Section 21.2: ClausesIndependent and Subordinate

Clauses

Outline of Section 21.2

I. ClauseI. A group of words with its own subject and

verb.I. 2 Basic Kinds of Clauses:

I. Independent Clause

II. Subordinate Clause

I. Adjective clause

II. Adverb clause

III. Noun clause

Adjective Clauses

I. Def: A subordinate clause that modifies a noun/pronoun by telling what kind or which one.

I. Usually begin w/ a relative pronounI. that, which, who, whom, whose

II. Sometimes begin w/ a relative adverbI. before, since, when, where, why

III. Adjective clauses are set off by commas only when they’re not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Identifying Adjective Clauses

• Exercise #24 on page 469:1. Algeria, which is a country in Africa, is a

diverse combination of land, people, and culture.

1. What is the adjective clause?1. which is a country in Africa

2. What is the relative pronoun in clause?1. which

Identifying Adjective Clauses and the Words They Modify

• We already understand that adjective clauses modify nouns/pronouns.An adjective clause must closely follow the

word it modifies.• Example

The book that was missing had turned up at last.What is the adjective clause?

that was missing

What is the word modified?book

Recognizing the Use of Relative Pronouns

• We understand that relative pronouns usually start the adjective clause.– They connect adjective clauses to the words

clauses modify.– They have 4 functions within the clause:

• Subject• Direct objects• Objects of prepositions• Adjectives

Recognizing the Uses of Relative Pronouns Ghana, whose people make their living mostly

by farming, produces the most cocoa in the world.

Step 1: Identify your adj. clause.• whose people make their living mostly by farming

Step 2: What is the subject and verb in the clause?

• Subject is people; verb is make Step 3: What is the relative pronoun?

• whose

Step 4: What is the function of the relative pronoun?

Is it a Subject? Direct Object? O.P.? Adjective? Adjective. It modifies subject “people”.

Example #2 This product, which makes up thirty-five

percent of Ghana’s exports, provides more jobs for Ghana’s people than any other.

1. What is the adjective clause?• which makes up thirty-five percent of Ghana’s exports

2. What is the subject and verb of clause?• S: which; V: makes

3. What is the relative pronoun?• which

4. What is the function of which? Is it a S; D.O.; O.P.; or ADJ.?

Subject

Last example…1. However, many people, whom the big

factories have attracted, have been migrating to the cities.

1. What is the adjective clause? whom the big factories have attracted

2. What is the subject and verb in clause? S: factories; v: have attracted

3. What is the relative pronoun of clause? whom

4. What is the function of whom? Is it a S; D.O.; O.P.; ADJ?

It’s a D.O. – You can also ask, “whom what?”

Recognizing the Use of Relative Adverbs

• What are your relative adverbs?– before, since, when, where, why

• Unlike a relative pronoun with 4 functions, a relative adverb only has one: an adverb.– A relative adverb modifies a verb within

the clause.– The adjective clause in whole will still

modify the word it closely follows.

Example

1. The street where Joyce lives is near the library.

1. Adjective clause?1. where Joyce lives

2. Relative adverb?1. where

3. Word modified by the relative adverb?1. Lives

4. Word modified by the adjective clause?1. street

Example #2• Anna wouldn’t tell us the reason why

she quit.– Adjective clause?

• why she quit

– Relative adverb?• why

– Word modified by relative adverb?• quit

– Word modified by adjective clause?• reason

Using Adjective Clauses to Combine Sentences

1. The letter will be mailed today. I wrote the letter.

1. The letter which I wrote will be mailed today.

1. Adjective clause?1. which I wrote

2. Did I use a relative pronoun or relative adverb?1. Relative pronoun – which

3. Word adjective clause modifies?1. letter

Using Adjective Clauses to Combine Sentences

• Tomorrow is the day. School starts then. – Tomorrow is the day when school starts.

• Adjective clause?– when school starts

• Relative pronoun or relative adverb?– Relative adverb – when

• What word does my relative adverb modify in the adjective clause?

– starts• What word does my adjective clause modify?

– day

Outline of Section 21.2

I. ClauseI. A group of words with its own subject and

verb.I. 2 Basic Kinds of Clauses:

I. Independent Clause

II. Subordinate Clause

I. Adjective clause

II. Adverb clause

III. Noun clause

Adverb Clauses

• Def: Subordinate clause that modifies a verb.

• They all begin with subordinating conjunctions. – See pages 409 & 474 (make your list on index

card)• May appear at the beginning, middle, or at

end of sentence.– If at the beginning or middle, it’s set off by

commas.

Identify the adverb clause & subordinating conjunction

1) The movie had already started when we arrived.

1) Adverb clause?1) when we arrived

2) Subordinating conjunction?1) when

What do adverb clauses modify?

• They modify a verb, an adverb, or adjective.– They will be caught unless they can run

faster.• Adverb clause?

– unless they can run faster• What word does the adverb clause closely

follow?– caught

• What part of speech is the word? – It’s part of the verb phrase, so the clause modifies a

verb.

Elliptical Adverb Clauses• Elliptical clause: A clause in which the

verb or the subject and verb are understood but not actually stated.

• Example:– Wherever possible, the guide planted

trees.• Step 1: find the adverb clause

– Wherever possible

• Step 2: What words can you mentally add in which sentence can still have same meaning?

– Wherever (it was) possible

Example #2

1. I like cake more than candy.1. What is the adverb clause?

1. than candy

2. What word(s) may be mentally added in the adverb clause and the sentence still has same meaning?

1. than (I like) candy

Outline of Section 21.2

I. ClauseI. A group of words with its own subject and

verb.I. 2 Basic Kinds of Clauses:

I. Independent Clause

II. Subordinate Clause

I. Adjective clause

II. Adverb clause

III. Noun clause

Noun ClausesSubordinate clauses acting like nouns

• May begin with: Introductory words

• Who (whoever)• Whom (whomever)• What (whatever)• Whether• Which

“that”

• N.C. have 5 functions:1) Subject

2) Direct Object

3) Indirect Object

4) Predicate Nominative

5) Object of a Preposition

Exercise 34 on page 481: Identify Noun Clause and Function

1) Our biology book says that many parasites breed in tropical regions. Noun clause?

1) that many parasites breed in tropical regions

Function?1) Direct Object

1) “…says what?” that many parasites breed in tropical regions

Continued exercise

• Whatever animal is infested with a hookworm will also become severely anemic.– Noun clause?

• Whatever animal is infested with a hookworm

– Function?• Subject

Continued Exercise

• A hookworm causes severe problems for whatever animal it infects.– Noun clause:

• whatever animal it infects

– Function:• Object of a preposition

– Follows the preposition “for”

Recognizing Use of Introductory Words• Intro words have

either have a function or not:– If there’s a function:

• Subject• Adverb• Adjective• Direct Object

• Steps to follow:1. Find noun clause.

2. Find introductory word

3. Locate subject and verb in clause, then figure out function of the intro word.

Examples

• Do you remember where we parked the car?– Noun clause?

• where we parked the car

– Introductory word?• where

– Function of intro word within the clause• Subject is “we”; verb is “parked”, so what is

“where”?– Adverb

Example #2

• Do you know whether the train has gone?– Noun clause?

• whether the train has gone

– Introductory word?• whether

– Function of introductory word?• Subject is “train”; verb is “has gone”, so what

is “whether”?– No function in clause