English Clauses

Clauses
Independent & Dependent

Exercise 1
1. ____ Jin studies business.
2. ____ What does Jin study?
3. ____ What Jin studies?
4. ____ What Jin studies is business
5. ____ His books.
6. ____ I don’t know how much his books cost.
7. ____ How much his books cost?
8. ____ How much does his books cost?






What is a clause?
A clause is a group of words that contains at
least a subject and a verb.
There are two types of clauses: independent
and dependent.

Let’s start with a simple sentence…
I love you.
This sentence has the three basic elements
required of either a simple sentence or a
clause:
Subject = I
Verb = love
Object = you

Now, let’s add another clause …
Now we have a two clause sentence.
The original clause I love you can stand on
its own as a simple sentence. It expresses a
complete thought by itself. Therefore, it is
called an independent clause.
I love you because you understand
me.
me.

An independent clause is a clause that can
stand alone and express a complete
thought.
Independent Clause (IC)

But what about the other clause?
me.
This clause cannot stand on its own as a simple
sentence. It requires another clause to a
complete its meaning. Therefore, it is called a
dependent clause.

A dependent clause is a clause that
cannot stand alone and doesn’t complete
a complete thought.
Dependent Clause (DC)
me. 
Because you understand me. 

Dependent Clauses
There are 3 different types of dependent clauses.
• Noun Clause (NC)
• Adjective Clause (AdjC)
• Adverb Clause (AdvC)

NOUN CLAUSE
Noun clauses as the name implies,
function as nouns. That is, they are
word groups with their own subject
and verb that in turn function as a
subject, object, or complement in a
sentence.

– Whatever you ask is going to be too
much. (as the subject of the sentence)
– We expect that the rain will stop
soon. (as the object of the verb
“hope.”)
– This is what I was waiting for. (as
the complement.)

Exercise 2
1. I couldn’t hear what the teacher said.
2. What did the teacher say? (no noun clause)
3. No one knows where Tom went.
4. Where Tom went is a secret.
5. What does Nancy want?
6. We need to know what Nancy wants.
(No noun clause)

Exercise 3
1. Where did Sara go? Did she go home?
2. I don’t know where Sara went.
3. What does Alex need? Do you know?
4. Do you know what Alex needs?
5. What Alex needs is a need job.
6.We talked about what Alex needs.
7. What do you need? Did you talk to your parents
about what you need?
8. My parents know what I need.

Exercise 4
1. What my family thinks of me is very important to
me.
2. I always pay attention to what other people think of
me.
3. Where we live is exciting.
4. Where we live is expensive.
5. I think how most celebrities behave is admirable.
6. I usually don’t believe what I read in advertisement.

Exercise 5
1. Where does brad live?
a. I’m not sure where he lives.
b. I’m not sure where does he live.
2. I’m looking for Brad.
a. Could you tell me where is Brad?
b. Could you tell me where Brad is?

Exercise 6
1. I don’t know how old he is.
2. ___________________________ was interesting.
3. Please tell me ______________.
4. _______________ is none of your business.
5. Do you know _____________________?
6. Let’s ask him _______________________.
What he was talking about
where you live
Where she went
when they are coming
which one he wants

Exercise 6
7. I don’t know _________________.
8. I don’t know ______________________.
9. _______________________ is a secret.
10. _________________________ is easy.
11. I don’t know____________________.
12. Do you know _________________?
who opened the door
Why they left the country
What we are doing in class
who those people are
whose pen this is
what happened

Exercise 14
1. Let me know if the financial report is ready.
2. Let me know if it will be ready tomorrow.
3. Let me know if the copy machine needs paper.
4. Let me know if someome is waiting for me.
5. Let me know if we need anything for the meeting.
6. Let me know if you are going to be there.

Exercise 14
7. Please check whether they got my message.
8. Please check whether the copy machine is working.
9. Please check whether there is any paper left.
10. Please check whether this information is correct.
11. Please check whether the fax came in.
12. Please check whether we are going to have
Monday off.

Exercise 26
2. - It’s too bad that Tim hasn’t..
- That Tim hasn’t … is too bad.
3. – It’s a fact that the earth….
- That the earth … is a fact.
4. - It’s true that exercise can …
- That exercise can … is true.
5. - It’s clear that drug abuse can…
- That drug abuse can …. is clear.

Exercise 26
6. – It’s unfortunate that some women do not..
- That some woman do not… is unfortunate.
7. – It’s surprising that Irene….
- That Irene… is surprising.
8. – It’s a well-known fact that English is …
- That English is … is a well-known fact.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
Adjective clauses modify nouns or
pronouns. Most adjective clauses are
also known as relative clauses
because they are usually introduced
by the relative pronoun who,
which, that, whose, or whom.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
 Adjective Clauses, functioning as an adjective,
identify or give additional information about
nouns.
 I like the handsome boy.
 I like the boy who you talked to yesterday.
adjectiveadjective
adjective clauseadjective clause

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
An adjective clause will meet three
requirements:
1) containing a subject and verb.
2) beginning with a relative
pronoun [who, whom, whose, that,
or which] or a relative adverb [when, where,
or why].
3) functioning as an adjective, answering the
questions What kind? How many? or Which
one?

Relative Adverbs
when
where
why
Relative Adverbs
when
where
why
Relative Pronouns
who
whom
which
that
whose
Relative Pronouns
who
whom
which
that
whose

Exercise 1
1. a. We helped the man. He was lost in the woods.
b. We helped the man who was lost in the woods.
c. We helped the man that was lost in the woods.
clause
clause
They all (He, who, that) refer to man.

Exercise 1
1. a. The new computer is fast. It is in my office.
b. The new computer which is in my office is fast.
c. The new computer that is in my office is fast.
clause
clause
They all (It, which, that) refer to computer.

Pronoun Choice
We use….
• who = person
• which = thing
• that = person / thing

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
WhoWho is used only for people..
WhoWho is the subject of the clause.
After whowho you should see a verb
I thanked the woman who helped me.
Subject Verb
independent clause dependent clause

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
WhichWhich is used only for things..
WhichWhich is the subject of the clause.
After whichwhich you should see a verb
The book which is on the table is mine.
Subj. V.
dependent clause

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
ThatThat is used for both people and things..
ThatThat is the subject of the clause.
After thatthat you should see a verb
I thanked the woman that helped me.
The book that is on the table is mine.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
Sentences with adjective clauses can be seen
as combination of two sentences.
I thanked the woman + She helped me
I thanked the woman who helped me.I thanked the woman who helped me.
The book is mine + It is on the table
The book that is on the table is mine.The book that is on the table is mine.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
I thanked the woman.
She helped me.
Same thing in different sentences

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
I thanked the woman.
She helped meXwho/that

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
I thanked the woman who/that
helped me.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
The book is mine.
It is on the table.
Same thing in different sentences

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
The book is mine.
It is on the tableXwhich/tha
t

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
The book which/that is on the
table is mine.

Exercise 2
1. I met the doctor ___ helped my father after the
accident.
a. who b. that c. which d. she
2. Where is the magazine___ has the story about online
theft?
a. who b. that c. which d. it

Exercise 2
3. Did I tell you about the car salesman ___ tried to sell
me a defective truck.
a. who b. that c. which d. he
4. The house ___ is across the street from us is going to be
rented soon.
a. who b. that c. which d. it

Exercise 3
1. I saw the man who/that closed the door.
2. The girl who/that won the race is happy.
3. The student who/that sits next to me is from China.
4. The students who/that sit in the front row are from
China.
5. We are studying sentences which/that contain
adjective clauses.
6. I am using a sentence which/that contains an
adjective clause.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
WhoWho and WhomWhom are used only for people..
Whom/ whoWhom/ who is the object of the clause.
After whom/ whowhom/ who you should see a subject.
The man who(m) I saw was Mr. Jones?
Subj.object

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
WhichWhich is used only for things..
WhichWhich is the object of the clause.
After whichwhich you should see a subject.
The movie which we saw last night wasn’t
very good.
Subj.object

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
ThatThat is used for both people and things..
ThatThat is the object of the clause.
After thatthat you should see a subject.
The movie that we saw last night wasn’t very
good?
The man who(m) I saw was Mr. Jones?

ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
The relative pronouns (that, who, which)(that, who, which) can
be omitted.
The movie ø we saw last night wasn’t very
good?
The man ø I saw was Mr. Jones?

Exercise 7
1. Tell me about the people ___ you visited when you
were in Oxford.
e. whom f. Ø
2. Do you want to see the picture___ the photographer
took?
a. who b. that c. which d. they
e. whom f. Ø

Exercise 7
3. The people ___ I call most often on my cell phone are
my mother and my sister.
e. whom f. Ø
4. The apartment___ we wanted to rent is no longer
available.
a. who b. that c. which d. they
e. whom f. Ø

Exercise 7
5. The children ___ the Smiths adopted are from three
different countries.
e. whom f. Ø

Exercise 8
1. The book that/which/Ø I read was good.
2. I liked the woman who/whom/that/Ø I met at the
party last night.
3. I liked the composition that/which/Ø you wrote.
4. The people who/whom/that/Ø we visited
yesterday were very nice.
5. The man who/whom/that/Ø Ann brought to the
party is standing over there.

Exercise 9
1. a. I think Lee is a person who you can have fun with.
b. Do you think Lee is a person with whom you can have
fun?
2. a. The art school which Lori applied to is very demanding.
b. Do you know the name of the art school to which Lori
applied?
In the a. sentence, the preposition comes at the end
of the adjective clause.
In the b. sentence, the preposition comes before
whom/which (at the beginning of the adjective
clause).
In the a. sentence, the preposition comes at the end
of the adjective clause.
In the b. sentence, the preposition comes before
whom/which (at the beginning of the adjective
clause).

who
whom
which
that
Ø
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
can be the object of the
preposition in its clause.
She is the woman who/whom/that/Ø
I told you about.
The music which/that/Ø we listened
to last night was good.

who
whom
which
that
Ø
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
can be the object of the
preposition in its clause.
She is the woman who/whom/that/Ø
I told you about.
She is the woman. I told you about her.

If the preposition is at the beginning of
the clause, whomwhom or whichwhich must be used.
 The music was good. We listened to it last
night.
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
 The music to which we listened last night
was good.

Exercise 10
1. The sunglasses _____ were under the sofa.
a. which I was looking for
b. that I was looking for
c. I was looking for
d. I was looking
e. I was looking for them

Exercise 10
2. The health-care workers _____ were helpful.
a. who I spoke to
b. that I spoke to
c. who I spoke to them
d. to whom I spoke
e. to who I spoke
f. I spoke to

Exercise 16
1. _____ I have a friend. His purpose in life is to help
others.
2. _____ I have a friend whose purpose in life is to
help others.
3. _____ I have a friend who his purpose in life is to
help others.
4. _____ I have a friend that his purpose in life is to
help others.



WhoseWhose is the possessive and is used for
both people and things and must be
followed by a noun.
Whose + nounWhose + noun
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

I know the man. His bicycle was stolen.
I know the man whose bicycle was stolen.
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
It takes the place of his, her, their, its
or a noun in possessive case noun’s.

The student writes well. I read her composition.
The students whose composition I read writes
well.
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
It takes the place of his, her, their, its
or a noun in possessive case noun’s.

Exercise 17
1. I know a doctor whose last name is Doctor.
2. I know a doctor who lives on a sailboat.
3. The woman _______ wallet was stolen called
the police.
4. The woman _______ found my wallet called me
immediately.
whose
(her wallet was stolen)
who
(she found my wallet)

Exercise 17
5. The professor _______ teaches art history is
excellent.
6. The professor _______ course I am taking is
excellent.
7. I apologized to the man _______ coffee I
spilled.
8. I made friend with a man _______ is in my
class.
who
(she teaches art history)
whose
(I am taking her course)
whose
(I spilled his coffee)
who
(he is in my class)

Exercise 23
1. The town where I grew up is very small.
2. The town in which I grew up is very small.
3. The town which I grew up in is very small.
4. The town that I grew up in is very small.
5. The town I grew up in is very small.

Relative Adverbs
WhereWhere modifies the noun, place (country, city,
building, house, room, street, and so on)
The building is very old. He lives there (in
that building).
The building where he lives is very old.

Exercise 24
1.
 The city where we spent our vacation was
beautiful.
 The city in which we spent our vacation was
beautiful.
 The city which we spent our vacation in was
beautiful.
 The city that we spent our vacation in was
beautiful.
 The city we spent our vacation in was beautiful.

Exercise 25
1. I clearly remember the day when I rode the bike
for the first time.
2. I clearly remember the day on which I rode the
bike for the first time.
3. I clearly remember the day that I rode the bike
for the first time.
4. I clearly remember the day I rode the bike for
the first time.

Relative Adverbs
WhenWhen modifies the noun, time (time,
century, year, day, night, month)
I’ll never forget the day. I met you then (on
that day).
I’ll never forget the day when I met you.

Exercise 24
1.
 Monday is the day when they will come.
 Monday is the day on which they will come.
 Monday is the day that they will come.
 Monday is the day that they will come.

Exercise 1
1. He closed the window when it got windy.
2. Because it got windy, he closed the window.
3.Even though it got windy, he opened the window.
4. Would you please close the window if it gets windy?

1. He closed the window when it got windy.
2. Because it got windy, he closed the window.
main clause adverb clause
When the adverb clause comes before the main
clause, there is a comma. If it comes after the
main clause, there is no comma.
adverb clause main clause

ADVERB CLAUSE
An adverb clause is
a dependent clause that functions
as an adverb. In other words, it
contains a subject and a predicate,
and it modifies a verb.

What is an Adverb?
It is a word that describes or
adds to the meaning of a verb,
an adjective, another adverb,
and the rest of the sentence.

What is a Clause?
It is a group of words which contain a
subject and a finite verb. A clause forms
a sentence or part of a sentence and
often functions as a noun, adjective or
adverb.

What is an Adverb Clause?
A group of words which contains a
subject and a finite verb that describes
or adds to the meaning of a verb, an
adjective and another adverb.

 When the phone rang, the baby woke up.
 The baby woke up when the phone rang.
adverb clause main clause
Subordinate
conjunction
Subordinate
conjunction
commacomma
main clause adverb clause
Subordinate
conjunction
Subordinate
conjunction

ADVERB CLAUSE
 Adverb Clauses, functioning as an adverb,
verbs.
 You can leave now.
 You can leave whenever you want to.
adverb of timeadverb of time
adverb clause of timeadverb clause of time

ADVERB CLAUSE
verbs.
 I want to live here.
 I want to live where you are.
adverb of placeadverb of place
adverb clause of placeadverb clause of place

ADVERB CLAUSE
verbs.
 He walks slowly.
 He walks as if he were an old man.
adverb of manneradverb of manner
adverb clause of manneradverb clause of manner

ADVERB CLAUSE
An adverb clause will meet three requirements:
1) containing a subject and verb.
2) beginning with a subordinate
conjunction [when, where, while, because,
if, after, although, since, unless, as soon
as ,as, until, by the time]
3) functioning as an adverb, answering the
questions How? Where? When or Why?

Linking the clauses
Subordinate clauses are linked to the main clause by
Subordinating Conjunctions.
How When Where Why Under what
conditions
since
in order
that
as
as if
after
before
until
when
whenever
once
while
where
wherever
although
because
so that
though
unless
even if
if
even
though
provided
that
in case

Adverb clauses are dependent clauses. They
cannot stand alone as a sentence. They must
be connected to a main/independent clause.
Adverb clause
When we were in New York, we saw
several plays. 
When were in New York. 

Exercise 2
1. ____ I woke up.
2. ____ When the door slammed.
3. ____ I woke up. When the door slammed.
4. ____ I woke up when the door slammed.
5. ____ When the door slammed, I woke up.
6. ____ The door slammed. I woke up.





Exercise 2
7. ____ As soon as you finish dinner, you will need to
pick up Andy at work.
8. ____ The first time I saw you at the school dance last
February.
9. ____ Every time the phone rings and I answer it.
10. ____ We won’t the results until the doctor calls.
11. ____ We got something to eat. After we went to the
movie.



Exercise 3
1. When Abder was in New York, he stayed with his
cousins.
2. We went inside when I began to rain.
3. It began to rain. We went inside.
4. When it began to rain, we went inside.
5. When the mail comes, my assistant opens it.
6. My assistant opens the mail when it comes.
7. The mail comes around ten o’clock every morning.
My assistant opens it.

Exercise 3
1. As soon as the rain began, the children wanted to
go outdoors. They love to play outside in the warm
summer rain. I used to do the same thing when I
was a child.
2. I had a cup of tea before I left for work this
morning, but I didn’t have anything to eat. I rarely
eat breakfast.
3. When Jack and his wife go on vacation, they have
to drive or take the train because his wife is afraid
of flying.

Exercise 3
4. After Ellen gets home from work, she likes to read
newspaper. She follows the same routine every day
after work. As soon as she gets home, she changes her
clothes, gets a snack and a drink, and sits down in her
favorite chair to read the newspaper in peace and quiet.
She usually has about half an hour to read the paper
before her husband arrives home.
5. When you speaking to someone who is hard of
hearing, you do not have to shout. It is important to
face the person directly and speak clearly. My elder
brother is hard of hearing, but he can understand me I
look directly at him and say each word clearly.

Exercise 3
6. Jane wears contact lenses because she is near-sighted.
Without them, she can’t see from one end of a
basketball court to the other. When one of her
contacts popped out during a recent game, both team
stopped playing and searched the floor for the lens.

Adverb Clauses can be divided into:
1. Time
2. Reason
3. Concession
4. Contrast
5. Condition
6. Result
7. Purpose
8. Place
9. Manner

1. Adverb Clause of Time
These clauses are introduced by
when, whenever, while, as,
before, after, until, since and as
soon as.
(Study more on page 90.)

 When he arrives, he will tell us the truth.
 Mary was dancing while John was
singing.
 The train left as we arrived.

 I will stay with you until your mother
comes home.
 After he had got the money, he left
home immediately.

2. Adverb Clause of Reason (Cause
and Effect)
 These clauses are introduced by because,
since as and now that.

2. Adverb Clause of Reason
 I was late because I could not catch
the bus.
 Since I was late, I took a taxi.
 As the weather was bad, we cancelled
the picnic.

3. Adverb Clause of Concession
(Unexpected Result)
These clauses are introduced by though,
although, even though, no matter
how and no matter what.

3. Adverb Clause of Concession
 Although he is small, he is very strong.
 No matter how smart they are, they
are required to do the revision.
 No matter what the doctor did, the
girl was still dead.

4. Adverb Clause of Contrast
 These clauses are introduced by
whereas and while.

4. Adverb Clause of Contrast
 We took the train whereas Pete
drove.
 While Tom is a good math student,
Pam does well in English.

5. Adverb Clause of Condition
(if-clauses)
 These clauses are introduced by if,
even if, unless, whether, in case,
only if and while.

5. Adverb Clause of Condition
 If it rains tomorrow, I will stay home.
 Unless you work hard, you will fail in
this exam.
 You must go whether you hear from
him or not.
 Even if I had time, I wouldn't do it.

6. Adverb Clause of Result
These clauses are always linked with so that,
so + adj. / adv. + that and such + a +
noun + that, etc.

6. Adverb Clause of Result
 Tom was so weak that he could not
run.
 It was such a strange story that no
one believed it.

7. Adverb Clause of Purpose
These clauses are always linked with so that,
in order that, for fear that, in case, etc.

7. Adverb Clause of Purpose
 He arrived earlier, so that he would not be
late.
 They brought a lot of food for fear that they
would be hungry during the trip.
 She brought the credit card in case she did not
have enough cash.

8. Adverb Clause of Place
These clauses are introduced by where and
wherever.

8. Adverb Clause of Place
 Where there is a will, there is a way.
 Wherever you go, I’ll go.
 Wherever she goes, she leaves a piece of
luggage behind.
 The seeds will take root wherever there is
enough light.

9. Adverb Clause of Manner
These clauses are introduced by as, as if
and as though.

9. Adverb Clause of Manner
 Please do as I have told you.
 * He cries as if he were mad.
 * He speaks as though he were the boss.
* The past subjunctive is used after as if and as though.

English Clauses

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