Glossary of Linguistic Terms

Clause Chain

Definition: 

A clause chain is a group of clauses in which:

  • one clause, typically the final clause, is distinguished from the other clauses, typically medial clauses, by a difference of verb morphology, and
  • each medial clause is marked to show whether or not its subject is the same as the subject of some reference clause. The reference clause may follow it or may be the final clause in the chain.
Discussion: 

Temporal and causal relations between the clauses are typically signaled.

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