On clauses

A clause is like a phrase, except that it has a subject and a verb. There are two kinds of clauses: independent clauses and dependent clauses (also known as subordinating clauses). Independent clauses can stand alone as a sentence, dependent clauses cannot.

Mis_nomer ate a sour plum, and she made a funny face.

"Mis_nomer ate a sour plum" is an independent clause because it can stand alone as a sentence. So is "she made a funny face". (and is a co-ordinating conjunction.)

A dependent clause has a verb and subject, but it cannot stand alone as a sentence. It has to be attached to some other part of the sentence.

I had just alphabetized the cards when they fell on the floor and scattered everywhere.

when they fell to the floor and scattered everywhere is a dependent clause. It is dependent (or subordinate) to the independent clause in the sentence.

There are three types of dependent clauses.

An adjective clause is a dependent clause that acts as an adjective. It is sometimes known as a relative clause because it uses relative pronouns (who, whose, whom, which, that).

That man, whom I went to school with, walked right past me.

The Harry Potter book that I want has just been released.

whom I went to school with modifies "that man"; that I want modifies the "Harry Potter book".

An adverb clause is a dependent clause that acts as an adverb. An adverb clause is used with a subordinating conjunction (after, although, because, once, until, while, whenever).

Whenever Eric comes to visit this blog, he leaves a thoughtful comment.

Whenever Eric comes to visit this blog modifies "leaves a thoughtful comment" (verb).

A noun clause is a dependent clause that acts as a noun. It can be the subject, predicate nominative, appositive, object of a verb, or object of a preposition.

What Billy did shocked his friends. (subject)

Billy’s friends didn’t know that he couldn’t swim. (object of a verb)

Billy’s mistake was that he refused to take lessons. (predicate nominative)

Mary is not responsible for what Billy did. (object of a preposition)

Everybody is sad that Billy drowned. (predicate adjective)

Suitably confused? Me too. But take a deep breath, there's just a little more.



Clauses can be divided a different way. A restrictive clause is essential to the basic meaning of the sentence; a nonrestrictive clause can be eliminated from the sentence without changing its meaning.

The car that I was driving was stolen
The car, which was stolen last Saturday, has been found.

In the first sentence, that I was driving is essential to the meaning of the sentence; hence, it is a restrictive clause. In the second sentence, which was stolen last Saturday is extra information; hence, it is a nonrestrictive clause.

Use that to introduce restrictive clauses and which to introduce nonrestrictive clauses.

Alright. We're finally done.

[Get the book.]