The document explains subordinate or dependent clauses, which function as single parts of speech in sentences. It details different types of clauses, such as adjective clauses (modifying nouns/pronouns), adverb clauses (modifying verbs/adjectives/adverbs), and noun clauses (acting as nouns). It also discusses the role of relative pronouns in introducing adjective clauses and the use of subordinating conjunctions for adverb clauses.

1. Subordinate/dependent clauses

2. Subordinate/dependent clauses
Subordinate clauses, like phrases, function in sentences as single
parts of speech. A subordinate clause can be used as an
adjective, an adverb, or a noun, thus enabling us to express
ideas that are difficult or impossible to state with single-word
nouns and modifiers alone.

3. Adjective clauses
❏ An adjective clause is a subordinate clause used as an adjective to
modify a noun or pronoun.
❏ The adjective clause follows the word it modifies, and it is sometimes
set off by commas and sometimes not. Commas should be used unless the
clause answers the question - Which one? in which case no commas are
used.
In the following sentences the arrow points to the
noun or pronoun that each adjective clause modifies.

4. Relative Pronouns
Adjective clauses are
generally introduced by
relative pronouns. The
relative pronouns are who,
whom, whose, which, and that.
They are called relative
because they relate the
adjective clause to the word
that the clause modifies.

5. Relative Pronouns: Examples
● Lois, who enjoys running, has decided to
enter the marathon. [The relative
pronoun who relates the adjective clause
to Lois. Who is used as the subject of
the adjective clause.]
● Donna suggested the science project
that I exhibited at the fair. [Project,
The word that the clause modifies, is the
antecedent of the relative pronoun that.
The pronoun is used as the direct object
in the adjective clause.]

6. Adjective clauses
Occasionally an adjective clause will be
introduced by the words where or when.
Examples:
❏ They showed us the stadium where
the game would be held.
❏ Summer is the season when I feel
happiest.

7. Adverb clause
An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that is used as an
adverb to modify a verb, adjective, or adverb.
I visit the United States Capital whenever I am in
Washington, D.C.
(When do I visit? Modifies verb.)
The building is more impressive than I imagined.
(How impressive?
Modifies adjective.)

8. Adverb clauses are usually introduced by
subordinating conjunctions such as these:

9. Noun clause
A noun clause is a dependent clause which takes the place of a
noun in another clause or phrase. Like a noun, a noun clause acts
as the subject or object of a verb or the object of a
preposition, answering the questions "who(m)?" or "what?".