STRUCTURES IN CONTEXTSTRUCTURES IN CONTEXTSKBE 1023SKBE 1023

MAIN AND SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

TYPES OF CLAUSES

CLAUSECLAUSE

Definition

A clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a verb. A clause can be usefully distinguished from a phrase, which is a group of related words that does not contain a subject-verb relationship, such as "in the morning" or “the extremely smart girl" or "having grown used to this harassment."

CLAUSECLAUSE

Phrase Clause1. in the room. 1. Who is in the room.2.little girl. 2. Which is very long.3. very smart. 3. Where the tree is.

There are two sets of group of words. Not one ofthem make complete sentence. Those on the lefthave no subject-verb relationship and they are calledphrases. Those on the right are called clauses because they each have a finite verb (is), although theydo not make complete sentence.

CLAUSECLAUSE Clauses are categorized into main and subordinate

clauses. This simply means that some clauses can stand by themselves, as separate sentences, and some can't.

See how the following sentences are divided into Main and Subordinate clauses1. I know what he wants.2. In order to pass the exam, he cheated.3. Why they went out, I do not know.4. The book that you saw is mine.5. You must read if you want to learn.

CLAUSECLAUSEMain clause Subordinate clause1. I know 1. What he wants2. You must read 2. If you want to learn3. I do not know 3. Why they went out4. The book is mine 4. That you saw

Subordinate clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb but which depends on another clause for its meaning. It is always joined to the main clause by joining a word- a relative pronoun e.g. where, which, that etc or subordinating conjunction e.g. when, if, because, since etc.

Test: How many clauses do you see?Test: How many clauses do you see?

1. Hannah is eating her favourite supper.1. Hannah is eating her favourite supper.2. Finally, we arrived.2. Finally, we arrived.3. It’s late, so she’s not going.3. It’s late, so she’s not going.4. When he was younger, Mariam had many cats.4. When he was younger, Mariam had many cats.5. I like reading and I love Hemingway.5. I like reading and I love Hemingway.6. While Tom reads novels, Jack reads comics, but 6. While Tom reads novels, Jack reads comics, but Sam only reads magazines. Sam only reads magazines.7. Many people enjoy cooking, however, Jack does 7. Many people enjoy cooking, however, Jack does not.not.

Types of clausesTypes of clauses

i. Noun Clausesii. Relative clausesiii. Adverbial clausesiv. Finite & Non-finite clauses

** These types of clauses are DEPENDENT clauses!

Noun ClauseNoun Clause  Noun clauses can begin with … 1.     … a question word:         where he lives         what one says         who the man is         how she survives   2.     … “whether” or “if”         whether she will stay         if she will stay  

3.     … a question word + TO infinitive3.     … a question word + TO infinitive        what to say        what to say        where to meet        where to meete.g:e.g:I don’t know what to sayI don’t know what to sayTell me where to meetTell me where to meet

  4.     … “that”4.     … “that”        that he is innocent        that he is innocent        that she knows three languages        that she knows three languagese.g.:e.g.:It is proven that he is innocentIt is proven that he is innocent

RELATIVE CLAUSERELATIVE CLAUSE

A relative clause—also called adjective or adjectival clause.

We use relative clauses to give extra information about something. We can get more information into a sentence without the need to start a new one.

There are two types of relative clauses: defining and non-defining

DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSEDEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE

-The purpose of a defining relative clause is to clearly -The purpose of a defining relative clause is to clearly define who or what we are talking about. Without this define who or what we are talking about. Without this information, it would be difficult to know who or what is information, it would be difficult to know who or what is meant.meant.

Examples:Examples:

i. The woman who lives in apartment No. 34 has been i. The woman who lives in apartment No. 34 has been arrested.arrested.ii. The document that I need has 'important' written at ii. The document that I need has 'important' written at the top.the top.Iii. The house is being renovated.Iii. The house is being renovated.

NON DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSESNON DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSES

Non-defining relative clauses provide interesting Non-defining relative clauses provide interesting additional information which is not essential to additional information which is not essential to understanding the meaning of the sentence.understanding the meaning of the sentence.

Examples:Examples:i.i. Mrs. Jackson, who is very intelligent, lives on the Mrs. Jackson, who is very intelligent, lives on the corner of Middle Street.corner of Middle Street.ii. Michael Jackson, who was a great artiste, came from ii. Michael Jackson, who was a great artiste, came from California.California.

** Non defining relative clauses have commas.** Non defining relative clauses have commas.

In both In both definingdefining and  and non-defining relative clausesnon-defining relative clauses we us the  we us the followingfollowing  RELATIVE PRONOUNSRELATIVE PRONOUNS::

Who Who = is for people: = is for people: 'The person who lives next door is a 'The person who lives next door is a doctor.‘doctor.‘

WhoseWhose = is used to show ownership/possession  = is used to show ownership/possession 'The 'The woman whose son you met works in UKM.woman whose son you met works in UKM.

Whom Whom = object pronoun, although 'who' can be used in = object pronoun, although 'who' can be used in informal English.informal English.  'I saw the man whom you saw at the party.‘'I saw the man whom you saw at the party.‘

Which Which = is used for things: = is used for things: 'The car which you bought is 'The car which you bought is cool.'cool.'ThatThat = Can be used informally instead of ‘who’ and ‘which’. = Can be used informally instead of ‘who’ and ‘which’.

ADVERBIAL CLAUSEADVERBIAL CLAUSE

Adverbial clauses are clauses that function as adverbs. 

Adverbial clauses  provide information about when, why, or how something happens. 

How do you recognize an adverbial clause?  Adverbial clauses always begin with a word

known as an adverbial subordinator i.e. when, if, because, while, after, before, until, since.  

Adverbial subordinators create adverbial clauses

ADVERBIAL CLAUSEADVERBIAL CLAUSEThere are eight types of adverbial clause:

Types of clause Usual subordinators

Time clause When, before, after, since, while, as, until

Result clause So that

Purpose clause In order to, so that

Reason/ clause Because, since, as

Concessive clause Although, though, while

Clause of manner As, like, the way

Place clause Where, wherever

Conditional clause If, unless

ADVERBIAL CLAUSEADVERBIAL CLAUSETime clauses Time clauses are used to say WHEN something

happens by referring to a period of time or to another event.

For example:

Her father died when she was young

He was detained after he returned from a

business trip.

I’ve been in politics since I was at university.

Stay with me until I go.

ADVERBIAL CLAUSEADVERBIAL CLAUSEPurpose clauses When you want to indicate the purpose of an

action, you use a purpose clause. The most common subordinators used in purpose

clauses are in order that, in order to, so, so as to, so that, to.

For example:Farmers have put up fences in order to preventhippies moving on to their land.She wanted early dinner so that she could leave by

eight.Rose tread with care in order not to spread the dirt.

ADVERBIAL CLAUSEADVERBIAL CLAUSEReason/Cause clauses When you want to indicate the reason for

something, you use a reason clause. Common conjunctions include as, because, in

case, just in case and since.

For example:I wanted to leave because I hated him.As Cindy had gone to school, it seemed a good timeto have friends over.Take a coat just in case it rains.

ADVERBIAL CLAUSEADVERBIAL CLAUSEResult clauses When you want to indicate the the result of something,

you use result clause. Result clauses always come after the main clause. Result clauses usually begin with ‘so that’. This simply

says what the result of an event or situation was.For example:Explain it so that a 10-year-old could understand it.They arranged things so that they never met.