1. Section 21.2: Clauses
Independent and Subordinate Clauses

2. Outline of Section 21.2 Clause
A group of words with its own subject and verb.
2 Basic Kinds of Clauses:
Independent Clause
Subordinate Clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause
Noun clause

3. Adjective Clauses
Def: A subordinate clause that modifies a noun/pronoun by telling what kind or which one.
Usually begin w/ a relative pronoun
that, which, who, whom, whose
Sometimes begin w/ a relative adverb
before, since, when, where, why
Adjective clauses are set off by commas only when they’re not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

4. Identifying Adjective Clauses
Exercise #24 on page 469:
Algeria, which is a country in Africa, is a diverse combination of land, people, and culture.
What is the adjective clause?
which is a country in Africa
What is the relative pronoun in clause?
which

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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”.

8. Example #2
This product, which makes up thirty-five percent of Ghana’s exports, provides more jobs for Ghana’s people than any other.
What is the adjective clause?
which makes up thirty-five percent of Ghana’s exports
What is the subject and verb of clause?
S: which; V: makes
What is the relative pronoun?
which
What is the function of which?
Is it a S; D.O.; O.P.; or ADJ.?
Subject

9. Last example…
However, many people, whom the big factories have attracted, have been migrating to the cities.
What is the adjective clause?
whom the big factories have attracted
What is the subject and verb in clause?
S: factories; v: have attracted
What is the relative pronoun of clause?
whom
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?”

10. 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.

11. Example The street where Joyce lives is near the library.
Adjective clause?
where Joyce lives
Relative adverb?
where
Word modified by the relative adverb?
Lives
Word modified by the adjective clause?
street

12. 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

13. Using Adjective Clauses to Combine Sentences
The letter will be mailed today. I wrote the letter.
The letter which I wrote will be mailed today.
Adjective clause?
which I wrote
Did I use a relative pronoun or relative adverb?
Relative pronoun – which
Word adjective clause modifies?
letter

14. 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

15. Outline of Section 21.2 Clause
A group of words with its own subject and verb.
2 Basic Kinds of Clauses:
Independent Clause
Subordinate Clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause
Noun clause

16. 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.

17. Identify the adverb clause & subordinating conjunction
The movie had already started when we arrived.
Adverb clause?
when we arrived
Subordinating conjunction?
when

18. 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.

19. 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

20. Example #2 I like cake more than candy. What is the adverb clause?
What word(s) may be mentally added in the adverb clause and the sentence still has same meaning?
than (I like) candy

21. Outline of Section 21.2 Clause
A group of words with its own subject and verb.
2 Basic Kinds of Clauses:
Independent Clause
Subordinate Clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause
Noun clause

22. Noun Clauses Subordinate clauses acting like nouns
May begin with:
Introductory words
Who (whoever)
Whom (whomever)
What (whatever)
Whether
Which
“that”
N.C. have 5 functions:
Subject
Direct Object
Indirect Object
Predicate Nominative
Object of a Preposition

23. Exercise 34 on page 481: Identify Noun Clause and Function
Our biology book says that many parasites breed in tropical regions.
Noun clause?
that many parasites breed in tropical regions
Function?
Direct Object
“…says what?” that many parasites breed in tropical regions

24. 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

25. 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”

26. 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:
Find noun clause.
Find introductory word
Locate subject and verb in clause, then figure out function of the intro word.

27. Examples Do you remember where we parked the car? Noun clause?
Introductory word?
where
Function of intro word within the clause
Subject is “we”; verb is “parked”, so what is “where”?
Adverb

28. Example #2 Do you know whether the train has gone? Noun clause?
Introductory word?
whether
Function of introductory word?
Subject is “train”; verb is “has gone”, so what is “whether”?
No function in clause