Understanding Clauses: Adjective Clauses

• A clause contains a verb and its subject and is used as part of a sentence.

• An independent (or main) clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

• For example, "Korea celebrates its Memorial Day in June."

• A subordinate (or dependent) clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.

• For example, "who was considered a hero" in "The day is named for Micajah Autry, who was considered a hero."

• Another example, "Where you go, I go."

Adjective Clause

• An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun.
• Usually, adjective clauses begin with a relative pronoun, such as who, whom, whose, which, or that.
• Relative pronouns relate the clause to the word it modifies.
• For example, "who has been called the Queen of Salsa" modifies "Celia Cruz" in the sentence "Celia Cruz, who has been called the Queen of Salsa, began singing in the 1940s."
• Adjective clauses may begin with a relative adverb like when or where.
• For example, "where I catch the bus" modifies "First Avenue" in "I live near First Avenue, where I catch the bus."

Noun Clause

• A noun clause is a subordinate clause used as a noun.
• Noun clauses can function as a subject, predicate nominative, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition.
• Used as Subject: Whoever wants to come with us is welcome.
• Used as Predicate Nominative: Dinner time will be whenever you arrive.
• Used as Direct Object: I understand how that works.
• Used as Indirect Object: Ying Par will give whoever asks some help.
• Used as Object of a Preposition: Sam told his story to whoever would listen.
• Noun clauses are usually introduced by words like that, what, when, where, whether, who, whoever, whom, whomever, whose, and why.

Adverb Clause

• An adverb clause is a subordinate clause which modifies a verb, an adjective, and an adverb.
• Adverb clauses indicate how, when, where, why, to what extent, or the conditions of an action.
• Typically they're introduced using subordinating conjunctions like after, although, before, if, since, so that, unless, or while.
• For example, "Wherever you travel, people will help you;" the clause modifies the verb help.
• Example 2, "This speaker sounds much better than the one we heard first;" the clause modifies the adjective better.
• Part of a clause may be left out when the meaning can be understood from the context of the sentence, this is called an elliptical clause.
• For example, "Although [she was] tired, the soldier remained at her post."

Classifying Sentences by Structure

• Sentences are classified by their structure as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
• Simple sentences have one independent clause and no subordinate clauses, and may have a compound subject or verb.
• For example, "You and Doyle may each bring a guest".
• Compound sentences have at least two independent clauses, but no subordinate clauses.
• For example, "You and Doyle leave now; your guests will follow."
• Complex sentences have one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.
• For example, "As i practiced my speech, I grew calmer."
• Compound-complex sentences have at least two independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause.
• For example, "Before class started, I grew nervous, so I practiced my speech again."

Learn about clauses, including independent and subordinate clauses. Focus on adjective clauses, which modify nouns or pronouns and often begin with relative pronouns. Examples of adjective clauses are provided.