Clauses: The Trilogy

Use this worksheet to review all three types of clauses. Students should
have had a thorough explanation of each type prior to this.
Worksheet #1

There are three types of dependent clauses:
Noun Clauses
Adverb Clauses
Adjective Clauses
Each one has a different function within a sentence. They are part of complex sentences.
How does one differentiate among the three?
1) ne way would !e to pay attention to the words that introduce them.
"ords that introduce noun clauses are: "h# words$ how$ that$ whether$ and if
"ords that introduce adjective clauses are: "h#words %excet what and wh!)$ and that
"ords that introduce adver! clauses: &lthough many of the words that introduce noun
and ad'ective clauses are used to introduce adver! clause$ these vary depending on what
the clause is expressing i.e. condition$ purpose$ time$ etc. &dver! clauses are introduced
!y other expressions that are not used in noun clauses or ad'ective clauses.
() &nother way would !e to think of them in the same manner as we would think of an
ad'ective$ an adver!$ or a noun and their functions within a sentence. These clauses do the
same thing$ except that instead of !eing one word$ it is a group of words. ne functions
as a name$ another modifies a noun$ and another modifies the entire sentence.
)ook at these examples:
a) * love m! house.
1
"! house is the noun$ which functions as a direct o!'ect.
*f * change the word history for what you said to me$ this clause is
functioning as a direct o!'ect 'ust like the words history.
!) The mythology !ook$ which is interesting$ is on the counter top.
The information which is interesting is descri!ing the !ook. *t is providing
more information !y identifying the interesting !ook. &nother example
with a preposition might !e: The waiter to whom I gave the tip goes to
college. This can also !e written as: The waiter whom I gave the tip to
goes to college.
c) * will call tomorrow.
* can su!stitute tomorrow for the following: when # have more
information$
This sentence can also !e written as: "hen * have more information$ * will
call. *n !oth cases$ it answers to the +uestion When.
,) &n additional way would !e asking +uestions. & noun clause answers the +uestion
-what./ an adver! answers the +uestions -when$. -where$. -how$. -why$. etc.
0) 1lacement within a sentence is possi!ly the easiest clue:
a) the adjective clause is always after the noun it modifies.
!) the adverb clause can shift places at least 234 of the time.
c) the noun clause can !e:
1) Su!'ect of the sentence
() !'ect of the ver!
,) !'ect of the preposition
0) Su!'ective complement
3) 5odified !y an ad'ective that expresses a mental a!ility
(
6ou might say that ad'ective clause can also !e placed after a preposition. 6es$ that is
true$ !ut the preposition can !e in front of the ad'ective clause or at the end of the
ad'ective clause %see example (!). 7owever$ when a noun clause is placed after a
preposition$ the preposition cannot !e moved.
6ou should also keep in mind that most adver! clauses are somewhat flexi!le !ecause
they can !e at the !eginning of a sentence or at the end of the main clause %see example
(c)/ however$ noun clauses have no flexibilit! at all.
1rofessor 5yra 5edina
5iami 8ade 9ollege
,
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