Clauses-definition and main types with examples

This PPT has all the basic information needed to understand clauses

1. Clauses
INDEPENDENT & DEPENDENT
CLAUSES

2. Clauses
Definition: A clause is a group of related words
that contains a subject and a predicate.
The students who are in Mrs. Parker’s class are
smart.

3. Clauses vs. Phrases
A phrase is a group of words without a subject
and a predicate
Maggie gave a gift to Ted.
Students who eat breakfast have more energy.
Phrase
Clause

4. Independent (Main)
Clauses
An independent (or main) clause can stand on its
own. An independent clause is a complete
thought.
Ms. Lowery teaches math.
I ate breakfast.

5. Dependent (Subordinate)
Clauses
A dependent (or subordinate) clause is not a complete
thought. It is a fragment.
Because the students performed well on the exam…
If I won the lottery…
who is wearing a red shirt…

6. Combining Independent &
Dependent Clauses
A dependent clause must be added to an
independent clause to be a complete
thought.
When a dependent clause comes before
an independent clause, you must add a
comma between the two.
Because the students performed well on the
exam, the teachers did a little dance.
Dependent Clause
Independent Clause

7. Interrupting a Main
Clause
Sometimes a dependent clause comes in
between a main clause.
Mr. Buckhalter, who teaches math, is competitive.
Main clause
Subordinate clause

8. Identifying Independent &
Dependent Clauses
Ashley sings a song.
If my team wins the game
Because the students skipped school
Jessica’s favorite subject is English.

9. Adjective Clauses
An adjective clause is a clause that describes a
noun.
Adjective clauses are always dependent clauses.
There are 5 words (relative pronouns) that
introduce adjective clauses:
who, whom, whose, which, that

10. Adjective Clauses
Sometimes the relative pronouns that introduce an adjective
clause are implied.
Example:
The grade I received was a shock.
The pronoun that is implied.
The grade [that] I received was a shock.

11. Essential and Non-Essential Adjective
Clauses
Adjective clauses can be identified in two ways: essential
and non-essential.
Essential clauses are necessary information. They do not
have commas around them.
Non-essential clauses are extra information. Commas are
placed around non-essential clauses.

12. Examples
An example of an essential clause:
The teachers that I like best are funny.
*Essential clauses help identify specific things
or people
An example of a non-essential clause:
My English book, which is terribly boring, calls
my floor home.
*Non-essential clauses are extra information.

13. Adverb Clauses
An adverb clause contains a subject and a
predicate.
It answers the adverb questions how, when or
why.
Trevon read the book until he fell asleep.
Independent clause
Dependent clause &
Adverb clause

14. Adjective & Adverb
Clauses
The girl who wore a blue dress won the prize.
Jack, who always chews gum, likes to play
baseball.
Maggie called Ted because he sent her roses.

15. Noun Clauses
 - functions as noun in a sentence.
Example :
I remember that we had a meeting
yesterday.
Noun clauses often begin with
conjunctions such as that, what, who,
or whether.

16. In a sentence, noun clauses can
function as a subject , object of verb,
subject complement, object of
preposition.
Recognize
that
what
who
whom
whose
which
when
where
why
if
whether

17. As a subject
When a noun clause acts as the subject, it appears at the beginning of the
sentence. It performs the action or is the focus of the sentence.
Examples :
•That you enjoyed the movie is great news.”
The noun clause “That you enjoyed the movie” is the subject of the
verb “is.”
• “What you said surprised me”
• “Whatever you said is very annoying!”
.

18. Object: 
A noun clause can be the object of a verb when
it follows the verb and receives the action.
As an Object: 
“I don’t know what Julia wants.”
The noun clause “what Julia wants” is the object of the
verb “know.”
I still remember how we enjoyed watching the match!
Did you just said that turtles can run!

19. Complement: 
Noun clauses work as complements when they
follow linking verbs such as “is,” “seems,” or
“becomes.”
As a Complement: 
•“My hope is that she will come.”
The noun clause “that she will come” works as the complement of
the linking verb “is.”
The main problem was that we ran out of time.

20. Noun Clause as Objects of Prepositions
•She talked about what she experienced during her trip.
•The team argued over where the new office should be located.