Clauses

Noun Clause
Adjective Clause
Adverb Clause
A noun clause is a dependent clause used as a noun.
A noun clause can serve the same function as a noun
in a sentence.
 Noun clause uses:
◦ Subject
◦ Predicate Nominative
◦ Direct Object
◦ Indirect Object
◦ Object of preposition

NOUN CLAUSE
That
What
Whatever
Who
Whoever
Whom
Whomever
How

NOUN CLAUSE SIGNAL WORDS

What Sarah did was brave and earned her
praise from everyone.
◦ “What Sarah did” is the noun clause.
Whoever broke the vase will have to pay for
it.
◦ “Whoever broke the vase” is the noun clause. It is
the subject of the verb “will have to pay” and
answers the question, “who will have to pay?”

NOUN CLAUSE
 Adjective clause is a dependent clause that is used as
an adjective to modify a noun or pronoun.
 Usually follows the word it modifies.
 These clauses, like adjectives, answer the following
questions:
◦ Which one
◦ What kind
◦ How much
◦ How many

ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
Who
Whom
Whose
Which
That

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE SIGNAL

WORDS
A family is more than a group of people
who are related.
◦ Adjective clause is “who are related” and it
modifies the noun “people.”
It was she who started our family tree.
◦ Adjective clause is “who started our family
tree” and it modifies the pronoun “she.”

ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
An adverb clause is a dependent clause
that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an
adverb.
Like adverbs, the clauses tell where, why,
how, when, or to what degree something
was done.

ADVERB CLAUSES
 After
 Although
 As
 As if
 As long as
 As soon as
 Because
 Before
 If
 In order that
 Since
 So that
 Than
 Though
 Unless
 Until
 When
 Whenever
 Where
 Wherever
 While

ADVERB CLAUSE SIGNAL WORDS

Most children leave home when the time
is right.
◦ “When the time is right” is the adverb clause
which modifies the verb “leave.”

ADVERB CLAUSE MODIFYING A

VERB
Many young adults think a career is
important because it helps them to
become independent.
◦ “Because it helps them to become
independent” is the adverb clause which
modifies the adjective “important.”

ADVERB CLAUSE MODIFYING AN

ADJECTIVE
Many are marrying later in life than their
parents did.
◦ “Than their parents did” is the adverb clause
which modifies the adverb “later”

ADVERB CLAUSE MODIFYING AN

ADVERB