Name: PD: Date: Clauses Independent/Dependent (Subordinate), Adjective and Adverb A subordinate (or dependent) clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. (1) The meaning of a subordinate clause is complete only when the clause is attached to an independent clause. (2) A word such as that, what, or since usually begins a subordinate clause. (3) Sometimes the word that begins a subordinate clause is the subject of the clause. An independent clause is a complete sentence (subject and predicate that can stand by itself as a complete thought). Exercise 1 Label each of the following groups of words as a clause or not a clause. 1. until tomorrow 2. for lunch they had tacos 3. their pictures in the newspaper 4. waiting at the corner for the bus 5. because they are twins 6. neither answer is right 7. after the concert last Saturday 8. that honors Rosa Parks 9. which happened before I was born 10. playing first base Exercise 2 Underline the subordinate clauses. 1. Everyone who signed up for the marathon should meet at 8:00 A.M. tomorrow in the parking lot. 2. Tuesday we went to the Mardi Gras Parade, which is held every year in New Orleans. 3. Can you go to the park when school is over today? 4. The phone that I wanted to buy was out of stock. 5. Loretta stayed home today because she has a bad case of the flu. (Continued)
Exercise 3 Match the clauses on the right to make the following sentences more complex. 1. I play soccer 2. We met the Garcia family 3. My older sister practices after school every day. 4. We decided to take a long walk. 5. The students will be excused early on Friday. A. Who is on the varsity basketball team B. As we were leaving the grocery store C. Since it was a beautiful evening D. So that I will get more exercise E. Whose families observe the Jewish Sabbath Exercise 4 For each of the following sentences, underline the subordinate clause. EXAMPLE: When you get up in the morning, do you feel sleepy? 1. A mirror is a piece of polished metal or glass that is coated with a shiny substance. 2. The most common type of mirror is the plane mirror, which is flat. 3. The image that is reflected in a plane mirror is reversed. 4. As you look into a mirror, your left hand seems to be the image's right hand. 5. When an image is reversed, it is called a mirror image. 6. A sailor who looks through a periscope is using a system of lenses and mirrors. 7. Right-hand rearview mirrors on cars, which show a wide area of the road behind, are usually convex, or curved outward. 8. Drivers must be careful because convex mirrors make reflected objects appear far away. 9. Because the mirror in a flashlight is concave, or curved inward, it strengthens the light from a small light bulb. 10. When you look in a concave mirror, you see a magnified reflection. An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun. (1) Unlike an adjective phrase, an adjective clause has a verb and its subject. (2) An adjective clause usually follows the word it modifies and tells which one or what kind. (4) An adjective clause is usually introduced by a relative pronoun, such as that, which, who, whom, or whose. (5) A relative pronoun relates an adjective clause to the word the clause modifies. (6) A relative pronoun also has a function in the subordinate clause. (7) An adjective clause may be introduced by a relative adverb such as when or where.
Exercise 5 Underline the adjective clause in each of the following sentences. Draw another line under the relative pronoun that begins the clause. Then circle the word that the relative pronoun refers to. EXAMPLE: The person who wrote the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson. 1. In his later years, Jefferson lived at Monticello, which he had designed. 2. Jefferson planned a daily schedule that kept him busy all day. 3. He began each day by making a note that recorded the morning temperature. 4. Then he did his writing, which included letters to friends and businesspersons. 5. Afterward, he ate breakfast, which was served around 9:00 A.M. Exercise 6 Complete each of the following sentences by adding an adjective clause that will make sense in the blank. Then underline the relative pronoun. EXAMPLE: We read the legend that tells of the Trojan horse. 1. You should proofread every composition. 2. We heard a sound. 3. Ramon wrote the song. 4. Then she told the joke. 5. There is the dog. An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb; an adverb clause has a subject and a verb. (1) An adverb clause tells where, when, how, why, to what extent, or under what condition. (2) An adverb clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction. Some common subordinating conjunctions are after, although, as if, as soon as, because, before, if, since, so, so that, than, unless, until, when, whenever, and while. Exercise 7 Underline the adverb clause in each sentence. Draw another line under the word or group of words that is the subordinating conjunction. On the line provided, write whether the clause tells when, where, how, why, how much, or under what condition. EXAMPLE: Before they had a written history, the Chinese made kites. When 1. Many people believe that a kite may have saved the people of China's Han Dynasty when they were about to be attacked by an enemy. 2. As one of the emperor's advisers was thinking, his hat was blown off by a strong wind. 3. He immediately called for a number of kites to be made so that they might be used to frighten the enemy. 4. The Chinese attached noisemakers to the kites and flew them at night so that the enemy would hear the kites but not see them. 5. According to the legend, the enemy thought the kites were gods and retreated as if they were being chased by a firebreathing dragon.
Exercise 8 On the line provided, write IND if the italicized clause is an independent clause or SUB if it is a subordinate clause. Draw one line under the subject and two lines under the verb or verb phrase. EXAMPLE: SUB If a car does not have enough oil, it will not run. 1. The research report that was assigned last month is due tomorrow. 2. Since the bicycle was on sale, I bought it. 3. I voted for the candidate who lost the election. 4. I'll let you know as soon as your package arrives. 5. Did you read the book before you saw the movie? 6. The flag should be brought indoors when the weather is bad. 7. After they performed, the cast had a party. 8. William Shakespeare is the best-known playwright in the English language. 9. You may borrow my book overnight if you would like. 10. Please help me when it is time to decorate the gym for the dance. Exercise 9 Underline the adjective clause in each of the following sentences. Draw another line under the relative pronoun. Then circle the word that the relative pronoun refers to. EXAMPLE: The party that we attended last night was fun. 1. What costume did you wear to the party that Juanita had? 2. My costume, which won a prize, was a chicken suit! 3. My cousin, whom I took to the party, went as a huge mosquito. 4. I couldn't recognize many of the people who were in costume. 5. Did you recognize Hillary, who came as a gorilla? 6. The person whom I didn't recognize was Mingan. 7. His costume, which was really original, was a large cardboard box. 8. The box, which was covered with dear plastic, was very shiny. 9. Mingan, who was hidden inside the box, kept saying, "I'm melting!" 10. The box that he wore was supposed to be an ice cube!
Name: PD: Date: Clauses Independent/Dependent (Subordinate), Adjective and Adverb Exercise A Underline the adverb clause in each sentence. Draw another line under the subordinating conjunction. On the line provided, write whether the clause tells how, when, where, why, how much, or under what condition. EXAMPLE: You can have a lovely garden if you plan properly. under what condition 1. As soon as the ground softens in the spring, plant your garden. 2. Some seeds take more time to sprout than others do. 3. If you want to grow morning glories, start the seeds under lights. 4. When the seeds sprout, you can transplant them into the garden. 5. Plant them near a fence or a wall so that the plants can climb. 6. After the young plants grow strong, they will produce flowers. 7. The flowers will look as if they are big blue trumpets. 8. They're called morning glories because they open each morning. 9. When they are warmed by the morning sun, they open. 10. If the day is dark or stormy, they stay tightly shut, like umbrellas. Exercise B Underline the subordinate clause in each of the following sentences. Then on the line provided, label the clause as an adjective clause or an adverb clause. EXAMPLE: As the American colonists struggled for independence, women played important roles. Adverb clause 1. When you study the Revolutionary War, you may learn about the adventures of a woman known as Molly Pitcher. 2. Molly, whose real name is believed to have been Mary Ludwig, was the daughter of farmers 3. Although she was born in New Jersey, she moved to Pennsylvania. (CONTINUED)
4. There she married John Hays, who was a barber. 5. Hays joined the colonial army when the Revolution began. 6. Mary Ludwig Hays went with her husband to Monmouth, New Jersey, which was the site of a battle on a hot June day in 1778. 7. At first, she carried water to the soldiers so that they would not be overcome by the intense heat. 8. The soldiers nicknamed her Molly Pitcher because she carried the water in pitchers. 9. Later, when her husband collapsed from the heat, she took over his cannon. 10. George Washington, who was the commander of the Continental Army, made Molly an honorary sergeant.