Clauses

What to consider when deciding if a subordinate clause is an

adjective, adverb, or noun:

Step 1:If you remove the subordinate

clause, do you still have a complete main clause?

If so … it’s not a noun!

Step 2:Once you’ve determined that it’s

not a noun, look at the location of the clause:

If it’s at the beginning of the sentence , it can’t be an adjective since adjectives have to follow the noun (pronoun) that they modify.

Step 3:Once you’ve determined that it’s not

a noun, look at the location of the clause:

If it’s at in the middle of the sentence , there’s a strong possibility that it’s an adjective since adjectives have to follow the noun (pronoun)

that they modify.

Step 4:Once you’ve determined that it’s not

a noun, ask yourself:“Can I switch it around?”

Adjective’s can’t move away from the noun they modify.

Adverbs (in most cases) can be moved to a different location in the sentence.

Step 5:If you’ve determined that the

clause is a NOUN, there will be something important missing from

the main clause!Look at the LOCATION of the

clause in the sentence:

Step 6:If you’ve determined that the

clause is a NOUN and it’s at the beginning of the

sentence (preceding a verb)it’s probably functioning as the

subject of the main clause.

Step 7:If you’ve determined that the

clause is a NOUN and it’s after the verb,

check to see what kind of verb it is:Action = Direct object

Linking = Predicate nominative

Step 8:If you’ve determined that the

clause is a NOUN,check to see if it’s preceded by a preposition. If so, it may be the

object of a preposition.

How to choose the correct sentence type:

Jan went shopping and left her credit card at home.(simple = one simple sentence with compound predicate)

Jan went shopping, and she left her credit card at home.(compound = two simple sentences)

Jan went shopping and discovered that she left her credit card at home.(complex = one main clause + one subordinate clause)

Jan went shopping, and she discovered that she left her credit card at home.(compound-complex = two main clauses + (at least) one subordinate clause )

Main clauseSubordinate clause

Step one:

Ask yourself if you are looking at one sentence

or two sentences

You will automatically eliminate two of the four choices.

Step two:

If you know you have only one sentence … your choices are

simple (no subordinate clause present)or

complex (subordinate clause present)

Look to see if you have a subordinate clause!

Step three:

If you know you have two sentences … your choices are

compound (no subordinate clause present)

or compound-complex (subordinate clause present)

Look to see if you have a subordinate clause!

S

CD

CX

CC

No Subordinate Clause Contains a subordinate clause

One sentence

Two sentences

Restrictive (or essential) adjective clause:

Is a clause that is essential to the meaning of a sentence. The clause is needed for the sense of the sentence. If a restrictive clause is dropped out of the sentence, the meaning changes. Read the sentence without it to decide.

Example:

Terry Reese is the player who scored the most points.

Terry Reese is the player. (The clause cannot be dropped without changing the meaning.)

Nonrestrictive (or nonessential) adjective clause:

Is a clause that merely adds an idea to the sentence. The sentence would be complete, and the meaning would be clear without it.Read the sentence without it to decide.

Example:

Terry Reese, who is the center for the Wildcats, scored the most points.

Terry Reese scored the most points. (The clause can be dropped from the sentence.)

Examples of Restrictive Clauses:

Janice is the girl who found the money.(The clause tells which girl.)

This is the book that has the map.(The clause tells which book.)

Examples of Nonrestrictive Clauses:

Janice, who is very alert, found the money.(Janice found the money. The clause is not needed.)

This book, which has pictures, is my choice.(This book is my choice. The clause is not needed.)