Title: Clauses Review
Course: Introduction to Grammar

Basic Information about Clauses

A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb.

There are independent and dependent (also known as subordinate) clauses.  An independent clause is any phrase that can stand alone as its own sentence. For instance, in the sentence "Sharon and I were shopping when we saw the purse," the first portion "Sharon and I were shopping" would be an independent clause.

A dependent clause, however, doesn't make sense when taken out of the sentence; it is therefore dependent on the sentence as a whole. For instance, "when we saw the purse" would be a dependent clause because it does not have the necessary elements of a sentence that an independent clause has.

Subordinate clauses normally act as single part of speech. They can be either noun clauses, adjective clauses, or adverb clauses.

Clauses: Basic Information

The difference between a phrase and a clause is

- A clause is longer
Feedback: Not necessarily
- They each express a complete thought.
Feedback: No, a dependent clause does not express a complete thought and is reliant on the independent clause in the sentence to make it complete.
- A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb.

Adjective Clauses

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun. Adjectives answer the questions what kind, which one, what quantity, how much, or how many.

The children who are on the bus are going to visit the post office.

(who are on the bus) is an adjective clause which modifies children. It's a clause because it has a subject (who) and a predicate (are); it's an adjective clause because it modifies a noun.

The car that she is driving is not hers.

(That she is driving) is an adjective clause which modifies car. It’s a clause because it has a subject (she) and a predicate (is driving); it’s an adjective clause because it modifies a noun.)

Note that adjectives usually precede the nouns they modify; adjective clauses always follow the nouns they modify.

Five words called relative pronouns introduce adjective clauses: who, whom, whose, which, that.

The man whosewallet I found is happy.

I will never forget the day that I graduated.

The building that he works in is new.

Adjective Clause Question

Identify the adjective clause and the noun it modifies:

Cracow, which is also spelled Krakow, is a city in Poland .

- adjective phrase: which is also spelled Krakow modifies Cracow
Feedback: Terrific! Move on.
- adjective phrase: which is also spelled Krako modifies city
Feedback: Nope, remember that the adjective phrase will follow the noun.

Adverb Clause

An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that is used in much the same way as an adverb. An adverb clause can modify a verb, an adjective, an adverb, or a verbal.

An adverb clause answers the questions: How? When? Where? How much? and To what extent? An adverb clause also answers the questions Under what condition? and Why?

When?    This flight will depart  as soon as we get the landing gear fixed.

Where?    This specially modified plane can land  wherever you need it to land.

Under What Condition?    We will attend the air show  if we can get the time off from work.

Why?    Arrive early  because it takes extra time to get through security.

Most adverb clauses modify verbs, some modify adverbs or adjectives.

Modifying an Adjective    Janelle is more industrious  than I am.

Modifying an Adverb    Sam arrived later  than I did.

Adverb phrases can also modify verbals.

Participle   The huge coat, flapping  around his legs, made him look smaller than he was.

Gerund   I stay fit by swimming  after class every day.

Infinitive    He wanted to visit Alaska  before the weather got cold.

Notice that a subordinating conjunction begins an adverb clause. Remember that words such as after, before, and until can also be used as prepositions.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions: after, even if, whether, while, because, if, when, before.

Adverb Question

Identify the adverb phrase and what it modifies:

1. Because this package has no return address, we cannot return it.

2. Akira went to the party although he had to leave early.

3. This pizza is spicier than you think.

- 1. we cannot return it/package 2. although he had to leave early/Akira 3. spicier than you think/pizza
Feedback: Remember that we are talking about adverbs here. Reread the information, please.
- 1. Because this package has no return address/return 2. although he had to leave early/Akira 3. than you think/is
Feedback: I think you read too fast. Review.
- 1. Because this package has no return address/cannot 2. although he had to leave early/went 3. than you think/spicier
Feedback: Well done :)

Noun Clauses

A noun clause is a subordinate clause that is used like a noun. Within a sentence, a noun clause can be used in the same ways that a single noun can be used.

Subject | Whatever research you undertake will be approved by the university.
Direct Object | Did you know that the pipeline broke?
Indirect Object | Give whoever comes to the seminar a notebook.
Object of a Preposition | The scholarship committee awards the top prizes to whoever has submitted the most complete application.
Predicate Noun | Dr. Phillips reason for visiting Alaska was that he planned to study the animal life.

Common Introductory Words for Noun Clauses

how | whatever | which | whomever
if | when | who | whose
that | where | whoever | why
what | whether | whom |

Noun Clause Question

Identify the noun clause and how the noun clause is used in the sentence.

The article on American inventions declared that the first American patent for a clock specified the use of wood works.

- on American inventions/object of preposition
Feedback: Not even close
- that the first American patent for a clock specified the use of wood works/direct object
Feedback: Excellent!
- that the first American patent for a clock specified the use of wood works/predicate noun
Feedback: That predicate noun is confusing. Sorry, wrong answer.

End of branch

You're done! Unless you wish to go through again. It wouldn't hurt before you take the test. Don't forget to complete the assignment sheet.