Subordinate Clauses

Adverbial ClauseA subordinate clause that is used like an adverb to modify a verb, an adjective, or an adverbAnswers these questions: How? When? Where? How much? To what extent? Under what condition? and Why?Introduced by a subordinating conjunction

Examples:When? We will go whenever you are ready.

Where? We will park wherever we can find an empty spot in the garage.

Under What We will attend the concert if we can get Condition? tickets.

Why? We left early so that we would not be late.

Adverb Clause CharacteristicsTell more about the rest of the sentence in which they appearCan occur as sentence openers, subject-verb splits, or sentence closers

Examples:Sentence openers:

After he got himself under control, he apologized.--Stephen King, “The Mouse on the Mile”

Because its primary reason for existence was government, Maycomb was spared the grubbiness that distinguished most Alabama towns its size.

--Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

Examples (cont.):Subject-verb split:

The truck drivers, when they heard that Maxie Hammerman had been released, were furious.

--Jean Merrill, The Pushcart War

Sentence closer:

Alfred quietly slipped out the back door and waited until Henry left. --Robert Lipsyte, The Contender

Adjectival ClauseSometimes called an adjective clause or a relative clauseA subordinate clause that is used to modify a noun or pronounAnswers these questions: Which one(s)? What kind?Usually begins with a relative pronoun: Who, Whose, Whom, Which, and That

Examples: Which One(s)? The person who just

rang the bell left a package.

What Kind? The package, which was heavy, came from our grandmother.

Adjective Clause CharacteristicsDescribe whatever is to the left of them in the same sentenceCan occur as subject-verb splits or as sentence closers

Examples:Subject-verb splits:

Keeton, who overtopped Norriss by five inches and outweighed him by a hundred pounds, gave the deputy a harsh little shake and then did let go.

--Stephen King, Needful Things

Even his eyes, which had been young, looked old. --John Steinbeck, The Red Pony

Examples (cont.):Sentence closers:

They dropped his belongings at the freshman dorm, where the only sign of his roommate was a khaki duffel bag and a canvas butterfly chair printed to resemble a gigantic hand. --Anne Tyler, Saint Maybe

I loved school with a desperate passion, which became more intense when I began to realize what a monumental struggle it was for my parents and brothers and sisters to keep me there.

--Eugenia Collier, Sweet Potato Pie

Noun ClauseA subordinate clause that is used like a nounCan be used the same as a single noun: Subject, Direct Object, Indirect Object, Object of a Preposition, and Predicate Nominative

Examples:Subject Whatever you choose is fine with

me.

Object of The book from which I got most of Preposition my information is in the library.

Direct Object For lunch, I will have whatever you are having.

Is It an Adjective or Adverb Clause or a Noun Clause?

Check by using the following techniques:

• The “It” Test:• If the clause is replaceable with the pronoun “it,”

then it is a noun clause.

• The “Take-It-Out” Test:• If the clause is removable and the sentence is still

complete, then it is either an adverb or adjective clause. Refer to the introductory word and placement of the clause to determine which it is.

The End!