Clauses

Two Types of Clauses Main/Independent Clause – the part of the sentence that can stand alone as its own sentence. Subordinate/Dependent Clause – the part of the sentence that cannot stand alone as its own sentence. Example… Divers often wear wet suits, which are examples of basic diving equipment.

Adjective Clauses An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies or describes a noun or pronoun in the main clause of a complex sentence. Examples: The Aqua-Lung, which divers strap on, holds oxygen. The divers breathe through a tube that attaches to the tank. An adjective clause begins with a relative pronoun (the underline word in the sentences above.)

Adverb Clauses An adverb clause is a dependent clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. Starts with a subordinating conjunction after because though when (see pg. 452) Can be anywhere in the sentence Requires a comma when it starts a sentence When she reached the station, Marie phoned.

Adjective Clauses An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun. Starts with a relative pronoun that which who whose whom Immediately follows the noun it modifies They visited the memorial that remembers Holocaust victims. Requires commas only if not essential to the meaning of the sentence Remind students that subordinate clauses have subjects & verbs but cannot stand alone because they do not express complete thoughts.

Find the Adjective or Adverb Clause The Aqua-Lung, which divers strap on, holds oxygen. Scuba divers wear tanks because they cannot breathe underwater. After she bought safe equipment, Lee explored the undersea world. Did you see the meet that our team won yesterday? The woman who is near the pool is a good swimmer.