2. What is a Clause?
• A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate, and
forms part of a sentence.
• A sentence may have one or more than one clause.
• Examples:
People who pay their debts are thrusted.
We cannot start while it is raining.
I think that you have made a mistake.
3. Main Clause and Subordinate Clause
• If a clause makes complete sense in itself, it is called the main clause or the
principal clause of the sentence.
• If a clause is dependent on another clause to complete its meaning, it us called
the subordinate clause.
• I woke up when the bell rang.
There can be only one main or principal clause.
The word or words that join a subordinating clause with the principal
clause are called subordinating conjunctions.
5. Noun
Clause
A noun clause is a subordinate
clause that does the work of a
noun in a sentence.
I know (main clause) that she
went to her native last week.
(noun clause).
It is the object of the verb know
and does the work of a noun.
6. Identifying Noun Clause
• What you do now is most important!
• Question: What is most important?
• Answer: What you do now. (It is the noun clause and it is the subject of
the clause)
A noun clause can be identified by asking who and what
A noun clause usually begins with words like that, what, if, whether,
how, where, who, whose, why, however, whatever, wherever, whoever
7. Functions of a Noun Clause
• 1. As subject of a verb.
• Example: The work that I do is my wish.
• 2. As object of a verb.
• Example: I suggested that we can go for a picnic.
• A noun clause can function as either the subject of the verb or
the object of a verb.
8. More Examples of Noun Clause
He does not know where the box is (noun clause).
They felt bad that they had been deceived.
He gave the leaflet to whoever attended the meeting.
He sold his bicycle for what he had originally paid.
9. Adjective Clause
• An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that does
the work of an adjective in a sentence.
• The gift that you gave me is very expensive.
• An Adjective clause modifies a noun or a pronoun in
a sentence and is placed nearest to the word that it
qualifies.
10. Identifying an Adjective Clause
• Example: Rekha carried a box that was too heavy for her.
• In this sentence, the second clause qualifies or describes the noun box in the
first clause.
• Therefore, the second clause is an adjective clause.
• An adjective clause is a clause that does the work of an adjective in a
sentence.
11. Identifying an Adjective Clause
• An adjective clause is introduced by a relative pronoun- who,
whom, whose, which, that.
• Example: The girl who won the beauty pageant is here.
• An adjective clause can also be introduced by a relative adverb-
when, where, why, how
• Example: This is the school where I studied.
12. Example
He is the boy who stole my pen.
I took the juice that Meera offered.
We stay in the house that is haunted.
He is the person who wanted to meet you.
13.
14. Adverb Clause
• The subordinate clause that tell us something more about the verb in the
principal clause, and does the work of an adverb, is called an adverb
clause.
• Example: Maya will play when her homework is done.
• In this sentence, the second clause acts as an adverb that qualifies the
verb will play in the first clause.
An adverb clause can modify a verb, an adjective or an adverb in
principal clause.