I can identify adjective and adverb clauses. ELA7C1b

Interesting

writing is

your ticket

to a great

future!

I can learn how to write well by studying the mechanics of writing and applying them in my own writing.

FIRST….

We are looking for an adVERB clause.

Adverb clauses usually modify the

main action in the sentence.

Step 1: ASK: What is the MAIN action in the story? CIRCLE IT.

Hmmmm….

There are 2 actions….chewed and leaned. How do I know which is the MAIN

action? The sentence is about _________

(who). The main action Bernard is doing

is ___________.

Hmmmm…. Are there some

words that modify this main action?

Hmmmm…. STEP 2 Ask: Are there any words that

tell WHEN, HOW, or WHERE or WHY that MAIN action happened? WHEN did Bernard chew? YES HOW did Bernard chew? YES WHERE did Bernard chew? No Why did Bernard chew? No

WHEN did Bernard chew? while he leaned lazily on the log

HOW did Bernard chew? blissfully

while he leaned lazily on the log

blissfully Step 3. Ask: Is this a CLAUSE ?

Is it more than one word? Does it contain a verb? “blissfully” is a word. It is not

a clause. “while he leaned lazily on the log”

contains more than one word. It contains a verb. It is an adverb clause than answers, “When did Bernard chew?”

There’s another way to find an adverb clause.

Look for a subordinate

conjunction. An adverb clauses always

starts with a subordinate conjunction.

Step 1. Ask: What it the main action? Circle it. Step 2: Ask: Do any words answer HOW, WHEN, WHERE or WHY that main action happened? Step 3: Ask: Is it a clause or a phrase?

Adverb clause:

action

????

clause test

Step 1. Ask: What it the main action? Circle it.

Step 1. Ask: What it the main action? Circle it.

Step 2: Ask: Do any words answer HOW, WHEN, WHERE or WHY that main action happened? HOW does he get? NO WHEN does he get?

Step 2: Ask: Do any words answer HOW, WHEN, WHERE or WHY that main action happened? HOW does he get? NO WHEN does he get? WHENEVER HE EATS PIZZA.

Whenever he eats pizza

Step 3: Ask: Is it a clause or a phrase? Is there a verb? Yes. It’s an adverb clause.

While I enjoyed eating the burger, his pizza that was smothered with cheese smelled great.

While I was driving, I got tired and stopped on the side of the road to rest.

Adverb clause:

action

????

clause test

While I enjoyed eating the burger, his pizza that was smothered with cheese smelled great.

While I was driving, I got tired and stopped on the side of the road to rest.

Adverb clause:

action

????

clause test

Notice that these 3 prepositional phrases ALSO answer questions: “got tired and stopped WHERE? (on the side) (of the road)” “got tired and stopped WHY? (to rest)”

This is why we HAVE to do step 3 – Ask “Is this a phrase or a clause?”

Does it have a verb?

Prepositional PHRASES are not CLAUSES because they DO NOT contain a VERB!

While I enjoyed eating the burger, his pizza that was smothered with cheese smelled great.

While I was driving, I got tired and stopped (on the side) (of the road) (to rest).

While I enjoyed eating the burger, his pizza that was smothered with cheese smelled great.

Bosco, our dog, drools while we are cooking dinner because he is hungry, too.

Adverb clause:

action

????

clause test

While I enjoyed eating the burger, his pizza that was smothered with cheese smelled great.

Bosco, our dog, drools while we are cooking dinner because he is hungry, too.

Adverb clause:

action

????

clause test

While I enjoyed eating the burger, his pizza that was smothered with cheese smelled great.

After we go to church, we usually come home and spend the day together as a family.

Adverb clause:

action

????

clause test

1. You clean your room while I wash the dishes. 2. Since Andrew forgot his umbrella, he went

inside before it started raining.

3. Your face becomes red when you are angry.

4. Whenever I eat pizza, I sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.

Adverb clause:

action

????

clause test

1. You clean your room while I wash the dishes. 2. Since Andrew forgot his umbrella, he went

inside before it started raining.

3. Your face becomes red when you are angry.

4. Whenever I eat pizza, I sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.

clean when?

went why?

becomes when?

sprinkle when?

My writing reflects my ideas and my personality. I am interesting; my writing should be, too.

Step 1. Look for one of these words: that, which, who, whom, whose

Yes, really. It’s that easy.

Just like an adjective, an adjective clause answers one of these questions about a noun: Which one? What kind? How many?

But really….all you have to do is look for one of those 5 words.

1. The problem I struggle with is the one which is on page 246.

2. The fans, who are very excited about winning, ran into the end zone after the football game.

3. Please don’t eat the cake that is cooling off on the table.

4. Diane felt manipulated by her beagle Santana, whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie.

1. The problem I struggle with is the one which is on page 246.

2. The fans, who are very excited about winning, ran into the end zone after the football game.

3. Please don’t eat the cake that is cooling off on the table.

4. Diane felt manipulated by her beagle Santana, whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie.

If you do not STOP and THINK before looking at the sentence, then you risk getting a ticket from the grammar police for speeding through your work.

The minimum fine is a lifetime doomed to writing boring sentences.*

* people who write interesting sentences get better jobs and lead more fulfilling lives

Adverb goes with the action in the sentence.

▪ action

▪ ????

▪ clause test

Adjective clause

▪ TWWWW

When I took my adjective and adverb clause test on Thursday, I made a grade that put a smile on my face!

When I took my adjective and adverb clause test on Thursday, I made a grade that put a smile on my face!

made when?

Which grade?

Adverbs look for action and circling works best.

Ask when, where, how, why - then do the clause test.

Finding the adjective clause is easy to do.

Just find that, which, whom, whose or who.