CLAUSES
A complex sentence is made up of
an independent clause and a dependent clause. Example: The television was playing (independent clause which can
stand alone and make sense) as I left the room (dependent clause which must be
attached to the independent clause to make sense).
There
are three kinds of dependent clauses:
1. adjective clause, 2. adverb clause and 3. noun
clause.
THE ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
The adjective clause is used to
modify a noun or a pronoun.
Adjective clauses are introduced
with a relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, and that) or a
subordinate conjunction (when and where). Those are the only
words that can be used to introduce an adjective clause. The
introductory word will always rename the word that it follows and modifies
except when used with a preposition which will come between the introductory
word and the word it renames.
Examples: The student whose
hand was up gave the wrong answer. Whose hand was up is the
adjective clause with whose, the relative pronoun, renaming and
modifying student.
Jane is a person
in whom I can place my confidence. In whom I can place my
confidence is the adjective clause with whom, the relative pronoun,
with the preposition in between it and person, the word that whom
renames and modifies.
Bracket the adjective clause in the
following sentences and on the line write the word it modifies.
1. I
like a leader who listens to his men. ________________________
2. The
dog which I loved dearly was hit by a truck last night. ________________________
3. Rulon is a person who takes responsibility well. ________________________
4. All
individuals who purchased tickets will be admitted. ________________________
5. The
shirt that you bought me doesn't fit well. ________________________
6. The woman
who baked the winning pie is my wife. ________________________
7. You
called at a time when I was unable to answer. ________________________
8. Gayle
is the one for whom you are looking. ________________________
9. Those
who are willing to serve others will be rewarded. ________________________
10. One to whom much is given is expected to give much in
return. ________________________
THE ADVERB CLAUSE
An adverb clause is a
dependent clause that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It usually
modifies the verb.
Adverb clauses are introduced
by subordinate conjunctions including after, although, as, as if,
before, because, if, since, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, where, and
while. These are just some of the more common ones.
Example: They arrived
before the game had ended. ("before the game had
ended" is the adverb clause modifying the verb arrived telling
when.)
Sometimes the adverb clause
is placed at the beginning of the sentence. When it introduces the sentence, it
is always set off with a comma.
Example: Before the game
had ended, they arrived.
Bracket the adverb clauses in the
following sentences and on the line tell what word it modifies.
1. I am
hungrier than I thought. _________________________
2. We
left before the game was over. _________________________
3. Lee
is older than Bill. _________________________
4. While
I was waiting for the phone call, I read a book. __________________________
5. If
you don't believe me, ask my wife. __________________________
6. Are
you upset because I didn't call? __________________________
7. The
alarm rang while I was in the shower. __________________________
8. Open
the window so that we can have some fresh air. __________________________
9. Paul
will take you home when you are ready. __________________________
10. You
shouldn't say those things unless you are certain about their validity. ________________________
THE NOUN CLAUSE
A noun clause is a
dependent clause that can be used in the same way as a noun or pronoun. It can
be a subject, predicate nominative, direct object, appositive, indirect
object, or object of the preposition. Some of the
words that introduce noun clauses are that, whether, who, why, whom,
what, how, when, whoever, where, and whomever. Notice that
some of these words also introduce adjective and adverb clauses. (To check a
noun clause substitute the pronoun it or the proper form of the pronouns
he or she for the noun clause.)
Examples: I know who said
that. (I know it.) Whoever said it is wrong. (He is wrong.) Sometimes a noun
clause is used without the introductory word. Example: I know that he is here.
(I know he is here.)
Bracket the
noun clauses in the following sentences and on the line write how it is used.
(Subject, predicate nominative, direct
object, appositive, indirect object, or object of the preposition)
1. How
the prisoner escaped is a mystery. ________________________
2. My
feeling is that the robbery was an inside job. ________________________
3.
Everyone is wondering how he could just disappear. ________________________
4. The
news that he had escaped frightened the whole town. ________________________
5. The
police have offered whoever finds the stolen diamonds a reward. ________________________
6. The
family has had no word about where he might be. ________________________
7. That
we were ready to go was a miracle. ________________________
8. Give
whoever wants to go a ride to the game. ________________________
9. That
you are losing ground was evident from the polls. ________________________
10.
Whoever injured the handicapped woman must be feeling guilty. ________________________