THE CLAUSE English 7CP Mr. Snow

Intro… You already learned that a phrase was a group of words that did NOT contain both a subject and a verb and was used as a single part of speech.

THE CLAUSE: Overview A. A clause is a word group that contains a subject and a verb and is used as a sentence or part of a sentence. All clauses must have a subject and a verb, but not all clauses express complete thoughts. I liked the play. [complete] Because the music was loud [incomplete] which was blue [incomplete]

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE B. An independent clause contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause can stand all by itself as a sentence. My mother drove me to school. [contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought] My mother drove me to school, but my brother took the bus. [two independent clauses, both with a subject and verb, both expressing a complete thought]

THE PREFIX IN- The Latin prefix in- means not. Thus, an independent clause is NOT dependent on anything else—it stands alone. Can you think of some examples of other words that use in-?

SUBORDINATE CLAUSE C. A subordinate clause contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A subordinate clause all by itself is a sentence fragment. If the dress is too long. […what if it’s too long? It has a subject and verb but is incomplete by itself—it’s a subordinate clause] If the dress is too long, we will hem it. [now it has been joined with an independent clause to form a complete thought.]

SUBORDINATE CLAUSE That the veterinarian recommended. [what did he recommend, and what about it? This, too, has a subject and verb but is incomplete] The food that the veterinarian recommended is good for our dog. [now it’s complete] Subordinate clauses may appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, but not by themselves.

THE PREFIX SUB- The prefix sub- means beneath or under. Subordinate comes from two Latin words: sub- (under) + ordinare (to order). So a subordinate clause is so called because it is lower in order. It is dependent on other words in order to stand alone.

TYPES OF SUBORDINATE CLAUSES There are two kinds of subordinate clauses: Adjective clauses Adverb clauses Remember, these are both kinds of subordinate clauses, so they both have a subject and a verb.

ADJECTIVE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE Adjective subordinate clauses are introduced by relative pronouns: THAT, WHICH, WHO, WHOM, WHOSE who founded the first women’s college that I can ride over rough ground which has blue petals whose books are overdue whom we have invited to dinner

ADVERB SUBORDINATE CLAUSE Adverb subordinate clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions. Some common ones: after, although, as, as if, as long as, as much as, as soon as, as though, because, before, how, if, in order to, since, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while because he was late although the pizza tasted good if I get into this college while the rain was pouring down

QUIZ TIME! Identify the subordinate clause in the following sentences: I don’t know who stole your jacket. If I can, I am going to hit a homerun. The recipe that the cook recommended was a total disaster! The dog sniffed the tree since he was unfamiliar with it. The news, which was shocking, made everyone very nervous. Although he’s a close friend of Susan’s, Pedro can make her really mad.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun. Remember, an adjective modifies a noun or pronoun. The yellow house… An adjective clause is just a bunch of words that work like one big adjective. The house, which is yellow…

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE The flower, which has blue petals, smells good! [which is the subject; has is the verb] I want a bicycle that I can ride over rough ground. [that is the subject; can ride is the verb] Emma Willard was the one who founded the first women’s college in the U.S. [who is the subject; founded is the verb] All those whose books are overdue need to return them. [books is the subject; are is the verb]

ADVERB CLAUSE An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb. Remember, an adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. He ran quickly. She is very tall. It walked extremely slowly An adverb clause is just a bunch of words that work like one big adverb.

ADVERB CLAUSE Because he was brave, Ben fought back. [he is the subject; was is the verb] After I finish this, I will call you. [I is the subject; finish is the verb] We paint wherever we find inspiration. [we is the subject; find is the verb] Jennifer paints better than Victor does. [Victor is the subject; does is the verb] I will paint until Mom arrives home; then I will clean up. [Mom is the subject; arrives is the verb]

FIN