CLAUSES CHAPTER 8

By: Sharon Mendez Rodriguez

CLAUSE• A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb.

An independent (or main) clause expresses a complete thought and can

stand by itself in a sentence.A subordinate (or dependent)

clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone.

INDEPENDENT CLAUSES

• Each independent clause has its own subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.• The soccer team traveled to Knoxville, and they

won their division.• In the example above the two independent clauses

are joined by a comma and the coordinating conjunction and.

EXAMPLES OF INDEPENDENT

CLAUSE• I stuffed all the envelopes, and Jessica took

them to the post office.• I did all the work, but he took all the credit.• I am new at Power Point, but I like it!

SUBORDINATE CLAUSES• Words such as whom, because, what, if and until

signal that the clauses that follow them are subordinate.

• Subordinate clauses do not express complete thoughts and cannot stand alone.•whom he asked• because he answered•what he had heard

EXAMPLES OF SUBORDINATE

CLAUSES• The Officer whom he asked for directions was

very kind.• Because he answered so politely, the man called

to compliment the officer.• The Chief of Police was pleased by what he had

heard.

USES OF SUBORDINATE

CLAUSES•Subordinate clauses can be used as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSES•Adjective clauses function just as adjectives do.•Modify nouns•Modify pronouns

• Adjective clauses are often introduced by relative pronouns.• This is the class that I like the best. (Essential clause)• My classes, which meet in Room 209, are all freshman

classes. (Nonessential clause)• They are the ones whom I prefer to teach.

RELATIVE PRONOUNS AND IMPORTANT

WORDSwhom who which that whose whoever

• These words are called relative pronouns because they relate an adjective clause to the word that the clause modifies. Besides introducing an adjective clause and relating it to another word in the sentence, the relative pronoun has a function in the adjective clause.

• Other important words:•When where

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE POSITION

• The adjective clause, because it describes a noun or pronoun, can be found in these three positions in a sentence:

• After the subject• After the object of the verb• After the object of the preposition

RULES FOR ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

• The adjective clauses goes immediately after the noun or pronoun it modifies.

• Where and when are never the subject of a clause.• Whose is always followed by a noun (because it is

possessive).• When a comma is a place after noun, that cannot be

used. You have to use which. • The verb in the adjective clause must agree in

number with the noun it modifies.

EXAMPLES OF USES OF RELATIVE

PRONOUNS• John, who enjoys reading, won a membership to the

Book of the Month club. • (The relative pronoun who relates the adjective

clause to John. Who is used as the subject of the adjective clause.)

CAREFUL• In many cases, the relative pronoun in the clause

may be omitted. The pronoun is understood and still has a function in the clause.

Example: Here is the salad you ordered.

•[The relative pronoun that is understood. The pronoun relates the adjective clause to salad and is used as the direct object in the adjective clause.]

THE ADVERB’S JOB

•Adverbs tell: whenwherewhyhowto what extent or degreeunder what conditions

ADVERB CLAUSE• An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that

modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

• Example:

After I proofread my paper, I typed it. [The adverb clause After I proofread my paper tells

when I typed it.]

SUBORDINATING

CONJUNCTIONS

• These words introduce subordinate clauses.

ADVERB CLAUSE CONTINUED

Example: Because manicotti takes so long to prepare, Joy makes it only on special occasions. [Because manicotti takes so long to prepare tells why Joy makes it only on special occasions.]

Example: You and your brother may come with us if you want to. […if you want to tells us under what condition]

ADVERB CLAUSE CONTINUED

• Like adverbs, adverb clauses may also modify adjectives or adverbs.

• Examples:

• His pitching arm is stronger today than it ever was. [stronger (adj.) to what extent the arm is stronger]

• My cousin Adele reads faster than I do. [faster (adv.) how much faster my cousin Adele reads]

NOUN CLAUSES• A noun clause is a subordinate clause used as a

noun.• They can be in any position where a noun could be

used. • A noun clause may be used as a:

• Subject• Predicate nominative• Indirect object• Direct Object• Object complement• Object of preposition

EXAMPLES OF NOUN CLAUSES

• What Mary Anne did was brave and earned her praise from everyone. [Subject]

• The winner will be whoever runs fastest. [Predicate Nominative]

• She finally discovered what the answer was. [Direct Object]

• The clerk should tell whoever calls the sale prices. [Indirect Object]

• He checks the ID cards of whoever visits. [Object of Preposition]

CLASSIFICATION BY STRUCTURE

• Structure refers to the number and types of clauses in a sentence.

• Simple• Compound• Complex• Compound-complex

TYPES OF SENTENCE STRUCTURES

• Simple: • 1 INDEPENDENT

• Compound:• 2 OR more INDEPENDENT

• Complex:• 1 INDEPENDENT + at least 1 SUBORDINATE

• Compound-complex: • 2 OR more INDEPENDENT + at least 1

subordinate

KNOW• Clauses• Noun• Adjective• Adverb• Relative

Pronouns• Subordinating

conjunctions

• Sentence Structure• Simple• Compound• Compound-complex• Complex