verb won’t qualify as clauses. Saying a clause is “always a complete sentence” isn’t accurate because dependent clauses exist; they have a subject and a predicate and a finite verb but do not stand alone as complete sentences. Lacking a verb would make a group of words a phrase, not a clause.

So, the defining feature to look for is a finite verb that provides tense and agreement within a subject–predicate structure.