Lesson 277 - 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. You can make a shirt from whatever material I don't use.

2. What the audience wanted was another selection.

3. Whenever Barbara does well, she is really excited.

4. The boy was working faster than I could.

5. I gave whoever wanted one a pamphlet.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. You can make a shirt from whatever material I don't use.

- noun clause used as the object of the preposition

2. What the audience wanted was another selection.

- noun clause used as the subject

3. Whenever Barbara does well, she is really excited.

- adverb clause modifying excited

4. The boy was working faster than I could (work fast).

- adverb clause modifying faster

5. I gave whoever wanted one a pamphlet.

- noun clause used as an indirect object

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