CLAUSES

GRAMMAR FOR UNIT ONE

Building Clauses

A clause is a collection of grammatically-related words including a predicate and a subject

(though sometimes is the subject is implied). A collection of grammatically-related words
without a subject or without a predicate is called a phrase.

Clauses are the building blocks of sentences: every sentence consists of one or more
clauses. This chapter will help you to recognize and (more importantly) to use different
types of clauses in your own writing.

Recognizing Clauses

Consider these examples:

Clause
Cows eat grass

This example is a clause, because it contains the subject "cows" and the predicate "eat
grass."

Phrase
Cows eating grass

What about "cows eating grass"? This noun phrase could be a subject, but it has no
predicate attached to it: the adjective phrase "eating grass" show which cows the writer is
referring to, but there is nothing here to show why the writer is mentioning cows in the first
place.

Clause
Cows eating grass are visible from the highway

This is a complete clause again. The subject "cows eating grass" and the predicate "are
visible from the highway" make up a complete thought.

Clause
Run!

This single-word command is also a clause, even though aun cuando it does seem to
have a subject. With a direct command, it is not necessary to include the subject, since it is
obviously the person or people you are talking to: in other words, the clause really reads
"[You] run!". You should not usually use direct commands in your essays, except in
quotations.

Review: Identifying Clauses

Some of the following passages are clauses, with a predicate (and usually, a subject),
while others are simply phrases. See if you can spot the clauses. Remember: a phrase
will not have a subject and a predicate of its own.

1. I love to eat Montréal bagels

1. clause
2. phrase

2. the big, bad wolf

1. clause
2. phrase

3. rode the bus to Halifax

1. clause
2. phrase

4. they were thinking about the language issue

1. clause
2. phrase

5. the student considering everything written on this subject

1. clause
2. phrase

6. stay on the Trans-Canada highway through British Columbia

1. clause
2. phrase

7. after the morning rush hour

1. clause
2. phrase
 8. they hate politics
1. clause
2. phrase

9. because of the coat which I bought in the West Edmonton Mall

1. clause
2. phrase

10. when the train arrived at the station

1. clause
2. phrase

Using Clauses as Nouns, Adjectives, and Adverbs

If a clause can stand alone as a sentence, it is an independent clause, as in the following

example:

Independent

The Prime Minister is in Ottawa

Some clauses, however, cannot stand alone as sentences: in this case, they are
dependent clauses or subordinate clauses. Consider the same clause with the
subordinating conjunction "because" added to the beginning:

Dependent

When the Prime Minister is in Ottawa

In this case, the clause could not be a sentence by itself, since the conjunction "because"
suggests that the clause is providing an explanation for something else. Since this
dependent clause answers the question "when," just like an adverb, it is called a
dependent adverb clause (or simply an adverb clause, since adverb clauses are always
dependent clauses). Note how the clause can replace the adverb "tomorrow" in the
following examples:

Adverb

The committee will meet tomorrow.

Adverb clause

The committee will meet when the Prime Minister is in Ottawa.

Dependent clauses can stand not only for adverbs, but also for nouns and for adjectives.

Noun Clauses

A noun clause is an entire 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?". Consider the following
examples:

Noun

I know Latin.

Noun clause

I know that Latin is no longer spoken as a native language.

In the first example, the noun "Latin" acts as the direct object of the verb "know." In the
second example, the entire clause "that Latin ..." is the direct object.

In fact, many noun clauses are indirect questions:

Noun

Their destination is unknown.

Noun clause

Where they are going is unknown.

The question "Where are they going?," with a slight change in word order, becomes a
noun clause when used as part of a larger unit -- like the noun "destination," the clause is
the subject of the verb "is."

Here are some more examples of noun clauses:

About what you bought at the mall

This noun clause is the object of the preposition "about," and answers the question "about
what?"

Whoever broke the vase will have to pay for it.

This noun clause is the subject of the verb "will have to pay," and answers the question
"who will have to pay?"

The Toronto fans hope that the Blue Jays will win again.
This noun clause is the object of the verb "hope," and answers the question "what do the
fans hope?"

Adjective Clauses

An adjective clause is a dependent clause which takes the place of an adjective in

another clause or phrase. Like an adjective, an adjective clause modifies a noun or
pronoun, answering questions like "which?" or "what kind of?" Consider the following
examples:

Adjective

The red coat

Adjective clause

The coat which I bought yesterday

Like the word "red" in the first example, the dependent clause "which I bought yesterday"
in the second example modifies the noun "coat." Note that an adjective clause usually
comes after what it modifies, while an adjective usually comes before.

In formal writing, an adjective clause begins with the relative pronouns "who(m)," "that," or
"which." In informal writing or speech, you may leave out the relative pronoun when it is
not the subject of the adjective clause, but you should usually include the relative pronoun
in formal, academic writing:

Informal

The books people read were mainly religious.

Formal

The books that people read were mainly religious.

Informal

Some firefighters never meet the people they save.

Formal

Some firefighters never meet the people whom they save.

Here are some more examples of adjective clauses:

The meat which they ate was tainted

This clause modifies the noun "meat" and answers the question "which meat?".

About the movie which made him cry

This clause modifies the noun "movie" and answers the question "which movie?".

They are searching for the one who borrowed the book

The clause modifies the pronoun "one" and answers the question "which one?".

Did I tell you about the author whom I met?

The clause modifies the noun "author" and answers the question "which author?".

Adverb Clauses

An adverb clause is a dependent clause which takes the place of an adverb in another
clause or phrase. An adverb clause answers questions such as "when?", "where?",
"why?", "with what goal/result?", and "under what conditions?".

Note how an adverb clause can replace an adverb in the following example:

Adverb

The premier gave a speech here.

Adverb clause

The premier gave a speech where the workers were striking.

Usually, a subordinating conjunction like "because," "when(ever)," "where(ever)," "since,"

"after," and "so that," will introduce an adverb clause. Note that a dependent adverb clause
can never stand alone as a complete sentence:

Independent clause

They left the locker room

Dependent adverb clause

After they left the locker room

The first example can easily stand alone as a sentence, but the second cannot -- the
reader will ask what happened "after they left the locker room". Here are some more
examples of adverb clauses expressing the relationships of cause, effect, space, time, and
condition:

Cause

Hamlet wanted to kill his uncle because the uncle had murdered Hamlet's
father.

The adverb clause answers the question "why?".

Effect

Hamlet wanted to kill his uncle so that his father's murder would be avenged.

The adverb clause answers the question "with what goal/result?".

Time

After Hamlet's uncle Claudius married Hamlet's mother, Hamlet wanted to kill
him.

The adverb clause answers the question "when?". Note the change in word order -- an
adverb clause can often appear either before or after the main part of the sentence.

Place

Where the whole Danish court was assembled, Hamlet ordered a play in an
attempt to prove his uncle's guilt.

The adverb clause answers the question "where?".

Condition

If the British co-operate, the Europeans may achieve monetary union.

The adverb clause answers the question "under what conditions?"

Review: Noun, Adjective, and Adverb Clauses

See if you can determine the function of the highlighted dependent clause in each of the
following passages. Remember that a noun clause answers questions like "who(m)?" or
"what?"; an adjective clause answers questions like "which (one)?"; and an adverb clause
answers questions like "when?", "where?", "why?", "with what goal/result?", and "under
what conditions?".

1. Some people buy expensive cars simply because they can.

1. noun clause
2. adjective clause
3. adverb clause

2. Many people hope that Canada can resolve its economic problems.
1. noun clause
 2. adjective clause
3. adverb clause

3. The bankers need to know what they should do.

1. noun clause
2. adjective clause
3. adverb clause

4. Which one is the person who stole your car?

1. noun clause
2. adjective clause
3. adverb clause

5. Wherever there is a large American city, there will be poverty.

1. noun clause
2. adjective clause
3. adverb clause

6. The books which the professor assigned were very expensive.

1. noun clause
2. adjective clause
3. adverb clause

7. Canada might give up its marketing boards if the European Community gives up
its grain subsidies.
1. noun clause
2. adjective clause
3. adverb clause

8. That is the place where Wolfe's and Montcalm's armies fought.

1. noun clause
2. adjective clause
3. adverb clause
 9. Unless the crown can make a better case, the accused murderer will not be
convicted.
1. noun clause
2. adjective clause
3. adverb clause

10. It is important to ask whether the wedding is formal or semi-formal.

1. noun clause
2. adjective clause
3. adverb clause

The above information will help you to do unit one, and also to have a permanent
consulting material for your future courses.

Cordially

Hidalgo May García

Tutor