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Dependent Clauses: An Overview
Dependent clauses may work like adverbs,
adjectives, or nouns in complex sentences.
Adverbial clauses
Like a single-word
adverb, an adverbial clause describes a verb (in
the sentence's
main clause) and answers one of
these questions
where? why?
how? when? to what degree?
An adverbial clause begins with a
subordinating conjunction, which makes the clause
subordinate (dependent).
Common
subordinating conjunctions:
after
although
as
as far as
as soon as
as if
as though
because
before
even if
even though
how
if
inasmuch as
in case (that)
Example of
adverbial clause answering when?
in order
(that)
insofar as
in that
lest
no
matter how
now that
once
provided
(that)
since
so that
supposing (that)
than
that
though
till
unless
until
when
whenever
where
wherever
whether
while
why
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When will the flowers bloom? Answer:
when spring arrives
Example of
adverbial clause answering why?
Why didn't the poor woman have money? Answer:
because she had lost her
job
Example of adverbial clause answering where?
Where is there fire? Answer: where
there is smoke
2
Example
of adverbial clause answering how?
How did he answer the question?
Answer: as if he knew the subject quite
well
Example of adverbial clause
answering to what degree?
To what degree of lateness will Jones arrive?
Answer: (later) than Smith (will
arrive)
Another example of an adverbial clause
answering to what degree?
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To what degree is he young?
Answer: (younger) than his brother (is)
Comma use with adverbial clauses
Comma use
with adverbial clauses depends upon placement of
the adverbial clause.
If the adverbial clause
introduces the sentence, place a comma between it
and the
main clause.
If
the adverbial clause follows the main clause in a
sentence, do not place a comma
between the
two.
Adjectival
clauses
Like a single-word adjective, an
adjectival clause describes a noun (in the
sentence's
main clause) and answers one of
these questions
which one? what kind?
An adjectival clause usually begins with a
relative pronoun, which makes the clause
subordinate (dependent).
Common relative
pronouns:
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that
which who whom whose why
NOTE: Use who, whom, and whose to describe
people.
Use that and which to
describe things.
Adjectival clauses always
follow the person, place, or thing they describe,
usually
immediately.
Example of
adjectival clause answering which one?
Which book did Joe read? Answer: the
one that I gave him
Example of
adjectival clause answering what kind?
What kind of politician has the
support of the people? Answer: one who is
trustworthy
Adjectival clauses may
also begin with selected subordinating
conjunctions:
when - to
describe a time
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where - to describe a place
why - to
describe a reason
Comma use with adjectival clauses
Comma use with adjectival clauses depends upon
essentiality of the adjectival clause.
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If the adjectival clause is essential
(or
separate it from the main clause.
Generally, essential adjectival clauses should
not begin with which.
Examples
Since the adjectival clauses
in the above examples are needed to clarify the
noun
that they describe, they are essential
and should not be separated from the rest of the
sentence with commas.
If the
adjectival clause is nonessential (or
from the
main clause.
Nonessential adjectival clauses
should not begin with that.
Examples
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Since the adjectival clauses in the above examples
are not needed to clarify the
noun that they
describe, they are nonessential and should be
separated from the rest
of the sentence with
commas.
Note the difference between the
sentences in each pair:
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Nominal Clauses
Like a noun, a
nominal clause names a person, place, thing, or
idea. A nominal
clause may function in a
sentence as any of the following:
Subject,
subjective complement, appositive, object of
preposition, direct
object, indirect object,
retained object
Nominal clauses may begin
with interrogatives:
who whom what
which whoever whomever whatever when
where
how why
An interrogative
beginning a nominal clause, has a function within
the nominal
clause.
Each of the following
examples illustrates
a nominal clause
?
the function of the nominal clause
within the sentence
?
the function of
the interrogative within the nominal clause
?
Nominal clause as subject in sentence
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Nominal
clause as subjective complement in sentence
Nominal clause as object of
preposition in sentence
Nominal clause as direct object in sentence
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Nominal clause as indirect object in sentence
Nominal clause as
retained object in sentence
Nominal clauses may also begin with
expletives:
that whether if
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An expletive beginning a
nominal clause has no function within the nominal
clause.
Nominal clause beginning with
expletive that
Nominal
clause beginning with expletive whether
Nominal clause beginning with
expletive if
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end)
(The