Transcript Adjective, Adverb, and Noun Clauses

Adjective, Adverb, and Noun
Clauses
Identifying
Writing
Combining
A complex sentence is
made up of an
independent clause and
a dependent clause.
Example:
The television was playing
(independent clause which can
stand alone and make sense)
as I left the room (dependent
clause which must be attached
to the independent clause to
make sense).
There are three kinds of
dependent clauses:
adjective clause
adverb clause
noun clause
Adverb Clause
• 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"
is the adverb clause modifying
the verb arrived telling when.
Write the adverb clauses from the following
sentences and the word they modify.
• 1. You clean the bathroom while I clean the
carpet.
• 2. Ann was confident that she would play the
best.
• 3. Bring in the toys before they get destroyed.
• 4. I stood on the box so that I could see the top
of the shelf.
• 5. Your face becomes red when you are angry.
Answers
• 1. while I clean the carpet modifies the verb
clean
• 2. that she would play the best modifies the
predicate adjective confident
• 3. before they get destroyed modifies the verb
bring
• 4. so that I could see the top of the shelf
modifies the verb stood
• 5. when you are angry modifies the verb
becomes
• Sometimes the adverb
clause is placed at the
beginning of the sentence.
• When it introduces the
sentence, it is always set off
with a comma.
Example:
• Before the game had ended,
they arrived.
Write the adverb clauses in the following
sentences and the word they modify.
• 1. When you came from the garage, did you
see the mower there?
• 2. Because the field was muddy, the game had
to be cancelled.
• 3. Although you should return to class, just wait
here for me.
• 4. As I sat motionless, the two squirrels came
closer and closer.
• 5. Since I can spare only a few minutes, please
be brief with your presentation.
Answers
• 1. When you came from the garage modifies
the verb did see
• 2. Because the field was muddy modifies the
verbal to be cancelled
• 3. Although you should return to class
modifies the verb wait
• 4. As I sat motionless modifies the verb came
• 5. Since I can spare only a few minutes
modifies the predicate adjective brief
Elliptical Clauses
• Than and as introduce clauses
that are called elliptical clauses.
• That is, they have some of their
parts understood but not stated.
Example:
• “You are smarter than I.” (am
smart.)
• They always modify the
comparative word (smarter).
Complete the elliptical adverb clauses in the following
sentences and write the words they modify.
• 1. My dog is older than I.
• 2. Jim can run faster than Jeff.
• 3. Pam spells more accurately than she
keyboards.
• 4. He is trying harder than James.
• 5. Barbara is a better tennis player than
Jeanne.
Answers
• 1. My dog is older than I am old. than I am old
modifies the predicate adjective older
• 2. Jim can run faster than Jeff can run fast. than
Jeff can run fast modifies the adverb faster
• 3. Pam spells more accurately than she keyboards
accurately. than she keyboards accurately modifies
the adverb more accurately
• 4. He is trying harder than James is trying hard. as
James is trying hard modifies the adverb harder
• 5. Barbara is a better tennis player than Jeanne is
a tennis player. than Jeanne is a good tennis
player modifies the adjective better
Write the adverb clauses in the following
sentences and the words they modify.
• 1. Although I became tired, I enjoyed the hike.
• 2. You cannot become an expert driver until
you drive for several years.
• 3. Buy that coat now because it might be sold
tomorrow.
• 4. I cannot reach the top window unless I have
a ladder.
• 5. After you have eaten lunch, we will leave for
New York.
Answers
• 1. Although I became tired modifies the verb
enjoyed
• 2. until you drive for several years modifies
the verb can become
• 3. because it might be sold tomorrow modifies
the verb buy
• 4. unless I have a ladder modifies the verb
can reach
• 5. After you have eaten lunch modifies the
verb will leave
Write the adverb clauses from the following
sentences and the words they modify.
• 1. Ila reads music better than Becky.
• 2. The dog whined sadly as I walked into
the house.
• 3. If you have time, finish doing the dishes
for me.
• 4. Many operations are unsuccessful
because the patient is not careful
afterwards.
• 5. Whenever I go out the door, the dog
barks to go also.
Answers
• 1. than Becky (can read music well) modifies
the adverb better
• 2. as I walked into the house modifies the
verb whined
• 3. If you have time modifies the verb finish
• 4. because the patient in not careful
afterwards modifies the predicate adjective
unsuccessful
• 5. Whenever I go out the door modifies the
verb barks
Find the adverb clauses in the following
sentences and the words they modify.
•
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1. I am hungrier than I thought.
2. We left before the game was over.
3. Lee is older than Bill.
4. While I waited for the phone call, I read a book.
5. If you don't believe me, ask my wife.
6. Are you upset because I didn't call?
7. The alarm rang while I was in the shower.
8. Open the window so that we can have fresh air.
9. Paul will take you home when you are ready.
10. You shouldn't say those things unless you are
certain about their validity.
Answers
• 1. than I thought modifies the predicate adjective
hungrier
• 2. before the game was over modifies the verb left
• 3. than Bill (is old) modifies the predicate adjective older
• 4. While I waited for the phone call modifies the verb
read
• 5. If you don't believe me modifies the verb ask
• 6. because I didn't call modifies the predicate adjective
upset
• 7. while I was in the shower modifies the verb rang
• 8. so that we can have fresh air modifies the verb open
• 9. when you are ready modifies the verb will take
• 10. unless you are certain about their validity modifies
the verb should say
• Adverb clauses can give
variety to your sentences.
Combine the following sentences using
adverb clauses at the end of the sentence.
• 1. We watched the robins. They raised their
young in our apple tree.
• 2. Becky read the book. It was recommended
by a friend.
• 3. Dad donates his suits to charity. He has
worn them a year.
• 4. The policemen delayed the drivers. The
wrecks were cleared.
• 5. Ann ate an apple. She studied her
vocabulary.
Answers
• Several different subordinate conjunctions can be
used to combine adverb clauses with independent
clauses. These answers show only one possibility.
• 1. We watched the robins while they raised their
young in our apple tree.
• 2. Becky read the book since it was recommended by
a friend.
• 3. Dad donates his suits to charity after he has worn
them a year.
• 4. The policemen delayed the drivers until the wrecks
were cleared.
• 5. Ann ate an apple as she studied her vocabulary.
Combine the following sentences using adverb
clauses at the beginning of the sentence.
• 1. Frank started medical training. He drove a
forklift for a living.
• 2. The rains had started the mud slides. The
homes were not safe to live in.
• 3. Older people love to sit in the park. They
feed the birds and visit.
• 4. I enjoyed camping out. I was much
younger.
• 5. Joe recognized the man. The man had
stopped his car to help.
Answers
• Several different subordinate conjunctions can be
used to combine adverb clauses with independent
clauses, but I will only show one possibility.
• 1. Before Frank started medical training, he drove a
forklift for a living.
• 2. Because the rains had started the mud slides, the
homes were not safe to live in.
• 3. While they feed the birds and visit, older people
love to sit in the park.
• 4. When I was much younger, I enjoyed camping
out.
• 5. After the man had stopped his car to help, Joe
recognized him.
• Adverb clauses like adjective clauses can
give variety to your sentences. Sometimes
we find adverb clauses that have left some
words out. They are called reduced adverb
clauses. Example: While (she was)
speaking to the timid student, the teacher
spoke slowly.
Reduce the adverb clauses in these sentences.
• 1. While he was watching the geese, he saw
the fox.
• 2. Richard got a thorn in his finger when he
was pruning the roses.
• 3. The cat meowed loudly after it searched
for a way into the house.
• 4. Although the man feared being
ostracized, he continued helping everyone.
• 5. Will measured the board again before he
made his final cut.
Answers
• 1. While watching the geese, he saw the fox.
• 2. Richard got a thorn in his finger when
pruning the roses.
• 3. The cat meowed loudly after searching for a
way into the house.
• 4. Although fearing being ostracized, the man
continued helping everyone.
• 5. Will measured the board again before
making his final cut.
Rewrite the following reduced adverb clauses
adding the missing words.
• 1. After hearing the terrible noise, they ran for
their lives.
• 2. The customer paid for his groceries when
passing through the check out stand.
• 3. Allen is only happy while participating in an
argument.
• 4. Before leaving for the hike, the boy scouts
were warned about snakes.
• 5. Until watering the lawn in the morning, he
didn't see the dandelions in it.
Answers
• 1. After they had heard the terrible noise, they
ran for their lives.
• 2. The customer paid for his groceries when
he passed through the check out stand.
• 3. Allen is only happy while he is participating
in an argument.
• 4. Before they left for the hike, the boy scouts
were warned about snakes.
• 5. Until he had watered the lawn in the
morning, he didn't see the dandelions in it.