1. Adjective clauses
Function & Identity

2. What is a clause?
A clause is a group of words with two distinguishing characteristics:
the group functions as one unit;
the group has its own subject-verb combination.

3. What is an independent clause?
An independent clause (IND) is a group of words with three distinguishing characteristics:
the group functions as one unit;
the group has its own subject-verb combination;
the group usually can function on its own as a grammatically complete sentence.

4. What is a dependent clause?
A dependent clause (DEP) is a group of words with four distinguishing characteristics:
the group functions as one unit;
the group has its own subject-verb combination;
the group has a subordinator;
the group cannot function on its own as a grammatically complete sentence.

5. Clause combination Every sentence has a clause combination.
Every clause combination has three components:
The number of independent clauses (IND)
A plus sign (“+”)
The number of dependent clauses
Clause combination = IND + DEP
Clause combination reveals sentence type.

6. Kinds of dependent clauses
There are three kinds of dependent clauses in English.
adjective clauses (ADJ)
adverbial clauses (ADV)
noun clauses (Noun)
How might one determine identity of a dependent clause?

7. Dependent clause identity
Every dependent clause has a function.
Meaning reveals dependent clause function.
First comprehend and then analyze.
Dependent clause function reveals dependent clause identity.

8. Four examples
Mr. Hogan was a career prosecutor who handled the major cases in Strattenburg. (Grisham, 2010, p. 58)
The divorce was no surprise to anyone who knew the Finnemores. (Grisham, 2010, p. 7)
She’ll have a machine that is called a stenograph. (Grisham, 2010, p. 22)
Is there any way I can talk to him tonight? (Grisham, 2010, p. 235)

9. (1) Clause combination?
Example: Mr. Hogan was a career prosecutor who handled the major cases in Strattenburg. (Grisham, 2010, p. 58)
Clause combination?
Sentence type?

10. (1) Clause combination

11. (1) IND components?
Example: Mr. Hogan was a career prosecutor who handled the major cases in Strattenburg. (Grisham, 2010, p. 58)
Independent clause?
Subject-verb combination?

12. (1) IND s-v combination

13. (1) DEP components?
Example: Mr. Hogan was a career prosecutor who handled the major cases in Strattenburg. (Grisham, 2010, p. 58)
Dependent clause?
Subject-verb combination?
Dependent clause function?
Dependent clause identity?
Subordinator?

14. (1) DEP s-v combination

15. (1) From here…
Mr. Hogan was a career prosecutor who handled the major cases in Strattenburg. (Grisham, 2010, p. 58)

16. (1) …to here

17. Four examples
Mr. Hogan was a career prosecutor who handled the major cases in Strattenburg. (Grisham, 2010, p. 58)
The divorce was no surprise to anyone who knew the Finnemores. (Grisham, 2010, p. 7)
She’ll have a machine that is called a stenograph. (Grisham, 2010, p. 22)
Is there any way I can talk to him tonight? (Grisham, 2010, p. 235)

18. (2) Clause combination?
Example: The divorce was no surprise to anyone who knew the Finnemores. (Grisham, 2010, p. 7)
Clause combination?
Sentence type?

19. (2) Clause combination

20. (2) IND components?
Example: The divorce was no surprise to anyone who knew the Finnemores. (Grisham, 2010, p. 7)
Independent clauses?
Subject-verb combinations?

21. (2) IND s-v combination

22. (2) DEP components?
Example: The divorce was no surprise to anyone who knew the Finnemores. (Grisham, 2010, p. 7)
Dependent clause?
Subject-verb combination?
Dependent clause function?
Dependent clause identity?
Subordinator?

23. (2) DEP s-v combination

24. (2) From here…
The divorce was no surprise to anyone who knew the Finnemores. (Grisham, 2010, p. 7)

25. (2) …to here

26. Four examples
Mr. Hogan was a career prosecutor who handled the major cases in Strattenburg. (Grisham, 2010, p. 58)
The divorce was no surprise to anyone who knew the Finnemores. (Grisham, 2010, p. 7)
She’ll have a machine that is called a stenograph. (Grisham, 2010, p. 22)
Is there any way I can talk to him tonight? (Grisham, 2010, p. 235)

27. (3) Clause combination?
Example: She’ll have a machine that is called a stenograph. (Grisham, 2010, p. 22)
Clause combination?
Sentence type?

28. (3) Clause combination

29. (3) IND components?
Example: She’ll have a machine that is called a stenograph. (Grisham, 2010, p. 22)
Independent clause?
Subject-verb combination?

30. (3) IND s-v combination

31. (3) DEP components?
Example: She’ll have a machine that is called a stenograph. (Grisham, 2010, p. 22)
Dependent clause?
Subject-verb combination?
Dependent clause function?
Dependent clause identity?
Subordinator?

32. (3) DEP s-v combination

33. (3) From here…
She’ll have a machine that is called a stenograph. (Grisham, 2010, p. 22)

34. (3) …to here

35. Four examples
Mr. Hogan was a career prosecutor who handled the major cases in Strattenburg. (Grisham, 2010, p. 58)
The divorce was no surprise to anyone who knew the Finnemores. (Grisham, 2010, p. 7)
She’ll have a machine that is called a stenograph. (Grisham, 2010, p. 22)
Is there any way I can talk to him tonight? (Grisham, 2010, p. 235)

36. (4) Clause combination?
Example: Is there any way I can talk to him tonight? (Grisham, 2010, p. 235)
Clause combination?
Sentence type?

37. (4) Clause combination

38. (4) IND components?
Example: Is there any way I can talk to him tonight? (Grisham, 2010, p. 235)
Clause combination?
Sentence type?

39. (4) IND s-v combination

40. (4) DEP components?
Example: Is there any way I can talk to him tonight? (Grisham, 2010, p. 235)
Dependent clause?
Subject-verb combination?
Dependent clause function?
Dependent clause identity?
Subordinator?

41. (4) DEP s-v combination

42. Is there any way I can talk to him tonight? (Grisham, 2010, p. 235)
(4) From here…
Is there any way I can talk to him tonight? (Grisham, 2010, p. 235)

43. (4) …to here

44. End of Part I
This concludes the first part of this presentation. Proceed to Part II and continue.