Clauses

Identifying | Overview | Adverb Clauses | Adjective Clauses | Noun Clauses
Exercises:
Identifying Phrases and Clauses
Identifying Independent and Dependent (Subordinate) Clauses

~

Independent and Dependent (Subordinate) Clauses

If a clause can stand alone as a sentence, it is an independent clause, as in the following example:

Independent

• The last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate.

Other clauses cannot stand alone as sentences: they are called dependent clauses or subordinate clauses. They explain something else in the sentence. They depend upon that other part of the sentence because without it they do not make sense. Consider the same clause with the subordinating conjunction "when" added to the beginning:

Dependent

• when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate

In this case, the clause could not be a sentence by itself, since the subordinating conjunction "when" suggests that the clause is providing an explanation for something else. Since this dependent (subordinate) clause answers the question when, just like an adverb, it is an adverb clause. Note how the clause can replace the adverb "tonight" in the following:

Adverb

• The ghost will come tonight.

Adverb clause

• The ghost will come when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate.

A dependent (subordinate) clause can also begin with a relative pronoun. These pronouns refer to a noun that precedes them in the sentence.

• He lived in chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner.

In this sentence the dependent (subordinate) clause "which had once belonged to his deceased partner" modifies the noun "chambers."

"which had once belonged to his deceased partner" is an adjective clause.

An adjective clause is a dependent (subordinate) clause that modifies a noun or pronoun, answering questions like which or what kind of.  Note how the clause can replace the adjective "old".

Adjective

• He lived in old chambers.

Adjective clause

• He lived in chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner.

Note that an adjective clause almost always comes after what it modifies, while an adjective usually comes before.

~ top

More about Adverb clauses

A subordinating conjuction introduces a dependent (subordinate) adverb clause and indicates the nature of the relationship between the independent clause(s) and the dependent (subordinate) clause(s). Adverb clauses express relationships of

• cause and effect: because, since, as, so, in order that etc.
• condition: as if, as though, even if, only if, if, unless, in case, whenever, wherever etc.
• opposition: although, even though, though, unless etc.
• space and time: after, before, until, once, since, when, where, while etc.

These adverbs that act like conjunctions are placed at the front of the clause. The adverbial clause can come either before or after the main clause.

• Remember: put a comma at the end of the adverbial phrase when it precedes the main clause.
• Notice: some adverbial conjunctions that relate to time can also be prepositions. If "when" can be used in the place of one of these words it, will NOT be acting as a preposition.

In each of these sentences, the subordinating conjunction is in bold:

• On his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.

  It was looking full upon him, while the light upon its head burnt very clear.
• Although well used to ghostly company by this time, Scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled beneath him.
• "Even if I have grown so much wiser, I am not changed towards you."
• Well! I'm very glad to hear it because I haven't great faith in these young housekeepers.
• He begged like a boy to be allowed to stay until the guests departed.

~ top

More about Adjective clauses

In formal writing, an adjective clause begins with the relative pronouns "who(m)", "that", or "which." In informal writing or speech, the relative pronoun is often omitted when it is not the subject of the adjective clause. This can make finding these clauses tricky.

• "He said Christmas was a humbug, as I live!"

  In this sentence that is understood "He said that Christmas was a humbug, as I live!"

• "Tell me what man that was we saw lying dead?"

  In this sentence whom is understood "Tell me what man that was who we saw lying dead?"

Here are some more examples of adjective clauses:

• The yard was so dark that even Scrooge, who knew its every stone, was fain to grope with his hands.

  This clause modifies the Scrooge' and answers the question who knew" Note:  even Scrooge was fain to grope with his hands is an adverb clause).

• It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand.

  This clause modifies the noun "garment."

• To Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father.

  This clause modifies the proper noun "Tiny Tim."

• Bob told them of the extraordinary kindness of Mr. Scrooge's nephew, whom he had scarcely seen but once.

  This clause modifies the noun "nephew."

~ top

Noun Clauses

A noun clause is an entire clause; it can take the place of a noun in another clause or phrase. Like a noun, a noun clause can act as the subject of a verb. Consider the following example:

• "What the half-drunken woman whom I told you of last night said to me, when I tried to see him and obtain a week's delay; and what I thought was a mere excuse to avoid me; turns out to have been quite true.

The two clauses beginning with "what" are the subjects of the verb "turns".

That Dickens did not often begin sentences with noun clauses is evident.

Sometimes noun clause resemble indirect questions:

• Question: "Where was Dickens heading?"
• Indirect question: Where Dickens was headed is unknown.

The question "Where was Dickens heading?" with a slight change in word order becomes a noun clause and the subject of the verb "is."

Here are some more examples of noun clauses:

• Some people laughed at the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them, because he knew that nothing good ever happened on this globe at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the beginning; and knowing that such people would be blind anyway, he thought that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins.

In this case all the noun clauses are objects of a verb (or a verbal).

~ top

 

Introduction  | Subjects | Verbs | Subject, Predicate | Objects | Phrases
The Simple Sentence | The Compound Sentence | The Complex Sentence
The Compound-Complex Sentence | Sentence types in a paragraph
Exercises

 

Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain 1/13/04