Clauses that begin with words like “if”, “when”, “because”, and “since” are usually
Dependent Clauses: Adverbial, Adjectival, NominalDependent clauses may work like adverbs, adjectives, or nouns in complex sentences. Show
1. Adverbial clausesLike a single-word adverb, an adverbial clause describes a verb (in the sentence's main clause) and answers one of these questions where? why? how? when? to what degree?An adverbial clause begins with a subordinating conjunction, which makes the clause subordinate (dependent). Common subordinating conjunctions:
Example of adverbial clause answering when?
When will the flowers bloom? Answer: when spring arrives Example of adverbial clause answering why?
Why didn't the poor woman have money? Answer: because she had lost her job Example of adverbial clause answering where?
Where is there fire? Answer: where there is smoke Example of adverbial clause answering how?
How did he answer the question? Answer: as if he knew the subject quite well Example of adverbial clause answering to what degree?
To what degree of lateness will Jones arrive? Answer: (later) than Smith (will arrive) Another example of an adverbial clause answering to what degree?
To what degree is he young? Answer: (younger) than his brother (is) Comma use with adverbial clausesComma use with adverbial clauses depends upon placement of the adverbial clause. If the adverbial clause introduces the sentence, place a comma between it and the main clause.
If the adverbial clause follows the main clause in a sentence, do not place a comma between the two.
2. Adjectival clausesLike a single-word adjective, an adjectival clause describes a noun (in the sentence's main clause) and answers one of these questions which one? what kind?An adjectival clause usually begins with a relative pronoun, which makes the clause subordinate (dependent). Common relative pronouns: that which who whom whose NOTE: Usewho, whom, and whose to describe people. Use that and which to describe things. Adjectival clauses always follow the person, place, or thing they describe, usually immediately. Example of adjectival clause answering which one?
Which book did Joe read? Answer: the one that I gave him Example of adjectival clause answering what kind?
What kind of politician has the support of the people? Answer: one who is trustworthy Adjectival clauses may also begin with selected subordinating conjunctions: when - to describe a time
where - to describe a place
why - to describe a reason
Comma use with adjectival clausesComma use with adjectival clauses depends upon essentiality of the adjectival clause. If the adjectival clause is essential (or "needed"), no commas should be used to separate it from the main clause. Generally, essential adjectival clauses should not begin with which. Examples
Since the adjectival clauses in the above examples are needed to clarify the noun that they describe, they are essential and should not be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas. If the adjectival clause is nonessential (or "not needed"), commas should separate it from the main clause. Nonessential adjectival clauses should not begin with that. Examples
Since the adjectival clauses in the above examples are not needed to clarify the noun that they describe, they are nonessential and should be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas. Note the difference between the sentences in each pair:
3. Nominal ClausesLike a noun, a nominal clause names a person, place, thing, or idea. A nominal clause may function in a sentence as any of the following: subject subjective complement appositive object of preposition direct object indirect object retained object Nominal clauses may begin with interrogatives: who whom what which whoever whomever whatever when where how why An interrogative beginning a nominal clause has a function within the nominal clause. Each of the following examples illustrates
Nominal clause as subject in sentence
Nominal clause as subjective complement in sentence
Nominal clause as object of preposition in sentence
Nominal clause as direct object in sentence
Nominal clause as indirect object in sentence
Nominal clause as retained object in sentence
Nominal clauses may also begin with expletives: that whether if An expletive beginning a nominal clause has no function within the nominal clause. Nominal clause beginning with expletive that
Nominal clause beginning with expletive whether
Nominal clause beginning with expletive if
What kind of clause begins with because?Because: meaning and use
Because introduces clauses of cause and reason. It is a subordinating conjunction. This means that the clause it introduces is a subordinate clause, which needs a main clause to make it complete.
What are the words that start a clause?(NOTE: Subordinate clauses begin with words such as after, although, as, because, before, even if, even though, if, since, so that, unless, until, when, whenever, whereas, while, etc. Dependent clauses include clauses that may begin with that, who, whom, whose, which, where, when, and why.
What is a subordinating conjunction clause?A subordinating conjunction is a word or phrase that links a dependent clause to an independent clause. This word or phrase indicates that a clause has informative value to add to the sentence's main idea, signaling a cause-and-effect relationship or a shift in time and place between the two clauses.
What are examples of clauses?Example:. I graduated last year. (One clause sentence). When I came here, I saw him. (Two clause sentence). When I came here, I saw him, and he greeted me. (Three clause sentence). |