Clauses: meaning, definitions and examples

Clauses are used in legal or formal documents to describe specific sections or parts. They help in organizing detailed information or requirements in a clear and structured manner.

• The agreement consists of several clauses that outline the responsibilities of each party
• The confidentiality clause is crucial in this contract

A provision refers to a specific requirement, condition, or arrangement included within a legal document or law. It usually sets out what must or must not be done.

• The lease contract included a provision for early termination
• The law has a provision that protects whistleblowers

Stipulation is used to describe a condition or requirement that is explicitly stated and must be met in legal or formal agreements. It often implies something that needs to be adhered to strictly.

• The loan agreement has a stipulation that requires monthly payments
• One of the stipulations of the treaty is disarmament

Articles are used in constitutions, treaties, or formal regulations to indicate a distinct section. Each article usually addresses a major point or principle.

• Article 5 of the constitution guarantees freedom of speech
• The new trade agreement includes a key article on tariff regulations

Use this term when referring to a group of words with both a subject and a predicate, which forms part of a sentence or constitutes a whole simple sentence.

• The sentence 'She bought a new car because her old one broke down' contains two clauses.
• In legal documents, it's crucial to understand each clause thoroughly.

This phrase is used to describe the individual parts that make up a sentence, including subjects, predicates, objects, etc.

• In the sentence 'The cat chased the mouse,' 'the cat' is the subject, which is a sentence element.
• Understanding the different sentence elements can improve your grammar skills.

Use this term for a part of something that is divided, especially in a non-linguistic context, but it can also refer to parts of sentences in linguistic contexts.

• The video was divided into several segments for easier viewing.
• The teacher asked us to identify different segments of the complex sentence.