UNDERSTANDIN

G CLAUSES
Independent, Subordinate, Adjective, and
Noun
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Khan Academy
What is a
Clause?
A word group that contains a
verb and its subject, and that
is used as a sentence or as
part of a sentence.
Every clause contains a
subject and a verb, but
not every clause
expresses a complete
thought.
Clauses that express a
complete thought =
Independent Clauses
Clauses that do not express
complete thoughts =
Subordinate Clauses
(Dependent Clauses)
Independent Clauses
 Expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a sentence
 Example that have a subject and a verb:
 Ms. Santana works in a law office in downtown Concord.

 Example of independent clauses joined together by a comma and the coordinating conjunction and:
 Ms. Santana works in a law off in downtown Concord, and she has a successful practice.

 Example of I.C. joined together by a semi-colon:

Ms. Santana works in a law office in downtown Concord; she has a successful practice.
 Example of I.C. joined together by a semi-colon and conjunction adverb:
 Ms. Santana works in a law office in downtown Concord; indeed, she has a successful practice.
The Subordinate Clause
 Does not express a complete thought and cannot stand by itself as a sentence
 Words such as when, whom, because, which, that, if, and until signal that the clauses following is
most likely a subordinate clause.
 Subordinate = Lesser in rank or importance
 Must be joined with an independent clause
 Can be used as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns
 Examples:
 When you arrive at the airport, call us.
 These wildflowers, which grow only locally, are of interest to scientists.
 Did you know that he had granted us an interview?
 Try It For Yourself
 For this reason, until recently, playing the great American game has been something that people
with visual impairments found virtually impossible.
 Only sighted players could participate until an engineer named Charles Fairbanks invented
beep baseball.
 The pitcher shouts “Ready!” before the ball is pitched and “Pitch!” when the ball is released.
 When the bat strikes the ball, the umpire activates the buzzer in first base, to which the batter
must then run.
 When a team is on defense, the pitcher and catcher cannot field the batted ball themselves; they
can only shout directions to the fielders.
 Beep baseball is fun to play, and its challenges create a bond between sighted players and
players with visual impairments.
 Adjective Clauses
◦ A subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun
◦ Usually follows the word or words it modifies and tells what kind and which one
◦ Essential (restrictive) cLause is necessary to the basic meaning of the sentence
◦ It is not set off by commas

◦ Nonessential (nonrestrictive) clause gives only additional information and is not necessary to the
meaning of the sentence
◦ It is set off by commas

◦ Examples of both:
◦ This is the new music video that I like best.
◦ Griffins, which are mythological beasts, are included on many coats of arms.

◦ A.C. can also be introduced by relative pronouns.

 Adjective Clause Continued...
◦ Relative pronouns – words that relate an adjective clause to the word that the clause modifies.
◦ Who, whom, whose, which, that, where, when
◦ Examples:
◦ Luis, who enjoys running, has decided to enter the marathon.
◦ The students questioned data on which the theory was based.
◦ We met the singer whose new CD was released this week.
 Your Turn
◦ Cartoonists use a variety of unusual names
for the symbols that commonly appear in
comic strips.
◦ For example, a briffit is the little puff of dust
hanging in the spot where a swiftly departing
character was previously standing.

◦ Agitrons are the wiggly lines around an object

that is suppose to be shaking.

◦ The limbs of a character who is moving are

usually preceded or trailed by a set of curved
lines called blurgits or swalloops.
 Adverb Clause
◦ A subordinate clause that modifies a verb, and adjective, or an adverb.
◦ Generally tells how, when, where, why, how much, to what extent, or under what condition the
action of the verb takes place.
◦ Examples:
◦ After I had proofread my paper, I input the corrections
◦ Because crepes are delicious, Joy makes them on special occasions.
◦ You and your brother may come with us if you want to.
◦ Introductory adverb clauses are typically set off by commas.
◦ Have computers made office work easier than it was before?
◦ My cousin Adele reads faster than I do.
Common Subordinate Conjunctions
Noun Clauses
◦ A subordinate clause that is used as a noun
◦ May be used as a subject, as a complement
(such as a predicate nominative, direct
object, or indirect object), or as the object of
the preposition.
◦ Usually introduce with that, when, whether,
whom, what, whenever, who, whomever,
whatever, where, whoever, and why.
◦ Examples:
◦ They did not know who it could be.
◦ Show us what you bought.
◦ What you learn is your decision.
◦ She wished that she were older.