Dependent Clauses: Review

Which * although

While * that When * because Whenever * before If * what Until * whatever Who * whichever Whom * whose

Q: How do I know when a dependent clause begins and ends?

A: A dependent clause will always begin with a “signal word”. It contains both a subject and a verb.

Adjective clauses

Adverb clauses

Noun clause

Adjectives always describe nouns or pronouns, so adjective clauses are dependent clauses that describe nouns.

Ex: Emily, whose name is on the board, talks too much during class.

“whose name is on the board” describes the noun “Emily”. It is an adjective clause.

Adverbs describe other adverbs, verbs, or adjectives. Adverb clauses are dependent clauses that describe adverbs, verbs, or adjectives.

Ex: The judge listened when the defendant pleaded his case.

“When the defendant pleaded his case” describes the verb “listened”. It is an adverb clause.

Noun clauses DO NOT describe anything! They are dependent clauses that act as one big noun.

Ex: Whatever you want is fine with me. “Whatever you want” is the noun clause. You could mentally replace it with a single-word noun if doing so helps you to better understand the material.

Whatever you want is fine with me.

You could mentally replace this clause with one word, such as “pizza”.

Pizza is fine with me. Therefore, we now easily see that “whatever you want” is a noun, and actually acts as the subject.

Noun clauses do not modify or describe anything, but they do act in several ways. Nouns can be:

SubjectsDirect objects Indirect objectsPredicate nounsObjects of a preposition phrase

Whoever wants to go is welcome. Subject

Lisa smashed whichever plate she could.

direct object

Mary gave whomever would listen a piece of her mind. Indirect object

The fence you are looking for is that one over there. Predicate noun

We are praying for whichever outcome is best. Object of the PP

True/False

Noun clauses describe nouns.

False! Noun clauses do not describe anything. They act as nouns themselves.

What do adjective clauses describe?

Nouns or pronouns!

What 3 things can adverb clauses describe?

Adverbs

Adjectives

verbs