CLAUSES –> group of related words that contain a subject and predicate
Types of Clauses (TWO)
- Independent clause (main clause) –> can stand alone (simple sentence)
- Dependent clause –> cannot stand alone as a sentence, must be joined to an independent clause
- Subordinate (adverb) clause
- begins with subordinate conjunction
- usually answer question about independent clause
- modify verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and entire independent clauses e.g. He arrived at the station after the train had left.
- Adjective clause (relative clause)
- begins with relative pronoun (who, which, that) or relative adverb (when, where)
- modifies noun or pronoun (that it follows) (e.g. This is the house that Jack built).
- Notes:
- Use who, whom, whoever, whomever, when antecedent is person (or animal with name)
- Use which or that when antecedent is thing or animal
- either which or that can be used to begin a restrictive clause (although using which is becoming less acceptable)
- sometimes that may be omitted (implied), clause is then called an elliptical clause e.g. The shoes she bought were red.
- use which to begin nonrestrictive clause
- Noun clause
- begins with same words as adjective clause, plus when, where, whether, why, & how
- function as nouns (e.g. What she says is not always true).
- Elliptical clause
- when the beginning word is merely implied can be either noun or adjective clause
- Note: be careful since meaning may be not clear or sentence may be more difficult to understand:
- e.g. I know Dale Smythe, who won a car in a raffle, is selling it.
- e.g. I know that Dale Smythe, who won a car in a raffle, is selling it.
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