Lecture 1

Basic Writing Skill 1

Clauses 
 Outline
1. Clause Definition
2. Two Types of Clauses
 1. Definition
• A group of related words that have (at least) a
subject and a main verb.
Ex:
- Jessica walked on the grass.
- Though the grass was wet.
 Tips for Finding the Verb of a Clause

1. Find the verb by asking what action takes

place.

2. Find the verb by asking what word links the

subject with the rest of the sentence.
 Tips for Finding the Verb of a Clause

3. Words mistaken for the Verb:

• The infinitive (To Verb)
E.g. We to go to bed early.
-> We had to go to bed early.
• The present participle (V-ing)
E.g. She taking an exam at the moment.
-> She is taking an exam at the moment
 Tips for Finding the Verb of a Clause

4. The verb will NEVER be in a prepositional

phrase
 Clauses Vs. Phrases
A phrase is also a group of words, but
does not contain a subject-verb relation.
E.g. a. We work in the morning. → a clause
b. In the morning → a phrase
Chinese whisper!!!
 2. Two Types of Clauses
2.1. Independent Clauses
2.2. Dependent (Subordinate) Clauses
 2.1. Independent Clauses

An independent clause is a
clause that expresses
a complete thought. It can
stand on its own as a
simple sentence.
E.g. a. Let’s start the music.

b. I’ll tell her the exercise.

2.2. Dependent (Subordinate) Clauses
• A dependent clause (or a subordinate clause) is a
clause that does NOT express a complete thought. 
ÞA dependent clause cannot stand on its own as a
sentence.
Examples:
– When Mary gets here,…
– If Peter comes to the meeting late,…
– …which I bought last night.
 Subordinating Conjunctions
• A dependent
clause starts with words called Subordinating
conjunctions (or Subordinators). 
 Sub-types of Dependent Clauses

Adjective Clauses
Noun Clauses
Adverb Clauses
 Adjective Dependent Clauses
- Playing the role of an adjective in a sentence. 
- Being placed after a noun or pronoun to modify it.
-> That’s why adjective clauses are also called relative clauses.
Begin with the Relative pronouns/Relative adverbs

E.g. I told you about the girl who lives next door.
Anna, who is really clever, is in grade 12.
Types of Adjective/Relative Clauses
 Shortening Adjective/Relative Clauses

1. Omitting the Object

Relative Pronoun
2. Relative Clause
Reductions
 Omitting the Object Relative Pronoun

When the relative pronoun is the OBJECT of

the adjective/relative clause,
=> The relative pronoun can be omitted.
E.g. The woman whom/that I regularly see on
Sundays is my mother’s friend.
-> The woman I regularly see on Sundays is
my mother’s friend. (whom/that is omitted)
 Reducing Relative Clauses
The relative pronoun is the SUBJECT of the
adjective/relative clause
The adjective/relative clause can be reduced
to a phrase
 Reducing Relative Clauses (cont.)
A subject relative pronoun + verb = a present
participle (V-ing)
a. The girl who is sitting in the park looks nervous.
-> The girl sitting in the park looks nervous.
b. We study in a university which consists of six
separate colleges.
-> We study in a university consisting of six
separate colleges.
Reducing Relative Clauses (cont.)
For Passive construction, the subject relative
pronoun + verb to be can be removed to leave
the past participle (V-ed)
The man who was injured in the tiger attack
went to hospital.
-> The man injured in the tiger attack went to
hospital.
 Reducing Relative Clauses (cont.)
If the adjective clause/relative clause contains the verb to
be, the relative pronoun and the verb to be can be omitted.
E.g.
a. The man who is next to me must be a diplomat of some
kind.
-> The man next to me must be a diplomat of some kind.
b. Shakespeare, who is the most well-known British author of
all time, continues to fascinate readers today.
-> Shakespeare, the most well-known British author of all
time, continues to fascinate readers today. (appositive
reduction)
 
 Noun Dependent Clauses
What are Noun Clauses?
Dependent clauses that can do what a noun
can do. 
=>  In place of a subject, an object, or an object
of a preposition in a sentence.
 Forms of Noun Clauses
THREE KEY COMPONENTS of a Noun clause
1. An initial relative pronoun/ relative adverb (many of the same one
that begins an adjective/relative clause)

2. A subject
3. A verb
 Functions of Noun Clauses
• Noun Clause as Subject

• Noun Clause as Object

• Clause as Object of a Preposition

 Common Problems
• Wrong word orders
• Omitting the verb
• Wrong verb forms
• Wrong verb tenses
 Adverb Dependent Clauses
• An adverb clause is a type
of dependent clauses. It starts with a
Subordinator (i.e, before, after, etc).
• An adverb clause supports the verb of the main
clause (or independent clause) and states when
(time), where (place), why (reason), how, how
long, how far, etc.
Subordinators - Examples
Adverb Dependent Clauses - Structure

Adverb clauses may come after or before main clauses.

Structure 1: Adverb clauses without commas (,)

Subject + verb + subordinator + subject + verb.
E.g. His parents give him a present whenever he gets a good
mark at school.

Structure 2: Adverb clauses with commas (,).

 Subordinator + subject + verb , subject + verb.
E.g. Whenever he gets a good mark at school, his parents
give him a present.
 Note
Adjective/relative and adverb clauses 
  - Adjective clauses support a noun and stand after the
things/people they refer.
- Adverb clauses play an essential part of
sentences. Without them, the sentences are incomplete.
Example:
a. My grandmother enjoys telling about the time when my
family was rich. (Relative clause)
b. When students from other countries come to the United
States, they often suffer from culture shock.
Practice Makes Perfect