CLAUSE - a group of related words that has a subject and a verb

- may or may not express a complete thought or idea

Two kinds of clauses:

1. Independent Clause - can stand alone as a sentence because it expresses a complete idea

Lynn trimmed the hedges, and Brian mowed the lawn.

Lynn and Brian trimmed the hedges and mowed the lawn.

Lynn trimmed the hedges and mowed the lawn.

Lynn and Brian trimmed the hedges.

2. Subordinate Clause - cannot stand alone as a sentence because it does not express a complete idea

After the horses had eaten, Nathan gave them water.

USES OF SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

1. Adjective Clause - a subordinate clause that is used like an adjective to modify a noun or a pronoun

which one(s)? The person who just rang the bell left a package.

what kind? Have you seen the computer that has color?

Note: An adjective clause usually begins with a relative pronoun such as

who whom whose which

that when where why

Finding Adjective Clauses

Write the complete adjective clause.

1. The fastest animal in the world is the cheetah, which has been clocked at 72 miles per hour.
2. In 1776, a man who made $4,000 a year was considered wealthy.
3. This form must be signed by Mr. Alfonzo, whose room is at the end of this corridor.
4. Autumn is the time when we like to go camping.
5. Is this the person whom you saw in front of the jewelry store before the robbery?
6. A tornado that hit St. Louis in 1927 caused $26 million worth of damage in five minutes.
7. I haven’t seen a jacket that I’ve liked.
8. The tarpon fish has scales that are almost four inches wide.
9. Ms. Henderson, whom I know from Seattle, will be the guest speaker at the convention.
10. The state where the average income is the greatest is Alaska.
Finding Adjective Clauses
Write the complete adjective clause.

1. This is a day that we will all remember.

2. A painting which everyone dislikes was removed from the hall.
3. He is a man who someday may be our governor.
4. The Korean War, which dragged on for three long years, finally ended in 1953.
5. There was a time when I drove to the country each summer.
6. Fritz Kreisler, the famous violinist who was a child prodigy, also studied medicine and art.
7. The girl whose wallet I found has been absent for a week.
8. Cracow, which is also spelled Krakow, is a city in Poland.
9. Have you met the candidate whom he wants to nominate?
10. We have had three responses in the time since we placed the advertisement.

2. Adverb Clause - a subordinate clause that is used like an adverb to modify a verb,
an adjective, or an adverb

when? We will go whenever you’re ready.

under what We will attend the concert if we can get tickets.

condition?

why? We left early so that we wouldn’t be late.

Note: Subordinating conjunctions begin the adverb clauses.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

after as soon as in order that until
although as though since when
as because so that whenever
as far as before than where
as if even though though wherever
as long as if unless while

Finding Adverb Clauses

Write the complete adverb clause.

1. If the roads are sanded, we will leave immediately.

2. I am often tired after I work a six-day week.
3. His new idea sounds as if it might actually work.
4. My haircut and shampoo took longer than I had imagined.
5. Whenever I visit a museum, I greatly enjoy the exhibits.
6. Her apartment will be brighter when she repaints it.
7. Wait where I can signal you from the window.
8. Because he lied in court, his sentence was longer.
9. My brother was upset when I phoned from the station.
10. While you wait, the artist will complete your portrait.
3. Noun Clause – a subordinate clause that is used like a noun
Within a sentence, a noun clause can be used in the ways a single noun can be used.

Subject Whatever you choose is fine with me.

Direct Object Did you know that I am busy?
I know that you’re busy.
Indirect Object Give whoever comes to the door the old newspapers.
Object of the Award the prize to whoever gets the highest score.
Preposition
Predicate Helen’s reason for visiting New York was that she hadn’t seen her sister for a year.
Nominative

Common Introductory Words for Noun Clauses

how whatever which whomever

if when who whose
that where whoever why
what whether whom

Finding Noun Clauses

Write the noun clause in each sentence. Then be able to identify whether it is used as subject, direct object,
indirect object, object of a preposition, predicate nominative.

1. Mary is not responsible for what Billy did.

2. George wonders if Fred knows how to cook.
3. He thought that the exam the following week was going to be hard.
4. That Mark learned how to swim is a miracle.
5. He wants to learn about whatever is interesting.
6. Her husband spent whatever she had saved over the years.
7. What they did with the treasure remains a mystery.
8. The question is whether other boys will try the same thin.
9. We are interested in what he does for a living.
10. The astronaut said that people will live on other planets someday.