“Meet the
Clauses”
Grammar Topic
Mr. McGowan – English 3
Phrases vs. Clauses
 across the river
(prepositional phrase)
 studying math (verbal
phrase)
 the vice-president of
the bank (appositive
phrase)
 to play in the NFL
(infinitive phrase)
 Rudy proofread his
essay
 when I answered the
phone
 that we collected
 as soon as we reached
the house
DEFINITIONS
 CLAUSE
– A group of words
– Contains a verb and its subject
– Used as part of a sentence
How does this differ from a PHRASE?
PHRASE: group of related words that functions as
one part of speech
Mini-quiz: Phrase or Clause?
1. riding in the car
2. when we got to the party
3. while she was talking to me
4. to say something like that
5. rodents are small mammals
Answers
1. riding in the car
–
PHRASE (Verbal)
2. when we got to the party
–
CLAUSE
3. while she was talking to me
–
CLAUSE
4. to say something like that
–
PHRASE (infinitive)
5. rodents are small mammals
–
CLAUSE
Independent vs. Subordinate
Clauses
 INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (or main clause)
– Contains a subject and its verb
– Expresses a complete thought
– CAN stand by itself as a full sentence
Ex:
Ms. Reilly doesn’t know how to teach math.
Ashley is a fun person; she loves to go out and
have fun.
 SUBORDINATE CLAUSE (or dependent)
– Has a subject and verb
– Does NOT express a complete thought
– CANNOT stand on its own as a full sentence
Ex:
what Jill named her new dog
when Jose read his essay
which is used to measure temperature
How do we make a subordinate
clause into a full sentence?
 Ex: what Jill named her new dog
Do you know what Jill named her new dog?
Answer: Add an independent clause to it
somehow.
PRACTICE EXERCISE: Using these
subordinate clauses, write a full and
complete sentence.
1. when Jose read his essay
2. which is used to measure temperature
Sample Answers
 when Jose read his essay
– When Jose read his essay, he found lots of errors.
– When Jose read his essay, he realized he needed to fix
it.
– Do you know when Jose read his essay?
 that is used to measure temperature
– A thermometer is an instrument that is used to measure
temperature.
– What is the name of that thing that is used to measure
temperature?
Independent or Subordinate?
1. Mr. Smith took the aluminum cans that we
collected to the recycling center.
2. After a hen lays an egg, it gently rolls
along the slanted floor of the cage.
3. The eggs pass through an inspection area,
where bad eggs can be removed.
4. What is truly amazing is that no human
hands ever touch the eggs.
Answers
1. Mr. Smith took the aluminum cans that we
collected to the recycling center.
– SUBORDINATE
2. After a hen lays an egg, it gently rolls along
the slanted floor of the cage.
– INDEPENDENT
3. The eggs pass through an inspection area,
where bad eggs can be removed.
– SUBORDINATE
4. What is truly amazing is that no human
hands ever touch the eggs.
– SUBORDINATE
– How could it be independent??
 Make it a question
What is truly amazing?
ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
 Subordinate clause
 Modifies a noun or pronoun
 Usually begins with a RELATIVE
PRONOUN or RELATIVE ADVERB
 WHO WHOM WHOSE WHICH
THAT
WHEN WHERE
 I have read every novel that John Irving has
written.
 I have read every novel that John Irving has
written.
 Grandma Moses, who began painting at the
age of 76, became famous for her primitive
style of art.
 Grandma Moses, who began painting at the
age of 76, became famous for her primitive
style of art.
Identify the Adjective Clause
 My uncle told me about the time when he
traveled across the country.
– when he traveled across the country.
– Modifies “time”
 From 1996-2000, Bill lived in Spain, where
he went to school.
– where he went to school
– Modifies “Spain”
 The book I am reading is a biography of John F.
Kennedy.
– I am reading
– Modifies “book” (tells which one)
– Where is the relative pronoun? (That) is understood
 We’ll never forget that summer we stayed in San
Diego.
– we stayed in San Diego.
– Modifies “summer” (tells which one)
– (When) is understood
NOUN CLAUSES
 Subordinate clause
 Used as a noun
– Subject
– Direct Object
– Indirect Object
– Object of preposition
– Predicate nominative
How do I know this is a noun clause?
 Some common intro words:
WHAT
WHICH
THAT
HOW
WHICHEVER
WHOEVER
WHATEVER
WHOMEVER
WHY
WHETHER
WHOM
WHO
 Dr. Rodriguez, a scientist, will explain what the
greenhouse effect is.
– what the greenhouse effect is.
– DIRECT OBJECT (answers the question “what?”)
 She said that she would be late.
– that she would be late.
– DIRECT OBJECT (answers the question “what?”)
 Do you know who painted The Mona Lisa?
– who painted The Mona Lisa
– Looks like it could be independent
– But not in this case: needs the first part
Mini-quiz: Identify the noun clause
1. Can you tell me what the past tense of
“swing” is?
2. I will listen carefully to whatever you say.
3. Give whoever wants one a free pass.
4. Do you know why Ricardo missed the
party?
5. A remote island was where Napoleon was
exiled.
Answers
1. Can you tell me what the past tense of “swing” is?

what the past tense of “swing” is
2. I will listen carefully to whatever you say.
–
whatever you say
3. Give whoever wants one a free pass.
–
whoever wants one
4. Do you know why Ricardo missed the
party?
– why Ricardo missed the party?
5. A remote island was where Napoleon was
exiled.
- where Napoleon was exiled.
ADVERB CLAUSES
 Subordinate clause
 Modifies verb, adjective, or another adverb
– Answers the questions:
How? When? Where? Why? To what extent?
Under what condition?
 The pitcher felt as though all eyes were on
him.
 The pitcher felt as though all eyes were on
him. (modifies verb “felt”)
– HOW did he feel?
 Alex Rodriguez made his major debut when
he was only 18.
 Alex Rodriguez made his major debut when
he was only 18. (modifies verb “made”)
– WHEN did he make his debut?
 Introduced by SUBORDINATING
CONJUNCTIONS
– Partial list:
AS LONG AS
AS WELL AS
IN ORDER THAT
BECAUSE
AS SOON AS
UNLESS
SINCE
WHILE
UNTIL
IF
AS IF
He played as if he were a kid again.
He played as if he were a kid again.
(HOW did he “play?”)
Mini-quiz: Identify the adverb clause
1. When our school has a fire drill, everyone
must go outside.
2. She walked until she was too tired to take
another step.
3. As soon as you’re ready, we’ll leave.
4. I visited the museum because I wanted to
see the exhibit.
5. You should return your gift if you are not
satisfied.
Answers
1. When our school has a fire drill, everyone must
go outside.
 When our school has a fire drill
 Modifies “must go” (WHEN?)
2. She walked until she was too tired to take another
step.
 until she was too tired to take another step.
 Modifies “walked” (TO WHAT EXTENT?)
3. As soon as you’re ready, we’ll leave.
 As soon as you’re ready
 Modifies “will leave” (WHEN?)

4. I visited the museum because I wanted to see the exhibit.
 because I wanted to see the exhibit.
 Modifies “visited” (WHY?)
5. You should return your gift if you are not satisfied.
 if you are not satisfied.
 Modifies “should return” (UNDER WHAT CONDITION?)
Sentences Classified According to
Structure
 SIMPLE
(S)
 COMPOUND
(CD)
 COMPLEX
(CX)
 COMPOUND-COMPLEX
(CC)
 SIMPLE Sentences
– 1 Independent clause
– 0 Subordinate clauses
 My uncle taught me how to play the guitar.
 The polar bear is an endangered species.
 Covered with dust, the old bike looked dirty
but worked well.
 COMPOUND Sentences
– 2 or more independent clauses
– 0 subordinate clauses
 Clauses are connected by:
– Comma + (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet)
– Semicolon
– Semicolon + Transition expression
Examples of Compound Sentences
 Leonardo’s story sounded incredible, but it
was true.
 Leonardo’s story sounded incredible, but it
was true.
 Agatha Christie was a prolific writer; she
wrote 80 books in 60 years.
 Agatha Christie was a prolific writer; she
wrote 80 books in 60 years.
 The defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo was a
victory for England; however, it brought to
an end an era of French grandeur.
 The defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo was a
victory for England; however, it brought to
an end an era of French grandeur.
Transitional Expressions to Use
HOWEVER
MEANWHILE
IN ADDITION
BY THE WAY
THEREFORE
FOR EXAMPLE
IN FACT
STILL
ON THE OTHER HAND
The discovery was made in the fall;
meanwhile, it was held secret until spring.
 COMPLEX sentences
– 1 independent clause
– 1+ subordinate clause
 Gerald Ford, who served as the U.S. President
from 1974-1977, died in 2006.
 Gerald Ford, who served as the U.S. President
from 1974-1977, died in 2006.
 While we were on vacation in Puerto Rico, we
went to the beach every day.
 While we were on vacation in Puerto Rico, we
went to the beach every day.
 COMPOUND-COMPLEX
 2+ independent clauses
 1+ subordinate clause
 The two witnesses told the police what they
saw, but their accounts were quite different.
 The two witnesses told the police what they
saw, but their accounts were quite different.
Mini-quiz: Classify these sentences
1. Charles Drew did research on blood
plasma and helped develop blood banks.
2. If the month of March comes in like a lion,
it goes out like a lamb.
3. When World War I ended in 1918, many
thought it was the last war; however, WWI
began in 1939.
4. You should leave now; therefore, your
guests should follow you, too.
Answers
1. Charles Drew did research on blood plasma and
helped develop blood banks.

SIMPLE
 Only one subject (compound verb)
2. If the month of March comes in like a lion, it goes
out like a lamb.
 COMPLEX
 If the month of March comes in like a lion, it goes
out like a lamb.
3. When World War I ended in 1918, many thought it
was the last war; however, WWI began in 1939.
 COMPOUND-COMPLEX
When World War I ended in 1918, many thought
it was the last war; however, WWI began in
1939.
4. You should leave now; therefore, your guests will
follow you, too.
 COMPOUND
 Two independents joined by transitional
expression therefore