1. Diagramming Dependent Clauses
Adjective, Adverb and Noun Clauses

2. What is a Clause? MEMORIZE these two definitions:
a PHRASE is a group of words without a subject and verb, used as a single part of speech
a CLAUSE is a group of words with a subject and verb

3. We have already studied
two kinds of PHRASES (with or without S/V?)
Verb phrase: a main verb and all its helpers (Ex. Rex has been chasing cars.)
Prepositional phrase: a preposition, its object and any modifiers of the object (Ex. Rex ran through the dark woods.)
NOTICE!! A verb phrase has no subject within it. But a SENTENCE always has a subject and a verb. So every sentence you have studied thus far has been a CLAUSE.

4. This means… You have been studying one kind of clause—
MAIN or INDEPENDENT CLAUSE: a group of works with a subject and verb that can stand alone
NOW!! We will study
DEPENDENT or SUBORDINATE CLAUSE: a group of words with a subject and verb that CANNOT STAND ALONE and that is used as a single part of speech
GET
EXCITED!

5. Just a reminder:
A sentence always includes AT LEAST ONE MAIN CLAUSE. For a sentence is “a group of words with a subject and verb expressing a complete thought.”

6. And Now--
Cue the drum roll, please! We will learn about groups of words with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone
Babies cannot stand alone! They are dependent! This is what FRIGHTENS ME!!

7. Why would we need dependent clauses?
Let’s think back to our study of modifiers. We found we needed more information about our subjects and verbs. First we studied one-word modifiers: Rex barked yesterday. But what if we wanted to be more specific?: Rex barked in the afternoon. Now a whole phrase is modifying the subject and verb.

8. Check this out:
Rex barked when the mailman came. So what the heck do we do with this?!
noun
verb
Conjunction
adjective

9. Rex barked when the mailman came
Now we have something with a conjunction, adjective, noun and verb…but it is a UNIT. Did the mailman do the coming? Yes, so we have a subject and a verb—another one! RATS!
What we have in “when the mailman came” is a GROUP OF WORDS
with a subject and a verb
that cannot stand alone (try it!)
that is used as a single part of speech (an adverb that answers “when?”)

10. A Dependent (subordinate) CLAUSE
What is a clause again?
a GROUP OF WORDS
with a subject and a verb
that cannot stand alone (try it!)
that is used as a single part of speech (an adverb that answers “when?”)

11. We are going to begin here—they’re the easiest!
When did Rex bark? SO!: Prepositional PHRASES: DEPENDENT CLAUSES:
Yesterday (an adverb)
In the afternoon (An adverb phrase)
When the mailman came (An adverb clause)
Adverb phrases
Adjective phrases
Adverb clauses
Adjective clauses
Noun clauses
We are going to begin here—they’re the easiest!

12. Rex barked when the mailman came.
Rex barked mailman came
when
the

13. Let’s practice with these:
Rex barked after the mailman left.
Rex barked because he hates the mailman.
Rex barked until the sun went down.
If he does not stop barking, Rex will be very sorry.
Since Rex started barking, three people have called.
What do you observe about adverb clauses from these examples?

14. What do you observe about ADVERB CLAUSES
from these examples?
ACs answer “why” and
some other strange things.
What does “if” answer? It tells something like “under what circumstances?” (Maybe answering “how”?)
ACs are introduced by a connecting word. These sentences had after, because, until, if and since.
ACs, like other adverbs may move to the front of the sentence.
When the AC comes first, it is followed by a comma: “Since Rex started barking, three people have called.”

15. What is the difference here?
Rex ran after the ball.
Rex barked after the mailman came.
Subordinating conjunction
Preposition

16. Subordinating Conjunctions
Introduce an adverb clause
Joins a clause to a main clause
There are TONS of them!
How many words can you think of to fill the dashed line?
they left
it rained

17. Subordinating= something of lower rank
Nellie caught the ball.
Because Nellie caught the ball
Which one can stand alone? Why?
Thus,
Coordinating conjunctions: joins two equal words, phrases or clauses (FANBOYS)
Subordinating conjunctions: _________________

18. Before we bust a move:

19. What about this?
Nellie is taller than Harry. Nellie is as tall as Mary. EEK!! What’s wrong here? Some words are left out—which ones?

20. Than always = conjunction
Nellie is taller Harry (is) (tall) An elliptical expression (clause) is one which has some words left out.
than

21. Nellie is tall Mary (is) (tall) as as

22. Try These: You like Millie better than I.
You like Millie better than me.