3. Clause:
● A group of words with both a subject and
a verb
● CLAUSE: I wrote a letter after dinner was
finished.
● dinner is the subject; was finished is the verb
● PHRASE: I wrote a letter after dinner.
● dinner is the object of the preposition after
4. Phrase or Clause?
● that he knew to be true
● about four o’clock
● since Tom is gone
● could have been working
● beyond the horizon
● listening to the concert
● unless you agree
5. There are two kinds of clauses
● Independent (main
clause)
● Expresses a
complete thought
● Stands alone
● Called a clause
when working with
another clause in a
sentence
● Subordinate
(dependent) clause
● Does not express a
complete thought
● Cannot stand alone
● Must work with an
independent clause
to form a sentence
7. What is an
independent clause?
� An independent clause can stand alone
EXAMPLES
� I was late to school.
� She ran fast.
� He wants to travel the world.
� An independent clause is a
complete thought
� If you put a period after it, it is a
sentence
8. What is a dependent
clause?
� An dependent clause cannot stand alone
EXAMPLES
� If you want to go swimming
� Because they watched TV
� Since she started school
� Must depend on an independent
clause
� Often begins with a subordinating
conjunction
9. Subordinating
conjunctions
A W H I T E B U S
althou
gh
as
after
when
where
wheth
er
which
whene
ver
how
howev
er
if
in
case
in
order
thoug
h
than
that
even
even if
becau
se
before
until
unless
since
so
10. So, what’s the rule?
� If you see a SUBORDINATING
CONJUNCTION, the sentence
contains a DEPENDENT CLAUSE.
� If the sentence STARTS with a
subordinating conjunction, check to
see if the sentence contains a
COMPLETE THOUGHT.
11. Let’s try it!
The student forgot their homework,
although it was completed.
13. Let’s try it!
Since it was the last week of
summer,
Emma went on vacation, Heather
read a book, and Ms. S got ready
for school.
14. Let’s try it!
Although my friends walked to the
park,
we decided to ride scooters back
home because it was a very hot day.
15. A Little Practice: Underline the
dependent clause
1. Graphology, which is the study of handwriting, has
existed for many years.
2. Many people think that handwriting can reveal
personality traits.
3. Because some businesses accept this theory, they
analyze job applicants’ handwriting.
4. When you apply for a job, watch your handwriting.
5. You can always go back to your old ways after you
have been hired.
6. If your writing slants to the right, you are probably
friendly and open.
16. Check yourself:
1. Graphology, which is the study of handwriting, has
existed for many years.
2. Many people think that handwriting can reveal
personality traits.
3. Because some businesses accept this theory, they
analyze job applicants’ handwriting.
4. When you apply for a job, watch your handwriting.
5. You can always go back to your old ways after you
have been hired.
6. If your writing slants to the right, you are probably
friendly and open.
17. Just a few more:
7. If your writing slants to the left, you might very well be
a nonconformist.
8. Writing uphill indicates an optimist, and writing down
hill suggest a reliable person.
9. Capital letters that are inserted in the middle of a word
reveal a creative person.
10. An i dotted with a circle shows an artistic nature, and
a correctly dotted i indicates a careful person.
11. When an i is dotted high above the letter, the writer is
thought to be a serious thinker.
12. None of this should be taken too seriously, however,
since graphology is not a technical science.
18. Check yourself . . .
7. If your writing slants to the left, you might very well be
a nonconformist.
8. Writing uphill indicates an optimist, and writing down
hill suggests a reliable person.
9. Capital letters that are inserted in the middle of a word
reveal a creative person.
10. An i dotted with a circle shows an artistic nature, and
a correctly dotted i indicates a careful person.
11. When an i is dotted high above the letter, the writer is
thought to be a serious thinker.
12. None of this should be taken too seriously, however,
since graphology is not a technical science.
19. Please note:
8. Writing uphill indicates an optimist, and writing down
hill suggests a reliable person.
LOOK! A compound sentence – both clauses
could stand alone.
10. An i dotted with a circle shows an artistic nature, and
a correctly dotted i indicates a careful person.
LOOK! Another compound sentence – both
clauses could stand alone.
21. Uses of Subordinate Clauses
● A subordinate clause can be
used in several ways. It can be
used as an adverb, an
adjective, or a noun.
22. Adverb Clauses
● A subordinate clause can be used
as an adverb.
● Therefore, it answers such
questions as:
● When?
● Where?
● How much?
● To what extent?
● Under what conditions?
● Why?
23. Adverb clauses:
● Below: Adverbs modifying verbs.
● Single adverb Leroy awoke early.
● Adverb phrase Leroy awoke at dawn.
● Adverb clause Leroy awoke when the
sun rose.
24. Adverbs clauses modifying
adjectives and other adverbs:
● Lynn is happy whenever she is riding a
horse. (modifying an adjective)
● The play began later than it usually
does. (modifying an adverb)
25. All subordinate clauses begin with:
● SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
● Words like: after, although, because, if,
even though, since, so that, unless, until.
When, where, and while.
26. Finding Adverb Clauses:
● Unless I set the alarm, I will sleep until
nine o’clock and be late for school.
● As Mother drove, Father studied the road
map.
● We can attend the meeting even though
we aren’t members.
● I will exercise as long as you do.
27. PUNCTUATION
● COMMAS:
● After an adverb
clause at the start
of a sentence
● Around an adverb
clause which
interrupts an
independent clause
● No COMMAS:
● When an adverb
clause follows the
independent
clause.
28. Punctuation examples:
● Since you have finished your chores, you
may leave. (the comma comes after an adverb
clause that comes at the beginning of a sentence.)
● The schedule, as far as I can tell, is
excellent. ( the comma is placed before and after
the adverb clause if it interrupts an independent
clause.
30. Adjective Clauses:
● A subordinate clause that is used like an
adjective or adjective phrase.
● Single Adjective My uncle has an antique
chair.
● Adjective Phrase My uncle has a chair with a
long history.
● Adjective Clause My uncle has a chair that
was built in the 1600s.
31. An Adjective Clause:
● A subordinate clause that is used like an
adjective to modify a noun or pronoun.
● An adjective clause answers the adjective
questions Which one? Or What kind?
● I know the actor who has the lead role.
● Which one?
● The only store that sold cordless phones just
went out of business.
● What kind?
32. Relative Pronouns
● Most adjective clauses begin with a
relative pronoun.
● A relative pronoun relates an adjective
clause to its antecedent—the noun or
pronoun it modifies.
Relative Pronouns:
who whom whose
which that
33. Examples:
● Yvonne is the person whom I met
yesterday.
● The casserole that I made for dinner
was very tasty.
Note: Sometimes a word such as where or
when can also introduce an adjective clause.
--Rhode Island is a place where I was born.
--Morning is the time when I most enjoy
jogging.
34. Let’s find adjective clauses! (Write the
adjective clause in each sentence and then underline the relative
pronoun)
● The crocus, which usually flowers in early spring, is a
native of Europe and Asia.
● Cleopatra, who is perhaps the most famous Egyptian
queen, was actually of Greek ancestry.
● The Carters, whose dog I walk, will be away for three
weeks.
● Lions that are raised in captivity are surprisingly tame.
● Are you wearing the raincoat you bought last week at
the mall?
● The longest tunnel through which we drove was about
a mile long.
35. Check Yourself:
● The crocus, which usually flowers in early spring, is
a native of Europe and Asia.
● Cleopatra, who is perhaps the most famous
Egyptian queen, was actually of Greek ancestry.
● The Carters, whose dog I walk, will be away for three
weeks.
● Lions that are raised in captivity are surprisingly
tame.
● Are you wearing the raincoat you bought last week
at the mall? (understood that)
● The longest tunnel through which we drove was
about a mile long.
36. Remember . . .
● Keep in mind that the words who, whom,
whose, which, and that may also begin
an adjective clause. For this reason, do
not rely on the introductory words
themselves to identify a clause. Instead,
determine how a clause is used in a
sentence.
