Lesson 278 - 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. Then I learned the truth, that I had been cheated.

2. The trick that he played on me was not funny.

3. He hopes that he can learn to ski.

4. It is obvious that you want no help.

5. The truth is that freedom is not free.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Then I learned the truth, that I had been cheated.

- noun clause used as the appositive

2. The trick that he played on me was not funny.

- adjective clause modifying trick

3. He hopes that he can learn to ski.

- noun clause used as the direct object

4. It is obvious that you want no help.

- adverb clause modifying obvious

5. The truth is that freedom is not free.

- noun clause used as the predicate nominative

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