A CLAUSE is a string of words that
contains a subject and a verb.
There are two kinds of clauses
--- INDEPENDENT
CLAUSES and
DEPENDENT
CLAUSES:
1 INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
A
clause is a group of words with a subject and a
verb.
Every sentence contains at least one clause.
A simple sentence is a clause that can stand alone --- an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE.
All of the sentences below are also independent clauses.
Mr. Smith
arrived
at the airport early this morning.
We
must find
a new strategy.
I
play
basketball.
When I finished my
lunch,
we played golf.
After we played golf,
we went
to a party.
As soon as we arrived at the party,
they put the steaks on.
Before we ate our steaks,
we
sat around and talked.
Until the party ended,
there
was plenty of good wine.
2.1.2 FUTURE
TIME CLAUSES
Clauses that refer to future time are formed with
the verb in the PRESENT tense:
When I finish my lunch,
we will play golf.
After we play golf,
we are
going to go to a party.
As soon as we arrive at the party,
they will put the steaks on.
Before we eat our steaks,
we
will sit around and talk.
Until the party ends,
there
will be plenty of good wine.
Time Clauses can come either before the main clause or
after the main clause:
We will go to a party
after we play
golf.
After we play golf,
we will go to a party.
Notice there is a comma
after the time clause if it comes before the main clause.
This helps to locate the
subject of the main clause,
i.e. the subject of the sentence.
2.2
ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
ADJECTIVE
CLAUSES
give information about nouns (people, things, places, etc.).
They appear after the noun they describe.
Adjective Clauses are also called RELATIVE CLAUSES.
I never met
the man
who took my old job.
("who" as the SUBJECT of the clause)
I never met
the man
that took my old job.
("that" as the SUBJECT of the clause)
["Who" or "that" refer to
people.]
It was
a job
which required a lot of creativity.
("which" as the SUBJECT of the clause)
It was
a job
that required a lot of creativity.
("that" as the SUBJECT of the clause)
["Which" or "that" refer to things.]
She is a
person
whom I
respect a great deal.
("whom" as the OBJECT of the clause)
She is a
person
that I
respect a great deal.
("that" as the OBJECT of the clause)
She is a
person
I respect
a great deal.
[If "whom" or "that" is the
OBJECT of the clause, it may be left out completely.]
This is a
place
which I know intimately.
("which" as the OBJECT of the clause)
This is a
place
that I
know intimately.
("that" as the OBJECT of clause)
This is a
place
I know
intimately.
[If "which" or "that" is
the OBJECT of the clause, it may be left out completely.]
I am the
person
whose car you
damaged.
I own the car
whose
door you damaged.
["Whose" can refer to a person or to a thing.]
Adjective Clauses are not set off by
commas if the
information is necessary in order to identify the person or thing.
The
person
who is sitting on my right is left-handed.
(not the person
who is sitting on my left)
The
gentleman
who dropped his wallet will come back for it.
(not the gentleman who found it)
My
brother
who lives in Alaska
works as a trapper and hunter.
(not
my other brother who lives in Utah)
Adjective Clauses are
set off
by commas if the
information is not necessary to identify the person or thing.
John
, who
is sitting on my right ,
is left-handed.
(We know who John is.)
The
governor
, who
spoke at our banquet , will speak again next year.
(We know who the governor is.)
My
brother
, who
lives in Alaska ,
works as a trapper and hunter.
(I have only one brother.)
2.3 NOUN
CLAUSES
NOUN CLAUSES
act as simple nouns and identify persons, places, things, etc.
They are introduced by words such as:
what
where
when
why
how
if
whether
that
which
who
whom
whomever
whose
2.3.1 A NOUN CLAUSE AS THE SUBJECT OF A
SENTENCE:
What he had to say to us was incredible.
Where we slept is not worth
mentioning.
Whether we will dominate the
market
is open to question.
That sales have gone up is good news
indeed.
Who
gets the credit for a good
idea
should not be important.
Why she said that is a mystery to
me.
2.3.2 A NOUN CLAUSE AS THE OBJECT OF A
SENTENCE:
I will never
understand
how we arrived on time.
I don't know
when he resigned.
I'd like to see
if he can manage it.
I will hire
whomever I like.
I don't know
which one is best.
Tell me
whose car you are driving.
