Lesson 276 - Parts of the Sentence - Adjective, Adverb, & Noun Clauses

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The adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun. It will begin with a relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, and that) or a subordinate conjunction (when and where). Those are the only words that can be used to introduce an adjective clause. The introductory word will always rename the word that it follows and modifies except when used with a preposition which will come between the introductory word and the word it renames. 

 

Examples: 

The student whose hand was up gave the wrong answer.

Jane is a person in whom I can place my confidence.

An adverb clause is a dependent clause that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It usually modifies the verb. Adverb clauses are introduced by subordinate conjunctions including after, although, as, as if, before, because, if, since, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, where, and while. These are just some of the more common ones.

Example: 

They arrived before the game had ended. 

- before the game had ended modifying arrived (telling when)

A noun clause is a dependent clause that can be used in the same way as a noun or pronoun. It can be a subject, predicate nominative, direct object, appositive, indirect object, or object of the preposition. Some of the words that introduce noun clauses are that, whether, who, why, whom, what, how, when, whoever, where, and whomever. To check if the dependent clause is a noun clause, substitute the clause with the pronoun it or the proper form of the pronouns he or she.

 

Examples: 

I know who said that. = I know it.

Whoever said it is wrong. = He is wrong.

Instructions: Find the adjective, adverb, or noun clauses in these sentences.  If it is an adjective or adverb clause, tell which word it modifies, and if it is a noun clause tell how they are used (subject, predicate nominative, direct object, appositive, indirect object, or object of the preposition).

1. Donna is my mother-in-law who died several years ago.

2. Atlantic City is where the Boardwalk is located.

3. The man had another back operation because he ruptured another disk.

4. A nurse can find a job wherever she goes.

5. Now I understand why you didn't want to attend.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Donna is my mother-in-law who died several years ago.

- adjective clause modifying mother-in-law

2. Atlantic City is where the Boardwalk is located.

- noun clause used as the predicate nominative

3. The man had another back operation because he ruptured another disk.

- adverb clause modifying had

4. A nurse can find a job wherever she goes.

- adverb clause modifying can find

5. Now I understand why you didn't want to attend.

- noun clause used as the direct object

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