english clauses

ClausesIndependent & Dependent

Exercise 11. ____ Jin studies business.

2. ____ What does Jin study?

3. ____ What Jin studies?

4. ____ What Jin studies is business

5. ____ His books.

6. ____ I don’t know how much his books cost.

7. ____ How much his books cost?

8. ____ How much does his books cost?

What is a clause?

A clause is a group of words that contains at least a subject and a verb.

There are two types of clauses: independent and dependent.

Let’s start with a simple sentence…

I love you.This sentence has the three basic elements

required of either a simple sentence or a clause:

Subject = I

Verb = love

Object = you

Now, let’s add another clause …

Now we have a two clause sentence.

The original clause I love you can stand on its own as a simple sentence. It expresses a complete thought by itself. Therefore, it is

called an independent clause.

I love you because you understand me.I love you because you understand me.

An independent clause is a clause that can stand alone and express a complete thought.

Independent Clause (IC)

But what about the other clause?

I love you because you understand me.

This clause cannot stand on its own as a simple sentence. It requires another clause to a complete its meaning. Therefore, it is called a

dependent clause.

A dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand alone and doesn’t complete a complete thought.

Dependent Clause (DC)

I love you because you understand

me.

Because you understand me.

Dependent Clauses

There are 3 different types of dependent clauses.

• Noun Clause (NC)

• Adjective Clause (AdjC)

• Adverb Clause (AdvC)

NOUN CLAUSE

Noun clauses as the name implies, function as nouns. That is, they are word groups with their own subject and verb that in turn function as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence.

– Whatever you ask is going to be too much. (as the subject of the sentence)

– We expect that the rain will stop soon. (as the object of the verb “hope.”)

– This is what I was waiting for. (as the complement.)

Exercise 2

1. I couldn’t hear what the teacher said.2. What did the teacher say? (no noun

clause)3. No one knows where Tom went.4. Where Tom went is a secret.5. What does Nancy want?6. We need to know what Nancy wants.

(No noun clause)

Exercise 3

1. Where did Sara go? Did she go home?2. I don’t know where Sara went.3. What does Alex need? Do you know?4. Do you know what Alex needs?5. What Alex needs is a need job. 6.We talked about what Alex needs. 7. What do you need? Did you talk to

your parents about what you need?8. My parents know what I need.

Exercise 4

1. What my family thinks of me is very important to me.

2. I always pay attention to what other people think of me.

3. Where we live is exciting.4. Where we live is expensive.5. I think how most celebrities behave is

admirable.6. I usually don’t believe what I read in

advertisement.

Exercise 5

1. Where does brad live?a. I’m not sure where he lives.b. I’m not sure where does he live.

2. I’m looking for Brad.a. Could you tell me where is Brad?b. Could you tell me where Brad is?

Exercise 6

1. I don’t know how old he is.

2. ___________________________ was interesting.

3. Please tell me ______________.

4. _______________ is none of your business.

5. Do you know _____________________?

6. Let’s ask him _______________________.

What he was talking about

where you live

Where she went

when they are comingwhich one he wants

Exercise 6

7. I don’t know _________________.

8. I don’t know ______________________.

9. _______________________ is a secret.

10. _________________________ is easy.

11. I don’t know____________________.

12. Do you know _________________?

who opened the door

Why they left the country What we are doing in class

who those people are

whose pen this is

what happened

Exercise 14

1. Let me know if the financial report is ready.

2. Let me know if it will be ready tomorrow.

3. Let me know if the copy machine needs paper.

4. Let me know if someome is waiting for me.

5. Let me know if we need anything for the

meeting.

6. Let me know if you are going to be there.

Exercise 14

7. Please check whether they got my message.

8. Please check whether the copy machine is

working.

9. Please check whether there is any paper left.

10. Please check whether this information is

correct.

11. Please check whether the fax came in.

12. Please check whether we are going to have

Monday off.

Exercise 26

2. - It’s too bad that Tim hasn’t..- That Tim hasn’t … is too bad.

3. – It’s a fact that the earth….- That the earth … is a fact.

4. - It’s true that exercise can …- That exercise can … is true.

5. - It’s clear that drug abuse can…- That drug abuse can …. is clear.

Exercise 26

6. – It’s unfortunate that some women do not..- That some woman do not… is unfortunate.

7. – It’s surprising that Irene….- That Irene… is surprising.

8. – It’s a well-known fact that English is …- That English is … is a well-known fact.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

Adjective clauses modify nouns or pronouns. Most adjective clauses are also known as relative clauses because they are usually introduced by the relative pronoun who, which, that, whose, or whom.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

Adjective Clauses, functioning as an adjective, identify or give additional information about nouns.

I like the handsome boy.

I like the boy who you talked to yesterday.

adjectiveadjective

adjective clauseadjective clause

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

An adjective clause will meet three requirements:1) containing a subject and verb.2) beginning with a relative

pronoun [who, whom, whose, that, or which] or a relative adverb [when, where, or why].

3) functioning as an adjective, answering the questions What kind? How many? or Which one?

Relative Adverbs

whenwherewhy

Relative Adverbs

whenwherewhy

Relative Pronouns

whowhomwhichthat

whose

Relative Pronouns

whowhomwhichthat

whose

Exercise 11. a. We helped the man. He was lost in the woods.

b. We helped the man who was lost in the woods.

c. We helped the man that was lost in the woods.

clause

clause

They all (He, who, that) refer to man.

Exercise 11. a. The new computer is fast. It is in my office.

b. The new computer which is in my office is fast.

c. The new computer that is in my office is fast.

clause

clause

They all (It, which, that) refer to computer.

Pronoun Choice

We use….• who = person

• which = thing

• that = person / thing

ADJECTIVE CLAUSEWhoWho is used only for people..

WhoWho is the subject of the clause.

After whowho you should see a verb

I thanked the woman who helped me.

Subject Verb

independent clause

dependent clause

ADJECTIVE CLAUSEWhichWhich is used only for things..

WhichWhich is the subject of the clause.

After whichwhich you should see a verb

The book which is on the table is mine.

Subj. V.

dependent clause

ADJECTIVE CLAUSEThatThat is used for both people and things..

ThatThat is the subject of the clause.

After that that you should see a verb

I thanked the woman that helped me.The book that is on the table is mine.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSESentences with adjective clauses can be

seen as combination of two sentences.

I thanked the woman + She helped me I thanked the woman who helped me.I thanked the woman who helped me.

The book is mine + It is on the table

The book that is on the table is mine.The book that is on the table is mine.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

I thanked the woman.

She helped me.

Same thing in different sentences

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

I thanked the woman.

She helped me

Xwho/that

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

I thanked the woman who/that helped me.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

The book is mine.

It is on the table.

Same thing in different sentences

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

The book is mine.

It is on the table

Xwhich/that

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

The book which/that is on the table is mine.

Exercise 2

1. I met the doctor ___ helped my father after the accident.a. who b. that c. which d. she

2. Where is the magazine___ has the story about online theft?a. who b. that c. which d. it

Exercise 2

3. Did I tell you about the car salesman ___ tried to sell me a defective truck.a. who b. that c. which d. he

4. The house ___ is across the street from us is going to be rented soon.a. who b. that c. which d. it

Exercise 31. I saw the man who/that closed the door.2. The girl who/that won the race is happy.3. The student who/that sits next to me is from

China. 4. The students who/that sit in the front row

are from China.5. We are studying sentences which/that

contain adjective clauses.6. I am using a sentence which/that contains an

adjective clause.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

WhoWho and WhomWhom are used only for people..

Whom/ whoWhom/ who is the object of the clause. After whom/ whowhom/ who you

should see a subject.The man who(m) I saw was Mr. Jones?

Subj. object

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

WhoWho and WhomWhom are used only for people..

Whom/ whoWhom/ who is the object of the clause. After whom/ whowhom/ who you

should see a subject.The man who(m) I saw was Mr. Jones?

Subj. object

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

Which Which is used only for things..

Which Which is the object of the clause.

After which which you should see a subject.The movie which we saw last

night wasn’t very good.Subj. object

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

That That is used for both people and things..

That That is the object of the clause. After that that you should see a

subject.

The movie that we saw last night wasn’t very good?

The man who(m) I saw was Mr. Jones?

ADJECTIVE CLAUSEThe relative pronouns (that, who, (that, who,

which) which) can be omitted.

The movie ø we saw last night wasn’t very good?

The man ø I saw was Mr. Jones?

Exercise 7

1. Tell me about the people ___ you visited when you were in Oxford.a. who b. that c. which d. she

e. whom f. Ø

2. Do you want to see the picture___ the photographer took?a. who b. that c. which d. theye. whom f. Ø

Exercise 7

3. The people ___ I call most often on my cell phone are my mother and my sister.a. who b. that c. which d. she

e. whom f. Ø

4. The apartment___ we wanted to rent is no longer available.a. who b. that c. which d. theye. whom f. Ø

Exercise 7

5. The children ___ the Smiths adopted are from three different countries.a. who b. that c. which d. she

e. whom f. Ø

Exercise 81. The book that/which/Ø I read was good.2. I liked the woman who/whom/that/Ø I

met at the party last night. 3. I liked the composition that/which/Ø you

wrote. 4. The people who/whom/that/Ø we visited

yesterday were very nice.5. The man who/whom/that/Ø Ann brought

to the party is standing over there.

Exercise 91. a. I think Lee is a person who you can have fun with.

b. Do you think Lee is a person with whom you can have fun?

2. a. The art school which Lori applied to is very demanding.b. Do you know the name of the art school to which Lori applied?

In the a. sentence, the preposition comes at the end of the adjective clause.In the b. sentence, the preposition comes before whom/which (at the beginning of the adjective clause).

In the a. sentence, the preposition comes at the end of the adjective clause.In the b. sentence, the preposition comes before whom/which (at the beginning of the adjective clause).

whowhomwhichthatØ

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

can be the object of the preposition in its clause.

She is the woman who/whom/that/Ø I told you about.The music which/that/Ø we listened to last night was good.

whowhomwhichthatØ

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

can be the object of the preposition in its clause.

She is the woman who/whom/that/Ø I told you about.

She is the woman. I told you about her.

If the preposition is at the beginning of the clause, whom whom or whichwhich must be used. The music was good. We

listened to it last night.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

The music to which we listened last night was good.

Exercise 10

1. The sunglasses _____ were under the sofa.

a. which I was looking for

b. that I was looking for

c. I was looking for

d. I was looking

e. I was looking for them

Exercise 10

2. The health-care workers _____ were helpful.

a. who I spoke to

b. that I spoke to

c. who I spoke to them

d. to whom I spoke

e. to who I spoke

f. I spoke to

Exercise 16

1. _____ I have a friend. His purpose in life is to help others.

2. _____ I have a friend whose purpose in life is to help others.

3. _____ I have a friend who his purpose in life is to help others.

4. _____ I have a friend that his purpose in life is to help others.

WhoseWhose is the possessive and is used for both people and things and must be followed by a noun.

Whose + nounWhose + noun

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

I know the man. His bicycle was stolen.

I know the man whose bicycle was stolen.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

It takes the place of his, her, their, its or a noun in possessive case noun’s.

The student writes well. I read her composition.

The students whose composition I read writes well.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

It takes the place of his, her, their, its or a noun in possessive case noun’s.

Exercise 17

1. I know a doctor whose last name is

Doctor.

2. I know a doctor who lives on a sailboat.

3. The woman _______ wallet was stolen

called the police.

4. The woman _______ found my wallet called

me immediately.

whose(her wallet was stolen)

who(she found my wallet)

Exercise 17

5. The professor _______ teaches art history is excellent.

6. The professor _______ course I am taking is excellent.

7. I apologized to the man _______ coffee I spilled.

8. I made friend with a man _______ is in my class.

who(she teaches art history)who

se(I am taking her course) who

se(I spilled his coffee) who(he is in my class)

Exercise 23

1. The town where I grew up is very small.

2. The town in which I grew up is very small.

3. The town which I grew up in is very small.

4. The town that I grew up in is very small.

5. The town I grew up in is very small.

Relative Adverbs

WhereWhere modifies the noun, place (country, city, building, house, room, street, and so on)

The building is very old. He lives there (in that building).

The building where he lives is very old.

Exercise 24

1. The city where we spent our vacation

was beautiful. The city in which we spent our vacation

was beautiful. The city which we spent our vacation in

was beautiful. The city that we spent our vacation in

was beautiful. The city we spent our vacation in was

beautiful.

Exercise 25

1. I clearly remember the day when I rode the bike for the first time.

2. I clearly remember the day on which I rode the bike for the first time.

3. I clearly remember the day that I rode the bike for the first time.

4. I clearly remember the day I rode the bike for the first time.

Relative Adverbs

WhenWhen modifies the noun, time (time, century, year, day, night, month)

I’ll never forget the day. I met you then (on that day).

I’ll never forget the day when I met you.

Exercise 24

1.

Monday is the day when they will come.

Monday is the day on which they will

come.

Monday is the day that they will come.

Monday is the day that they will come.

Exercise 11. He closed the window when it got windy.

2. Because it got windy, he closed the window.

3.Even though it got windy, he opened the window.

4. Would you please close the window if it gets windy?

1. He closed the window when it got windy.

2. Because it got windy, he closed the window.

main clause adverb clause

When the adverb clause comes before the main clause, there is a comma. If it comes after the main clause, there is no comma.

adverb clause

main clause

ADVERB CLAUSE

An adverb clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb. In other words, it contains a subject and a predicate, and it modifies a verb.

What is an Adverb?

It is a word that

describes or adds to the

meaning of a verb, an

adjective, another

adverb, and the rest of

the sentence.

What is a Clause?

It is a group of words which

contain a subject and a finite

verb. A clause forms a

sentence or part of a sentence

and often functions as a noun,

adjective or adverb.

What is an Adverb Clause?A group of words which

contains a subject and a

finite verb that describes or

adds to the meaning of a

verb, an adjective and

another adverb.

When the phone rang, the baby woke up.

The baby woke up when the phone rang.

adverb clause

main clause

Subordinate conjunctionSubordinate conjunction

commacomma

main clause adverb clause

Subordinate conjunctionSubordinate conjunction

ADVERB CLAUSE

Adverb Clauses, functioning as an adverb, identify or give additional information about verbs.

You can leave now.

You can leave whenever you want to.

adverb of timeadverb of time

adverb clause of timeadverb clause of time

ADVERB CLAUSE

Adverb Clauses, functioning as an adverb, identify or give additional information about verbs.

I want to live here.

I want to live where you are.

adverb of placeadverb of place

adverb clause of placeadverb clause of place

ADVERB CLAUSE

Adverb Clauses, functioning as an adverb, identify or give additional information about verbs.

He walks slowly.

He walks as if he were an old man.

adverb of manneradverb of manner

adverb clause of manneradverb clause of manner

ADVERB CLAUSE

An adverb clause will meet three requirements:1) containing a subject and verb.2) beginning with a subordinate

conjunction [when, where, while, because, if, after, although, since, unless, as soon as ,as, until, by the time]

3) functioning as an adverb, answering the questions How? Where? When or Why?

Linking the clausesSubordinate clauses are linked to the main clause by Subordinating Conjunctions.How When Where Why Under

what conditio

ns

sincein

order thatas

as if

afterbeforeuntilwhen

whenever

oncewhile

wherewhereve

r

although

because

so thatthough

unlesseven if

ifeven

thoughprovided thatin case

Adverb clauses are dependent clauses. They cannot stand alone as a sentence. They must be connected to a main/independent clause.

Adverb clause

When we were in New York, we saw

several plays.

When were in New York.

Exercise 21. ____ I woke up.

2. ____ When the door slammed.

3. ____ I woke up. When the door slammed.

4. ____ I woke up when the door slammed.

5. ____ When the door slammed, I woke up.

6. ____ The door slammed. I woke up.

Exercise 27. ____ As soon as you finish dinner, you will need

to pick up Andy at work.

8. ____ The first time I saw you at the school dance

last February.

9. ____ Every time the phone rings and I answer it.

10. ____ We won’t the results until the doctor calls.

11. ____ We got something to eat. After we went to

the movie.

Exercise 3

1. When Abder was in New York, he stayed with his cousins.

2. We went inside when I began to rain.3. It began to rain. We went inside.4. When it began to rain, we went inside.5. When the mail comes, my assistant

opens it.6. My assistant opens the mail when it

comes.7. The mail comes around ten o’clock

every morning. My assistant opens it.

Exercise 3

1. As soon as the rain began, the children wanted to go outdoors. They love to play outside in the warm summer rain. I used to do the same thing when I was a child.

2. I had a cup of tea before I left for work this morning, but I didn’t have anything to eat. I rarely eat breakfast.

3. When Jack and his wife go on vacation, they have to drive or take the train because his wife is afraid of flying.

Exercise 34. After Ellen gets home from work, she likes to read

newspaper. She follows the same routine every day after work. As soon as she gets home, she changes her clothes, gets a snack and a drink, and sits down in her favorite chair to read the newspaper in peace and quiet. She usually has about half an hour to read the paper before her husband arrives home.

5. When you speaking to someone who is hard of hearing, you do not have to shout. It is important to face the person directly and speak clearly. My elder brother is hard of hearing, but he can understand me I look directly at him and say each word clearly.

Exercise 36. Jane wears contact lenses because she is

near-sighted. Without them, she can’t see from one end of a basketball court to the other. When one of her contacts popped out during a recent game, both team stopped playing and searched the floor for the lens.

Adverb Clauses can be divided into:

1. Time

2. Reason

3. Concession

4. Contrast

5. Condition

6. Result

7. Purpose

8. Place

9. Manner

1. Adverb Clause of Time

These clauses are

introduced by when,

whenever, while, as,

before, after, until,

since and as soon as.

(Study more on page

90.)

1. Adverb Clause of Time

When he arrives, he will tell us the

truth.

Mary was dancing while John was

singing.

The train left as we arrived.

1. Adverb Clause of Time

I will stay with you until your

mother comes home.

After he had got the money,

he left home immediately.

2. Adverb Clause of Reason (Cause and Effect)

These clauses are introduced by

because, since as and now

that.

(Study more on page 94.)

2. Adverb Clause of Reason

I was late because I could

not catch the bus.

Since I was late, I took a taxi.

As the weather was bad, we

cancelled the picnic.

3. Adverb Clause of Concession (Unexpected Result)

These clauses are introduced

by though, although, even

though, no matter how and

no matter what.

(Study more on page 95.)

3. Adverb Clause of Concession

Although he is small, he is very

strong.

No matter how smart they are,

they are required to do the revision.

No matter what the doctor did,

the girl was still dead.

4. Adverb Clause of Contrast These clauses are introduced

by whereas and while.

(Study more on page 97.)

4. Adverb Clause of Contrast We took the train whereas Pete drove.

While Tom is a good math student, Pam does well in English.

5. Adverb Clause of Condition (if-clauses) These clauses are introduced

by if, even if, unless, whether, in case, only if and while.

(Study more on page 98.)

5. Adverb Clause of Condition If it rains tomorrow, I will stay

home. Unless you work hard, you will

fail in this exam. You must go whether you hear from him or not.

Even if I had time, I wouldn't do it.

6. Adverb Clause of Result

These clauses are always linked

with so that, so + adj. / adv. +

that and such + a + noun +

that, etc.

6. Adverb Clause of Result

Tom was so weak that he

could not run.

It was such a strange story

that no one believed it.

7. Adverb Clause of Purpose

These clauses are always linked

with so that, in order that, for

fear that, in case, etc.

7. Adverb Clause of Purpose

He arrived earlier, so that he would not

be late.

They brought a lot of food for fear that

they would be hungry during the trip.

She brought the credit card in case she

did not have enough cash.

8. Adverb Clause of Place

These clauses are introduced by where and

wherever.

8. Adverb Clause of Place

Where there is a will, there is a way.

Wherever you go, I’ll go.

Wherever she goes, she leaves a piece of

luggage behind.

The seeds will take root wherever there is

enough light.

9. Adverb Clause of Manner

These clauses are introduced

by as, as if and as though.

9. Adverb Clause of Manner

Please do as I have told you.

* He cries as if he were mad.

* He speaks as though he were

the boss.

* The past subjunctive is used after as if and as

though.