Noun, adjective, and adverb clauses

1. Noun, Adjective, and Adverb Clauses:Noun, Adjective, and Adverb Clauses:
Also Known as Dependent Clauses!Also Known as Dependent Clauses!
GrammarGrammar
Eleventh Grade American LiteratureEleventh Grade American Literature
Ms. PennellMs. Pennell

2. Noun Clauses …Noun Clauses …
A noun clause is a subordinate A noun clause is a subordinate
clause that acts as a noun.clause that acts as a noun.
Usually start with a relative Usually start with a relative
pronounpronoun
Relative Pronouns: that, Relative Pronouns: that,
which, who, whom, whosewhich, who, whom, whose
Acts like a noun or an adjectiveActs like a noun or an adjective

3. Functions in Functions in
SentencesSentences
ExamplesExamples
SubjectSubject Whoever travels the Whoever travels the
Chattahoochee River Chattahoochee River follows the follows the
yellow rafts gently floating down a yellow rafts gently floating down a
peaceful track.peaceful track.
Direct ObjectDirect Object You must pack You must pack whatever you will whatever you will
need.need.
Indirect ObjectIndirect ObjectYou should give You should give whoever waits at whoever waits at
the camp the camp a copy of your route.a copy of your route.
Object of a Object of a
PrepositionPreposition
Robert Campbell settled trading Robert Campbell settled trading
camps in camps in whatever regions the whatever regions the
Hudson’s Bay Company sent him.Hudson’s Bay Company sent him.
Predicate Predicate
NominativeNominative
(is a noun or pronoun that (is a noun or pronoun that
appears with a linking verb appears with a linking verb
and renames, identifies, or and renames, identifies, or
explains the subject)explains the subject)
At 40, Campbell’s most notable At 40, Campbell’s most notable
achievement was achievement was that he that he
established Fort Selkirk.established Fort Selkirk.

4. Adjective ClausesAdjective Clauses
An An adjective clauseadjective clause is a is a
subordinate clause that modifies a subordinate clause that modifies a
noun or pronoun by telling noun or pronoun by telling what kind what kind
or or which one. which one. Adjective clauses act Adjective clauses act
like adjectives.like adjectives.
Usually connected to the word it Usually connected to the word it
modifies by one of the relative pronouns modifies by one of the relative pronouns
(that which, who, whom, or whose).(that which, who, whom, or whose).
Sometimes, it is connected by a relative Sometimes, it is connected by a relative
adverb (after, before, since, when, adverb (after, before, since, when,
where, or why).where, or why).

5. Examples of Adjective Examples of Adjective
ClausesClauses
Arctic winters, Arctic winters, which are which are
long and cold, long and cold, are severe.are severe.
The arctic is a region The arctic is a region where where
life is difficult.life is difficult.
She likes the guy She likes the guy who sits in who sits in
front of her.front of her.

6. Essential and Nonessential Essential and Nonessential
Adjective ClausesAdjective Clauses
An adjective clause that is An adjective clause that is
nonessential to the basic nonessential to the basic
meaning of a sentence is set off meaning of a sentence is set off
by commas. by commas.
The ship, The ship, which was a nuclear which was a nuclear
submarine, submarine, became the first became the first
vessel to pass beneath the North vessel to pass beneath the North
Pole.Pole.

7. Example of an Essential Example of an Essential
Adjective ClauseAdjective Clause
Essential adjective clauses are Essential adjective clauses are
notnot set off by commas. set off by commas.
The first vessel The first vessel that passed that passed
beneath the North Polebeneath the North Pole was a was a
nuclear submarine.nuclear submarine.

8. Practical Use of Adjective Practical Use of Adjective
ClausesClauses
By using either a nonessential or an By using either a nonessential or an
essential adjective clause, you can essential adjective clause, you can
often combine the ideas from two often combine the ideas from two
sentences into one.sentences into one.
The The ArktikaArktika was the first surface ship to was the first surface ship to
crack through the Arctic icepack. It was crack through the Arctic icepack. It was
a Soviet ice breaker.a Soviet ice breaker.
Combine the above two sentences using Combine the above two sentences using
an essential or nonessential adjective an essential or nonessential adjective
clause.clause.

9. Solution …Solution …
The The ArktikaArktika, , which was a Soviet which was a Soviet
icebreaker, icebreaker, was the first surface was the first surface
ship to crack the Arctic ice pack. ship to crack the Arctic ice pack.

10. Adjective Clauses ContinuedAdjective Clauses Continued
Relative pronouns and relative Relative pronouns and relative
adverbs not only introduce adverbs not only introduce
adjective clauses, but also adjective clauses, but also
function within the subordinate function within the subordinate
clause.clause.

11. Adjective Clauses ContinuedAdjective Clauses Continued
A A relative pronoun relative pronoun or or relative relative
adverb:adverb:
Connects the adjective clause to Connects the adjective clause to
the modified wordthe modified word
Acts within the clause as a Acts within the clause as a
subject, direct object, or other subject, direct object, or other
sentence part.sentence part.

12. The Uses of Relative The Uses of Relative
Pronouns Pronouns WithinWithin the Clause the Clause
As a Subject:As a Subject:
thatthat is within the Arctic Circle is within the Arctic Circle
The part of Alaska The part of Alaska that is that is
within the Arctic Circlewithin the Arctic Circle is cold is cold
most of the year.most of the year.
As a Direct Object:As a Direct Object:
(Reworded) I met (Reworded) I met whom last whom last
yearyear
The explorer The explorer whom I met last whom I met last
year year has never been to the has never been to the
North Pole.North Pole.
As the Object of a As the Object of a
Preposition:Preposition:
(Reworded) little foliage can (Reworded) little foliage can
grow grow in whichin which – obj of prep – obj of prep
The climate is one The climate is one in which in which
little foliage can grow.little foliage can grow.
As an Adjective:As an Adjective:
whose whose sledsled left without him left without him
Adj.Adj.
I saw a dog I saw a dog whose sled left whose sled left
without him.without him.

13. Adverb ClausesAdverb Clauses
Adverb clauses modify verbs, Adverb clauses modify verbs,
adjectives, adverbs, or verbals adjectives, adverbs, or verbals
by telling by telling where, when, in what where, when, in what
way, to what extent, under what way, to what extent, under what
condition, condition, or or why.why.
An example of an adverb clause An example of an adverb clause
is as follows:is as follows:
The Yukon The Yukon enteredentered Canada’s Canada’s
confederation confederation after a gold rush after a gold rush
brought 100,000 people to the brought 100,000 people to the
territory. territory.

14. Adverb Clauses Continued …Adverb Clauses Continued …
The Yukon The Yukon enteredentered Canada’s Canada’s
confederation confederation after a gold rush after a gold rush
brought 100,000 people to the brought 100,000 people to the
territory. territory.
Here the subordinate clause Here the subordinate clause after a after a
gold rush brought 100,000 people to gold rush brought 100,000 people to
the territorythe territory is modifying or is modifying or
describing the verb describing the verb enteredentered..

15. More on Adverb Clauses and how these More on Adverb Clauses and how these
clauses function in sentences …clauses function in sentences …
Modified
Words
Examples
Verb: The Yukon entered Canada’s confederation
after a gold rush brought 100,000 people to
the territory.
Adjective: The miner’s children were nervous whenever
he entered a tunnel.
Adverb: Today’s dig lasted longer than the one
yesterday.
Participle:The miners, cheering whenever someone
made a strike, were excited.
Gerund: Digging wherever miners thought there was
gold has left the Yukon full of old miners.
Infinitive:The tired miners wanted to relax after the
workday ended.
Remember that adverb clauses modify verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or
verbals (gerund, participial, and infinitive phrases) by telling where,
when, in what way, to what extent, under what condition, or why.

16. Elliptical Adverb ClausesElliptical Adverb Clauses
In an elliptical adverb clause, In an elliptical adverb clause,
especially those beginning with especially those beginning with
as or than, the verb or both the as or than, the verb or both the
subject and the verb are not subject and the verb are not
stated but are understood.stated but are understood.
Verb Understood: I am taller than Verb Understood: I am taller than
he (is).he (is).
The Yukon has as many rural The Yukon has as many rural
inhabitants as (it has) urban inhabitants as (it has) urban
inhabitants.inhabitants.