Clauses & Phrases

Adjective Clauses

• Definition: A dependent clause that modifies a noun. This clause serves as the adjective (or one of the adjectives) for the sentence.

• Adjective clauses begin with conjunctions or pronouns (who, that, where, whom)

Example: The house where I grew up is in Skokie

Adverbial Clauses

• Definition: Dependent clauses that modify verbs.

• Don’t forget your dependent marker words…(where, when, after, during, because, if). These will help us signal an adverbial clause.

Example: I will drive wherever the road takes me

Who cares about Adverbial Clauses?

• Identifying an adverbial clause is helpful because it can help us vary up sentence structure. You can usually move an adverbial clause within a sentence to improve sentence variation within your writing. (Just like with Independent & Dependent clauses)

Example:Wherever the road takes me, I will drive.

Identify Any Clauses

The hostess wouldn't seat us because the restaurant was

closed.

Answer:Adverbial clause

(Because the restaurant was closed)

Identify Any Clauses

Have you played with the game that I bought for you?

Answer:Adjective Clause

(that I bought for you)

Identify Any Clauses

I am not responsible for what my cats do when I am not

home.Answer:

Adverbial Clause(When I’m not home)

Identify Any Clauses

We can go swimming when it is warmer outside.

Answer:Adverbial Clause

(when it is warmer outside)

Identify Any Clauses

If you promise to let his band play, Sean will come to your party.

Answer:Adverbial Clause

(If you promise to let his band play)

Identify Any Clauses

The car that she is driving is not hers.

Answer:Adjective Clause

(that she is driving)

Combine these simple sentences by creating a sentence with an

adjective or adverbial clause.

The man wants the money. He is here.

Combine these simple sentences by creating a sentence with an

adjective or adverbial clause.

The fireworks will be starting. It isn’t dark

enough.

Combine these simple sentences by creating a sentence with an

adjective or adverbial clause.

I am going to the store. We are out of milk.

Combine these simple sentences by creating a sentence with an

adjective or adverbial clause.

I went to get coffee with a girl. She sits

behind me in French.

Combine these simple sentences by creating a sentence with an

adjective or adverbial clause.

The play is starting at seven. It is the one I

wanted to watch.

Combine these simple sentences by creating a sentence with an

adjective or adverbial clause.

I like to go sledding. It is snowing.

Prepositional Phrases

• What is a prepositional phrase?– A prepositional phrase includes a preposition, a noun

or pronoun called “the object of the preposition” and any modifiers of that object.

– In other words, it includes a preposition, the noun or pronoun that the preposition is affecting and any adjectives that modify the noun.

Example:The man lived under the bridge

Prepositional Phrases Type #1: Adjective Phrases

• What is an adjective phrase?– An adjective phrase is a prepositional phrase that

is used to modify a noun. • How is this different than an adjective clause?– Adjective phrases begin with prepositions, while

adjective clauses begin with pronouns.

Example:She lived in the house beside the river.

Prepositional Phrases Type #2: Adverb Phrases

• What is an adverb phrase?– An adverb phrase is a prepositional phrase that is

used to modify a verb, adjective or another adverb.• How is this different than an adverbial clause?– Adverb phrases begin with prepositions. Adverbial

clauses begin with subordinate conjunctions.

Example:She ran behind the shed.

Complete Subject or Complete Predicate?

• Prepositional phrases can be part of the subject or the predicate, depending on what they are modifying. If they modify the simple predicate (adverb phrase), then they would be part of the predicate. If they modify the simple subject (adjective phrase), then they would be part of the subject.

Example:The monster under the bed clawed through the wall.

Let’s Practice

Identify whether the phrase is an adjective phrase or adverb phrase.

She lay beside the still waters.

Answer:Adverb phrase

Let’s Practice

Identify whether the phrase is an adjective phrase or adverb phrase.

The house across the street is falling down.

Answer:Adjective Phrase

Let’s Practice

Identify whether the phrase is an adjective phrase or adverb phrase.

The cat fell down the well.

Answer:Adverb phrase

Let’s Practice

Identify whether the phrase is an adjective phrase or adverb phrase.

The words inside the book were difficult to read.

Answer:Adjective phrase

Let’s Practice

Identify the prepositional phrase and whether it is an adjective or adverb phrase.

The car near the house belongs to Jimmy.

Answer:Near the house, adjective

Let’s Practice

Identify the prepositional phrase and whether it is an adjective or adverb phrase.

She ran towards the fire.

Answer:Towards the fire, adverb

Let’s Practice

Identify the prepositional phrase and whether it is an adjective or adverb phrase.

The light upon the hill burns brightly.

Answer:Upon the hill, adjective

Let’s Practice

Identify the prepositional phrase and whether it is an adjective or adverb phrase.

The store past Barnes and Noble is still open.

Answer:Past Barnes and Noble, adjective

Let’s Practice

Identify the prepositional phrase and whether it is an adjective or adverb phrase.

The car drove off the edge of the cliff.

Answer:Off the edge, adverbOf the cliff, adjective