The

Clause

As you know,
a clause is.
Group of words with a subject & verb
May or may not be a complete sentence

Independent
&
Dependent (Subordinate)

Pretty self-explanatory

An independent clause
relies on nothing
else.(It can stand
alone) Think
S+V+Complete Thought= Indep.
Clause

Example: After I finish studying, I will go to

the movies.

A dependent clause relies on the rest of the

sentenceit cant stand alone because its
dependent.
ThinkS + V + No complete thought = Dep.
Clause

Example: After I finish

studying, I will go to
the movies.

There are 3 specific types of

dependent (subordinate)
clauses

1. Adjective Clause

*Describes a Noun or Prn

2. Adverb Clause

*Describes a Verb,
Adjective, or Adverb

3. Noun Clause
*The clause is used as a
Noun

Definition of an
Adjective
Clause
:
A dependent clause that describes a noun or
pronoun.

Example: Ms. Jackson had shown slides

that she had taken in Egypt.
How do we know this is a clause and not a phrase?
**It has a subject-she & a verb-had taken**
Why is it an adjective clause?
**Because that group of words is
describing a noun=slides**

An adjective clause usually

starts with a relative
pronoun!
We already
covered relative
pronouns, so this
will be easy!

Ok, whats a
relative pronoun
again?

that, which, who, whom, whose

Remember those things
that introduced a
subordinate clause?
These are those
things!!!!

Example: Leonardo da Vinci was the

artist who painted the Mona Lisa.
Hey, thats a
subordinate clause!

Definition of an Adverb
Clause:
A dependent clause that describes a
verb, adjective, or adverb.
Example: If it does not rain tomorrow, we will
go to Crater Lake.
Why is this an adverb clause?
B/c it is describing a verb (will go) & it has
a subject & verb (It does rain)
NOTICE: When an adverb clause begins a
sentence, it is followed by a comma.

An adverb clause is
introduced by a
subordinating conjunction!
Remember, we did these already! You
have this sheet in your binder (in
grammar section!)
Example: If it does not rain
tomorrow, we will go to Crater Lake.
Whats the subordinating
conjunction in that sentence?
If

Definition of a Noun Clause:

A dependent clause used as a noun.
EXAMPLE: Three dollars was what Daniel
offered for the trinket.

This is a predicate nominative.A

Noun Clause can be used as
Subject, Predicate Nominative,
DO, or an IO, or as an Object of a
Preposition.
Why cant three dollars
be the Noun Clause?

Because that doesnt

have a subject & verb
and a clause has to have
both!

Participation is the Key!

Lets Try Some!
Identify the Dependent Clause & tell what type it is.
is

1. My friend found the CD that my sister bought me for my birthday.

Dep. Clause: that my sister bought me for my birthday
Type: Adjective Clause

Why?

Because it is describing
CD, which is a noun

2. He skateboarded the jump as if he were an expert.

Dep. Clause: as if he were an expert
Type:

Adverb Clause

Why? Because it is describing how he skateboarded

Practice Continued
Continued
3. Did anyone ask her what sort of present she would
like for her birthday?
Dep. Clause: what sort of present she would like for her birthday
Type:
Type Noun Clause Why? Because it is acting as a direct
object in the sentence.
4. Whoever wins the student council election will have a great
deal of responsibility.
Dep. Clause: whoever wins the student council election
Type:
Type

Noun Clause

Why?

Because it is acting as the

subject in the sentence.

Some More
5. I cant find my softball and my glove my cousin lent me.
Practice
Dep. Clause:
Why?

my cousin lent me

Type:
Type

Adjective Clause

Because it is describing softball & glove, which are nouns

6. If you ever wanted to step into the past, youll like this
museum.
Dep. Clause:

If you ever wanted to step

into the past

Type:
Type

Adverb Clause

Why?

Because it is describing what

youll like, which is a verb

Choose the correct answer with adverbial

clause , adverbial phrase or infinitive
1.
We entered the school when the doors were opened.
phrase!
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

She awoke early in the morning.

At the stoke of midnight the bells tolled.
Mary went to the library where she could study.
The cat hid under the bed.
Jim called his friend because he is sick.
She went home to do her homework.
There was an overtime game because the score was
even

*What is a clause?
*What is an independent clause?
*What is a dependent clause?
*How many types of dependent
clauses are there?

*What are the 3 types of

dependent clauses?

*What is a noun clause?

*What is an adjective clause?
*What is an adverb clause?

THE END!!!!