Review on Clauses

Review on Clauses Liz Vande water cchs

What is a clause? • Any group of words having both a subject and a predicate. • Subject = performs the action or identifies an entity in a state of being. • Predicate = the verb and any words other than the subject and its modifiers. .

What are simple and complete subjects & predicates? SIMPLE SUBJECT: a noun or pronoun that serves as the subject of the sentence. COMPLETE SUBJECT: the subject and its modifying words, phrases, and clauses Example: The young girl wrote the song for her best friend. SS: girl CS: The young girl SIMPLE PREDICATE: the verb and helping verbs COMPLETE PREDICATE: the verb or verb phrase and its modifying words, phrases, and clauses. Example: The football team plays against Alter tomorrow night. SP: plays CP: plays against Alter tomorrow night.

Remind me about independent & dependent clauses…. • Independent clause, a.k.a. main clause, can stand independently as a complete sentence. • Dependent clause, a.k.a. subordinate clause, cannot stand along as a complete sentence and must be attached to a main clause with a word like although, because, that, when, which, or who. • Example of a independent clause: The students went home after the game. • Example of dependent clause: After the team won the game, the students went home.

When do I use “that” and when do I use “which”? • Use “that” for essential, or restrictive, dependent clauses. In other words, you need the dependent clause in the sentence to make sense. • Example: That dog is the one that bit my little sister. • Use “which” for nonessential, or nonrestrictive, dependent clauses. In other words, it adds additional information that is not absolutely necessary. • Example: The sonnet, which is a form of poetry, was made famous by William Shakespeare. • *Sometimes deciding whether or not a dependent clause is restrictive involves your judgment.*

Relative Clauses • Dependent clauses that start with a relative pronoun are known as relative clauses. Relative clauses can be adjective, adverb, or noun clauses. • Relative pronouns: who, whoever, whom, whomever, that, which, when, where, and whose • She is the student who won first prize in the competition. (starts with “who,” so it’s a relative clause) • WATCH OUT! Sometimes, the relative pronoun is left out of the sentence, but if the group of words has a subject and verb, it’s still a clause. • For example: The book I read was recently turned into a movie. The relative pronoun “that” has been left out of the clause (that I read) but it is still a dependent clause.

Adjective Clauses • Describe nouns or pronouns. • Remember that adjectives answer the questions “What kind?” “Which one?” “How much?” or “How many?” • Example: People who enjoy the books will like the new movie. (What kind of people?) • The dependent clause describes which kind of people will like the new movie. The book that I bought my mom is still her favorite book on the shelf. (Which book?) The dependent clause describes which book the speaker is talking about.

Noun Clauses • Name persons, places, and things (just like nouns do). • Noun clauses work the same ways that nouns work in a sentence. • In other words, noun clauses can be… • Subjects of sentences • Direct objects • Indirect objects • Objects of prepositions • Predicate nouns

Example: What I said was misinterpreted. (The dependent clause tells us the topic that was misinterpreted. The whole clause is the subject of the sentence.) • Example: The teacher explained why the students needed a notebook for class. (The dependent clause answers the question, “the teacher explained what?” Therefore, the clause is the direct object of the verb explained.) • Example: The school will give whoever holds the winning ticket a prize. ( The dependent clause names the recipient of the direct object prize. The noun clause is the indirect object. • Example: Marty will vote for whoever favors the school levy. (The dependent clause names the person will receive Marty’s vote. The noun clause is the object of the preposition for. • Example: Beth is whom the students chose. ( The dependent clause renaming the subject Beth after a linking verb (is). The clause is the predicate noun.

Adverb Clauses • Describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. • Remember that adverbs answer the questions “When?” “Where?” “How?” or “To What Extent?” • Example: My mom collects spoons wherever she travels. (The clause answers the question, “Where does mom collect spoons?” • Example: If you drive a car, you must have car insurance. (The clause answers the question, “When do you have to carry insurance?”)

DANGER! DANGER! • Don’t mistake a group of words for a dependent clause when it is actually a phrase. • EXAMPLE: We are not often taught the correct rules for how to punctuate sentences. • -the word “how” may make you think that the underlined portion is a dependent clause, but DON’T BE FOOLED! If you look closely, you will see this is an infinitive phrase (to punctuate) and not a clause at all.

Let’s practice! • On your white board, write down if the following dependent clauses are adjective, noun, or adverb.

Students who appreciate British literature are going to enjoy this novel. • Adjective

A bakery created the cake that won the contest. • Adjective

If you have chosen to enter the competition, ask the director for the application form. • Adverb

The tires I bought are supposed to be the best for driving in snow. • Adjective

Whoever raises the most money will be given an award. • Noun

The bookstore where we found the first edition is featured on the show Today. • Adjective

I understand why you made that choice. • Noun

She left the instructions for whoever is the last to leave the shop. • Noun

Wherever they went, the team was greeted with cheers and applause. • Adverb

A crowd of reporters surrounded her when she came out of the restaurant. • Adverb

He would not accept the money because he saw it as a bribe. • Adverb

Review on Clauses