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CLAUSES
A CLAUSE is a string of words that
contains a subject and a verb.
There are two kinds of clauses
--- INDEPENDENT
CLAUSES and DEPENDENT
CLAUSES:
1 INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
A
clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb.
Every sentence contains at least one clause.
A simple sentence is a clause that can stand alone --- an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.
All of the sentences below are also independent clauses.
Mr. Smith arrived
at the airport early this morning.
We must find
a new strategy.
I play
basketball.
Some sentences contain two or
more independent
clauses.
For example:
Mr. Smith arrived
early this morning, but I
didn’t meet him.
We must find a new strategy,
or we
will lose our advantage.
I play basketball, George
plays baseball, and Fred plays
tennis.
2
DEPENDENT CLAUSES
A
DEPENDENT CLAUSE functions not as a
sentence but as a part of speech
(a noun or an adjective or an adverb).
Therefore, it cannot stand alone as a sentence.
It is attached to some part of an INDEPENDENT clause.
As you can see from the diagram above, there are three types of
dependent clause.
Let us examine more closely each one.
2.1 TIME
CLAUSES
TIME
CLAUSES act as adverbs and tell us when something
happens.
They usually begin with words like
when
before
after
as
soon as
until
2.1.1 PAST TIME CLAUSES
Clauses that refer to past time are formed with
the verb in the PAST tense:
When I finished my
lunch, we played golf.
After we played golf, we went
to a party.
As soon as we arrived at the party, they put the steaks on.
Before we ate our steaks, we
sat around and talked.
Until the party ended, there
was plenty of good wine.
2.1.2 FUTURE
TIME CLAUSES
Clauses that refer to future time are formed with
the verb in the PRESENT tense:
When I finish my lunch,
we will play golf.
After we play golf, we are
going to go to a party.
As soon as we arrive at the party,
they will put the steaks on.
Before we eat our steaks, we
will sit around and talk.
Until the party ends, there
will be plenty of good wine.
Time Clauses can come either before the main clause or
after the main clause:
After we play golf,
we will go to a party.
We will go to a party after we play
golf.
2.2
ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
Adjective
Clauses give information about nouns (people, things, places, etc.).
They appear after the noun they describe.
Adjective Clauses are also called RELATIVE CLAUSES.
I never met the man
who took my old job.
("who" as the SUBJECT of the clause)
I never met the man that
took my old job.
("that" as the SUBJECT of the clause)
["Who" or "that" refer to
people.]
It was a job which
required a lot of creativity.
("which" as the SUBJECT of the clause)
It was a job that
required a lot of creativity.
("that" as the SUBJECT of the clause)
["Which" or "that" refer to things.]
She is a person
whom I
respect a great deal.
("whom" as the OBJECT of the clause)
She is a person that I
respect a great deal.
("that" as the OBJECT of the clause)
She is a person I respect
a great deal.
[If "whom" or "that" is the
OBJECT of the clause, it may be left out completely.]
This is a place which I know
intimately.
("which" as the OBJECT of the clause)
This is a place that I
know intimately.
("that" as the OBJECT of clause)
This is a place I know
intimately.
[If "which" or "that" is
the OBJECT of the clause, it may be left out completely.]
I am the person
whose car you
damaged.
I own the car whose door
you smashed in.
["Whose" can refer to a person or to a thing.]
Adjective Clauses are not set off by
commas if the
information is necessary in order to identify the person or thing.
The person who
is sitting on my right is left-handed.
(not the person
who is sitting on my left)
The gentleman who dropped his wallet will come back for it.
(not the gentleman who found it)
My brother who lives in Alaska
works as a trapper and hunter.
(not
my other brother who lives in Utah)
Adjective Clauses are
set off
by commas if the
information is not necessary to identify the person or thing.
John , who is sitting
on my right , is left-handed.
(We know who John is.)
The governor , who spoke at our
banquet , will speak again next year.
(We know who the governor is.)
My brother , who lives in Alaska ,
works as a trapper and hunter.
(I have only one brother.)
2.3 NOUN
CLAUSES
NOUN CLAUSES
act as simple nouns and identify persons, places, things, etc.
They are introduced by words such as:
how
if
that
what
when
where
whether
which
who
whom
whomever
whose
why
2.3.1 A NOUN CLAUSE AS THE SUBJECT OF A
SENTENCE:
What he had to say to
us was incredible.
Where we slept is not worth
mentioning.
Whether we will dominate the market
is open to question.
That sales have gone up is good news
indeed.
Who gets the credit for a good idea
should not be important.
Why she said that is a mystery to
me.
2.3.2 A NOUN CLAUSE AS THE OBJECT OF A
SENTENCE:
I will never
understand how we arrived on time.
I don't know when he resigned.
I'd like to see if he can manage it.
I will hire whomever I like.
I don't know which one is best.
Tell me whose car you are driving.
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