RECOGNIZING

CLAUSES
Miguel Hernández
A clause is any group of words containing a
subject and a predicate (a complete verb).
The relation of a clause to the rest of the
sentence is shown by the position of the
clause or by a conjunction.
 There are two kinds of clauses
(1) main or independent clauses, and (2)
subordinate or dependent clauses, just as there
are main and subordinate ideas.
(1) I ATE AN APPLE

(2) BECAUSE I WAS HUNGRY

I love apples
He was happy
I am playing my guitar
A main clause has both subject and
verb, but it is not introduced by a
subordinating word. A main clause
makes an independent statement. It
is not used as a noun or as a
modifier.
Subordinate clauses are usually introduced
by a subordinating conjunction (as, since,
because, etc.)
 or by a relative pronoun (who,
whom,whose,which, that)
subordinate clauses function in a
sentence in one of three ways: as an
adverb, an adjective, or a noun.
 Subordinate clauses express ideas that are less
important than the idea expressed in the main
clause. The exact relationship between the two
ideas is implicated by the subordinating
conjunction, relative pronoun or relative
adverb.
Subordinate
Main clause
clause
 Single word Subordinate clauses

He is an honest man. He is a man who is honest.

I came early. I came before the class started.
He knows the theorem. He knows that the square of the
hypotenuse is equal to the sum of
the squares of the other two sides.
An adverb clause is a
subordinate clause used to
modify a verb, an adjective,
or another adverb in the
main clause. Every adverb
clause is introduced by a
subordinating conjunction.
 An adverb clause tells when,
where, why, how, to what
extent, or how much about the
word it modifies. It is usually
introduced by a subordinating
conjunction like if, unless,
before, since, although, that,
when, while, because, or as if.
An adverbial clause consists
…since it is raining
of a subject and predicate
introduced by a subordinate
conjunction like while, when,
Such a clause may be used in initial
position, final position, and
occasionally in mid-position with the
main verb of the sentence. A
comma usually appears after an
introductory clause, but is much
less common before a clause in
final position. A clause in mid-
position must be set off with
commas.
 Adverb Clause Modifying Verbs
We left the bicycle where we had found it. (The sub. clause
modifies the verb left.

When the rain began, we were six miles from home. (The sub.
clause modifies the verb were.

I could hardly hold my head up because I was so sleepy. (The sub.

clause modifies the verb hold up.
 Adverb Clause Modifying Adjectives
Bob is taller than any other boy I know. (The sub. clause modifies the
adjective taller

The public library is bigger than it used to be. (The sub. Cl. modifies the
adjective bigger

I am sorry he is sick. (The sub. clause modifies the adjective sorry ).

I am glad he is happy. (The sub. clause modifies the adjective glad ).

 Adverb Clauses Modifying an Adverb
Ferguson ran faster than the other track stars did. (The sub. Cl.
modifies the adverb faster

The beach was so crowded that we could hardly see the water.

He thinks more quickly than you do. (The sub. cl. modifies the adv.
Quickly).
ADVERBIAL CLAUSES
 Time Place
When, as soon as, Where
while, as long as, by Wherever
the time,
(that), before, now
that, after, once, until

I can see you when I We live where the road

finish my work. crosses the river.
 Cause Condition

Because, since, as, now that If, unless, that

Whereas (legal), In as much as On condition that
(formal), as long as, on account Provided that
of the fact, that. In view of the Providing that
fact that In the event that
Because of the fact that In case that
Due to the fact that (informal).
Now that he has passed the We’ll have the picnic providing
examination, he can get his that it doesn’t rain.
degree.
 Contrast Concessive Adversative

Although, in spite of the fact, While

though, even despite the fact Where
though, even if. that, notwith-
standing (the fact) Whereas
That
Although (or though) I felt In spite of the fact that Some people spend their
very tired, I tried to finish prices went down recently, spare time reading, while
the work the company made a huge others watch television.
profit.
 Purpose Result

That, In order that, so So + adj or adv. + that

(informal), so that, for Such (a) + noun + that
the purpose that So that

He is saving his money so They climbed higher, so that

that he can go to college. they got a better view.
 Comparison Manner
As - adj or adv + as As if, as though
(not so) –adj or (especially after look,
adv+than seem, act)
She works as hard as He looks as if he needs
her sister works. (or needed) more
sleep.
An adjective clause is a subordinate
clause which modifies a noun or
pronoun
It is usually introduced by one of the relative pronouns
who, whose, whom, which, or that. These pronouns
are called relative pronouns because they relate to a
noun or a pronoun in the sentence. This is why this
type of clauses are also called relative clauses.
Occasionally, no relative pronoun is used, but it is
implied or understood. Sometimes, however, adjective
clauses are introduced by relative adverbs : where ( a
place ), when ( a time ), why ( a reason ).
An adjective clause may be introduced by a
subordinate conjunction: before or after, as (after
the same) For example:

He became sick the day before he was to leave for

his vacation.
She made the same mistakes as (that) her sister
did.
 Examples:
The lady has a plant that blooms only al night. (The sub. cl. modifies plant ).

Is he the man of whom you spoke? (The sub. cl. modifies man ).

Music is an art form that we all love. (The sub. cl. modifies form ).

My older car, which is ten years old, is a Ford. (The sub. cl. modifies car ).

This is the jet that broke the speed record. (The sub. cl. modifies jet ).
 ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
Noun Introductory word Illustrative Sentences
Antecedent
Meaning:
1. a person Relative pronoun: Introductory word functioning as:
Who (whom or Subject: He paid the money to the man who (or that) had done the work.
whose) Object of verb: He paid the man whom (or that) he had hired.
That Object of preposition: He paid the man from whom he had borrowed.
Possessive adjectives: This is the girl whose picture you saw.

2. a thing Which Subject: Here is a book which (or that) describes animals.
That Object of verb: The chair which (or that) he broke is being repaired.
Object of preposition: She was wearing the coat for which she had paid $2,000.

3. a time Relative adverb: This is the year when the Olympic Games are held.
When
4. a place Where Here is the house where I live.
5. a reason Why Give me one good reason why you did that.
 RECOGNITION OF ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

An adjective clause consists of a subject and a predicate that

modifies a preceding noun or pronoun (its antecedent). Keep in mind
that the introductory word who or that refers to a person, which or
that to a thing, where to a place, when to a time and why to a
reason.
 Relative Person Thing
pronoun as
Subject The doctor who (or that) came to see the sick woman The tree which (or that) was planted last year already has
gave her some medicine. blossoms.

The doctor whom (or that) they had called was delayed The tree which (or that) his father planted last year already has
Object of because of a traffic accident. blossoms.
Informal: The doctor (who) they had called was delayed
Verb
because of a traffic accident. Informal: The tree his father planted last year already has
blossoms.
The doctor to whom she sent her friend is a well –known
specialist. The tree under which he is standing is a very old one.

Informal: The doctor who (m) she sent her friend to is a

Object of
well-known specialist. Informal: The tree which (or that) he is standing under is a very
Preposition or old one.
The doctor she sent her friend to is a well-known or
specialist. The tree he is standing under is a very old one.

The doctor, whose office was newly decorated, started to That tree, the branches of which are almost bare now, is very
Possessive charge higher fees. old one.

Informal: That tree, whose branches are almost bare, is a very

old one.
That is used for persons
and things in restrictive
clauses only.
The relative pronoun may
be omitted only in
restrictive clauses.
 NOUN
CLAUSE
 A noun clause is a subordinate clause used as a
noun or pronoun in the sentence and becomes a
subject, object, or complement in the
sentence. A noun clause may function as a
subject or direct object of the verb, as a predicate
noun ( noun predicate = subjective complement ),
as object of the preposition, or as an appositive.
Every direct quotation is a noun clause without an introductory word.
Mary said, "Dinner is ready." (The noun clause is the object of said.)
Mary said that dinner was ready. (That is the introductory word.)

Here are three sentences showing the same noun clause performing these
three different functions:

That he was not a candidate was made quite clear. (The Noun cl, is the
subject of the sentence).
They knew that he was not a candidate. (The noun cl. is the object of knew.)
The truth is that he was not a candidate. (The noun cl. is a subjective
complement linked to truth).
 More examples:

• What John wants is a better job. (The noun cl. is the subject of is).
• This is where we came in (The noun cl. is a predicate noun).
• Please tell them I will be late. (The noun cl. is the object of tell).
• He has no interest in what he is reading. (The noun cl. is the object of in).
• Whoever has the queen of spades loses thirteen points. (The noun clause is the
subject of looses).
 Noun clause Introductory Function Examples
Derived from: Conjunction Of Clause

- Subject That coffee grows in Brazil is well known to

1. A statement: all.
Coffee grows in Brazil. That It is well known that coffee grows in Brazil.
- Subject after it
My understanding is that coffee grows in
- Subjective
Brazil.
Complement

- Object of verb I know that coffee grows in Brazil.

- Appositive His belief that coffee grows in Brazil is

correct.
2. A question:
- Subject Whether (or not) he gets the money
Whether doesn´t concern me.
a. expecting yes or no answer (or not)
- Subjective The question is whether he will get the
Will he get the money? also if money.
complement

Do you know whether (or if) he will get the

- Object of
money?
verb
We were concerned about whether he
Object of
would get the money.
Who Preposition

b. Interrogative word question What How he gets the money is his own affair.
Which - Subject
How will he get the money? The question is how he will get the money.
When - Subjective
Where complement
I don´t know how he will get the money.
Why -object of verb
We were concerned about how he would
How -Object of
get the money.
Preposition
3. a request: That Object of verb He suggested that I write the letter soon.
Write the letter soon

4. an exclamation: What - Object of I hadn´t realized what a pretty girl she

What a pretty girl she How verb was!
is! - Object of We talked about what a pretty girl she
Preposition was!