Name: ______________________________ Clauses

Definition: A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate (verb).
There are two types of clauses, independent and dependent.
An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a
sentence.
Examples: Mr. Haloran won twelve dollars last week.
Everybody passed the geometry test.
Mike, Carol, and Stacie all enjoyed the movie.
A dependent clause CANNOT stand alone as a sentence. It can act as an adjective,
adverb, or noun. It is preceded by an introductory that relates it to another part of the
sentence.
Examples: Julie, who dyed her hair pink and yellow, shocked everyone at the party.
The clause is used as an adjective and is introduced by who.
If the rain every stops, well leave for the game.
The clause is used as an adverb and is introduced by If.
After he accidentally blew up the chemistry lab, Herbert thought that he
would be expelled from school.
The first clause is an adverb and is introduced by After.
The second clause is a noun and is introduced by the word that.
***
As you can see, there are three types of dependent clauses, nouns, adjectives,
and adverbs. They operate in the same manner as single-word parts of speech, and,
like prepositional and verbal phrases, act as single units. They modify or change other
words or take the place of words.
Adverb clauses are introduced by the subordinating conjunctions after, although, as as
if, as long as, as much as, because, before, even, even though, if, how, in order that,
once, provided (that), since, than, so that, that, unless, until, where, why, while, though,
when.
Adjective clauses are introduced by the relative pronouns that, who, whom, whose,
which.
Noun clauses are introduced by the words how, when that, whether, what, who, whom,
whoever, whose, where, why.
***
Remember, there are phrases, or little groups of words without a subject and
predicate, and there are clauses, or groups of words having a subject and a predicate!
The independent clause is often called a principal or main clause; the dependent clause
is often called a subordinate clause.

Phrases and Clauses: Identify each group of words below as either phrase (P) or clause
(C).
___1. Aside from that
___9. Since we last met
___17. Who the best
___2. But I say

___10. Because of your

candidate will be

___3. Though the motor

interest

___18. In time of

was running

___11. As I should have

extreme danger

___4. Unless she knew

guessed

___19. When I heard

the truth

___12. Down to the sea

___20. Until you told me

___5. The last place

___13. Until the matter

___21. Whom he

team in the league

is settled

addressed

___6. When on time

___14. For the duration

___22. As the writers of

___7. If you like

___15. Under extreme

our Constitution

___8. By popular

pressure

consent

___16. A turn to the right

ADVERB CLAUSES

Remember that adverb clauses are dependent clauses that modify verbs, adjectives, or
other adverbs. In other words, adverb clauses act just like single-word adverbs or
adverb phrases! Like an adverb, the clause also answers the questions when, where,
why, how, or to what degree.
Examples: Hide the candy where you will be able to find it. The clause modifies hide
as it tells where.
We left before the rain started. The clause modifies left as it tells when.
Since you are here, you may as well stay. The clause modifies may stay as it
tells why.
He cried as if his heart would break. The clause modifies cried as it tells how.
HINT: A good way to test for most adverb clauses is to see if they can be moved around
in the sentence.
She screamed when she saw the dog. When she saw the dog, she screamed.
Because he was asked to, he went to the store. He went to the store because
he was asked to.
**SPECIAL NOTE: Than and as often introduce clauses with some of their parts
understood and dropped out.
Jack can run faster than I. than I can run = dependent clause
He can cook better than she. than she can cook = dependent clause
Tom finished his quiz as fast as Joe. as fast as Joe finished = dependent
clause

Directions: See your list of introductory words for adverb clauses. Bracket the
dependent clauses in the following sentences and tell why each is classified as an
adverb.

1. When you went into the cellar, did you notice the new shelf?
2. I cleaned the cupboards while Henry washed the woodwork.
3. At the zoo, Susan had to stand on tiptoe so that she could see the
animals.
4. He cried because he was lonelier than he could express.
5. Nobody can become an expert golfer unless he really practices.
6. Bring in the clothes before it begins to rain.
7. While she was waiting for her race to begin, Mary looked at her
opponent and said, I can run faster than you can.
8. The murderer in the horror film killed his next victim as I sat
breathlessly watching.
9. While Lancer lay on the office floor, Bat calmly ate her dinner.
10. As much as I like you, I still think youre a less-than-desirable
companion.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
Remember that adjective clauses are also called relative clauses. These clauses do
what single-word adjectives or adjectives phrases do: they modify or change nouns or
pronouns.
Examples: Everyone whose name was called received one hundred dollars.
The clause modifies Everyone.
The girl who had brown eyes selected a deep green dress that was covered in
sequins.
The first clause modifies girl and the second modifies dress.
Cats, who are extremely independent, make terrific pets.
The clause modifies cats.
All who attended the film had a terrific time.
The clause modifies all.
**NOTE: Sometimes, the relative pronoun is omitted but everyone who knows, knows
that the pronoun is understood to be there!
Example: The boy she hit fell to the ground. Whom is left out. That = informal
Judith is a person everyone admires. Whom is left out. That = inormal
Both underlined clauses are still dependent clauses.
See your worksheet for the introductory words to adjective clauses. These clauses are
sometimes introduced by when or where. Occasionally, the introductory word acts as
the subject of the dependent clause.
Bracket the clauses in the following sentences. Analyze as usual!

1. The coat that Joan is wearing is made of velvet that has been
imported from Italy.
2. Here is the place where the treasure is buried.
3. The book that told of Robinson Crusoes adventures was sent to
me by my aunt.
4. The girl who has red hair that shines in the sun is my cousin.
5. A household hint my mother learned from television saved her
much time.
6. I called 555-2756, which is Rolands number.
7. My uncle, who lived in Idaho, works for an organization that
inspects potato crops.

NOUN CLAUSES
A noun clause is a dependent clause that is used in the same way as a single-word
noun. It can fill all of the nouns functions and can be a subject, direct object, LVC,
indirect object, object of the preposition or any other phrase, or appositive.
Examples: That Mark ate all the candy was obvious. (X was obvious, where X =
subject.)
A long vacation is what you need. (Vacation is X, so X = LVC)
John told her that she had a beautiful face. (John told her X, so X = DO; yes, her
is an indirect object: John told (to) her X)
Give whoever asks for it the answer. (Give [to] X the answer makes X the IO)
I have no idea of what card I should play next. (of X = OP)
His hope, that he would win the election, did not materialize. (His hope, X, did not
materialize. X has become a renaming of hope which = appositive.)
Oh! Look! Noun dependent clause can be replaced with X, a noun substitute! Again,
sometimes the introductory word is left out!
She told him she had lied! (She told him THAT she had lied.)
Bracket the following noun clauses and tell what its function is in the sentence. Do all
our usual stuff.

1. Whoever finds the ring will be rewarded.

2. My idea is that he had inside help in the robbery.
3. Do you know why those people are shouting?
4. Does whoever gave you the wrong number know that he has made
a mistake?
5. Johns request, that he might have a puppy and an iguana, was not
granted.
6. His excuse is that his alarm did not go off.
7. hand the note to whoever is at the desk.
8. Do you know when it is going to rain?
9. That Jack made a major mistake was our first thought.