What defines a clause in sentence structure?

A clause is defined as a group of words that contains both a subject and a verb. This definition encompasses both independent and dependent clauses. An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, while a dependent clause cannot. However, both types share the essential characteristics of having a subject and a verb. Therefore, the first choice accurately captures the fundamental definition of a clause, as it doesn’t restrict itself to just one type of clause but includes both independent and dependent ones. The clarity and completeness of this definition make it the correct answer. The other options either limit the definition too narrowly or describe an incomplete construction, which does not wholly reflect the nature of a clause.