Clauses

Clauses
 
Introduction
Subordinating Conjunctions Link 'Em Together
Adverb Clauses: Hot Shots
Adjective Clauses: Paint by Numbers
Noun Clauses: What's in a Name?
 
Introduction
Here you'll meet independent and dependent clauses, including adverb, adjective, and noun clauses. Along the way, you learn how to use clauses to add description, show relationships between ideas, and eliminate unnecessary words.
Clauses: Phrases on Steroids
You've got words, you've got phrases, and now you've got clauses. The progression suggests that clauses are pumped up phrases. Indeed, clauses tend to be beefier than phrases. That's because a clause is a group of words with its own subject and verb.
You Could Look It Up
A clause is a group of words with its own subject and verb. An independent (main) clause is a complete sentence; a dependent (subordinate) clause is part of a sentence. A dependent clause cannot stand alone.
Like phrases, clauses enrich your written and oral expression by adding details and making your meaning more exact. Clauses also allow you to combine ideas to show their relationship. This adds logic and cohesion, very good things when you're trying to communicate.
There are two types of clauses: independent clauses (main clauses) and dependent clauses (subordinate clauses and relative clauses).

• An independent clause is a complete sentence; it can stand alone.
• A dependent (subordinate) clause is part of a sentence; it cannot stand alone.

Here are some examples of each type of clause.

Dependent Clause	Independent Clause
Until Captain Cooke returned from his voyage to Tahiti,	Tattooing was not known in the Western World.
Although they had the worst batting average in baseball,	The New York Mets won the World Series in 1969.
Because his salary in 1930 and 1931 was $80,000,	Babe Ruth was the best-paid athlete in the world at the time.

Strictly Speaking
Why is there a period at the end of each independent clause? Because they are complete sentences. Note that there's no period at the end of each dependent clause. That's because they're not complete sentences.
Independent Clauses: Top Dogs
An independent clause contains a subject and a predicate. It can stand alone as a sentence because it expresses a complete thought. The three independent clauses shown on the previous chart all contain a subject and a verb and express a complete idea.
The following table shows some independent clauses divided into their subjects and predicates.

Subject	Predicate
The door	opened.
Dancing	burns up 200 to 400 calories per hour.
Elvis's twin	died at birth on January 8, 1935.
Don Larsen	pitched the only perfect game in World Series history.
It	was the fifth game of the 1956 Series.

Dependent Clauses: I Get by with a Little Help from My Friends
Dependent clauses add additional information to the main clauses, but they are not necessary to form a complete thought. They do not form a complete thought by themselves. Although each of the dependent clauses shown on the first chart in this section has a subject and a verb, it does not express a complete thought. As a result, it cannot stand alone. A dependent clause is like a child; it's unable to support itself but able to cause a lot of problems if crossed.
A dependent clause often starts with a word that makes the clause unable to stand alone. Look back at the three dependent clauses on the first chart. The words used here are until, although, and because, respectively. These words are subordinating conjunctions, as you learned in Parts of Speech. We'll review subordinating conjunctions in a few minutes.
I Know 'Em When I See 'Em
Before we go on, make sure you can identify independent and dependent clauses. In the space provided, write I for independent clauses and D for dependent clauses.
·             ____ 1. The first movie version of Frankenstein came out in 1910.
·             ____ 2. Which was produced by Thomas Edison.
·             ____ 3. Robert Zimmerman grew up in Minnesota.
·             ____ 4. Before he changed his name to Bob Dylan.
·             ____ 5. Pearl Bailey enrolled as a freshman at Georgetown University.
·             ____ 6. After she enjoyed a long career in show business.

Answers
1. I	3. I	5. I
2. D	4. D	6. D

 
Subordinating Conjunctions Link 'Em Together
Subordinating conjunctions link an independent clause to a dependent clause. Each subordinating conjunction expresses a relationship between the meaning of the dependent clause and the meaning of the independent clause.
Danger
Don't use length as your yardstick when determining if a clause is independent or dependent. Either type of clause can be very long or very short—or somewhere in between. Skilled writers often vary the length of their clauses to achieve rhythm, balance, and meaning in their writing.
For example, some conjunctions show time order; others, result or effect. The following table shows the most common subordinating conjunctions and the relationships they express.

Subordinating Conjunctions
Relationship	Examples
Condition	unless, provided that, if, even if
Reason	because, as, as if
Choice	rather than, than, whether
Contrast	though, although, even though, but
Location	where, wherever
Result, effect	in order that, so, so that, that
Time	while, once, when, since, whenever, after, before, until, as soon as

Looking for Love in All the Right Places
Linking the right ideas can be nearly as gratifying as linking the right people. Okay, it might not be as satisfying, but it can be a whole lot easier.
Give it a whirl. Join each dependent clause with its independent clause by using the subordinating conjunction that expresses the most suitable meaning. Make your choice from the preceding chart. Write your answer on the lines provided.

1. Police in Wichita, Kansas, arrested a 22-year-old man at the airport hotel ____________________ he tried to pass two counterfeit $16 bills.
2. You know it's going to be a bad day ____________________ you see a 60 Minutes news team outside your office.
3. Cats have more than 100 vocal sounds, ____________________ dogs have only about 10.
4. ____________________ she were life-size, Barbie's measurements would be 39-23-33.
5. ____________________ avoid an attack by a vampire, you should eat as much garlic as possible, keep a crucifix close by, and avoid cemeteries.
6. A man in Johannesburg, South Africa, shot his 49-year-old friend in the face, seriously wounding him, ____________________ the two practiced shooting beer cans off each other's head.
7. Ice cream will actually make you warmer rather than colder ____________________ it contains so many calories.
8. A Los Angeles man who later said he was “tired of walking,” stole a steamroller and led police on a 5 mph chase ____________________ an officer stepped aboard the steamroller and brought the vehicle to a stop.
9. The writer Oscar Wilde made this statement about Niagara Falls: “Every American bride is taken there, and the sight must be one of the earliest, ____________________ not the keenest, disappointments of married life.”
10. ____________________ two service station attendants in Ionia, Michigan, refused to hand over the cash to an intoxicated robber, the robber threatened to call the police. They still refused, ____________________ the robber called the police himself and was promptly arrested.

Answers
Possible responses:
1. after	6. while
2. when	7. because
3. while, or although	8. until
4. If	9. if
5. In order to	10. When, so

Note
When a dependent clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction comes before the independent clause, the clauses are usually separated by a comma. For example: If you are to keep your respect for sausages and governments, it is best not to know what goes into either.
Adverb Clauses: Hot Shots
Dependent clauses can function as adverbs. In this case, they are called adverb clauses. (Bet I didn't surprise you with that one.) An adverb clause is a dependent clause that describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb. As with regular old garden-variety adverbs, an adverb clause answers these questions:

• Where?
• Why?
• When?
• To what extent?
• Under what condition?
• In what manner?

You Could Look It Up
An adverb clause is a dependent clause that describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
All adverb clauses start with a subordinating conjunction. You reviewed some of the most common subordinating conjunctions in the previous section; here are a few more that you can use to link ideas and show how they are related:

• As long as
• As soon as
• As though
• In

Follow the Leader
You can place an adverb clause in the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence. Refer to these examples of adverb clauses as you fashion your own.
Note
Set off adverb clauses that occur at the beginning of sentences with commas.

• Wherever she goes, she leaves a piece of luggage behind.
• The adverb clause “wherever she goes” modifies the verb “leaves.”
• Bob enjoyed the movie more than I did.
• The adverb clause “than I did” modifies the adverb “more.”
• Prince wanted to change his name because too many dogs answered when he was called.
• The adverb clause “because too many dogs answered when he was called” modifies the verb “wanted.”

Shape Up Your Sentences
You sweat for rock-hard abs, firm pecs, and a tight, uh, southern hemisphere. Why not give your sentences a good workout to make them as healthy as your bod? Adverb clauses can help you eliminate sentence flab. For instance:
Two sentences: Sean Connery had worked as both a bricklayer and a truck driver. This was before he became the original James Bond.
One sentence: Before he became the original James Bond, Sean Connery had worked as both a bricklayer and a truck driver.
Adjective Clauses: Paint by Numbers
Here's another type of clause: the adjective clause. Like adverb clauses, adjective clauses are of the dependent variety.
Adjective clauses describe nouns and pronouns. They add detail to sentences by functioning as adjectives. Obviously, you can tell an adjective clause by its function, but there's also another little clue: Most adjective clauses start with the pronouns who, whom, whose, which, that, when, or where. Adjective clauses that begin with one of the relative pronouns are also called relative clauses.
Here are some other pronouns that can start an adjective clause:

• Whoever
• Whomever
• Whichever
• What
• Whatever
• Why

You Could Look It Up
Adjective clauses describe nouns and pronouns.
You can identify an adjective clause because it answers the adjective questions: “Which one?” or “What kind?”
Here are some examples of adjective clauses:

• The only one of the seven dwarfs who does not have a beard is Dopey.

·         The adjective clause “who does not have a beard” describes the noun “one.”
Danger
Place an adjective clause as close as possible to the word it describes or risk driving your readers mad with confusion.

• I found a quiet, secluded place where we can meet.
• The adjective clause “where we can meet” describes the noun “place.”
• It never rains on days when my garden needs watering.
• The adjective clause “when my garden needs watering” describes the noun “days.”

Relative Clauses: It's All Relative
Adjective clauses that begin with one of the relative pronouns are also called relative clauses. Here are the relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that.
As you learned in Parts of Speech, relative pronouns connect (or “relate”—get it?) an adjective clause to the word the clause describes. In addition, relative pronouns function within the clause as an adjective, subject, direct object, or object of a preposition. For instance:
Strictly Speaking
Remember to use who, whom (and all variations such as whoever and whomever) to refer to people. Reserve which and that if the antecedent is a thing or an animal.

1. Relative pronoun as an adjective:

o    The boy whose book I borrowed is very hunky.
o    The relative clause “whose book I borrowed” describes the noun “boy.”

1. Relative pronoun as a subject:

o    The bird that is soaring in the sky is a seagull.
o    The relative clause “that is soaring in the sky” functions as a subject.

1. Relative pronoun as a direct object:

o    The book that you panned is really very good.
o    The relative clause “that you panned” is the direct object of the subject “you.”

1. Relative pronoun as the object of a preposition:

o    The woman of whom you spoke is my boss.
o    The relative clause “whom you spoke” is the object of the preposition “of.”
Clauses Make the Sentence
As with adverb clauses, you can use adjective clauses to link ideas, combine information, and create more effective sentences. In addition to adding description to sentences, adjective clauses allow you to create relationships between ideas. Here's an example:
Two sentences: “Rock Around the Clock” was released by Bill Haley and the Comets in 1955. “Rock Around the Clock” is often called the first big rock-and-roll hit.
One sentence: “Rock Around the Clock,” which is often called the first big rock-and-roll hit, was released by Bill Haley and the Comets in 1955.
Noun Clauses: What's in a Name?
Not to be left out of the fun, nouns also have their own clause. Just as you would expect, a noun clause is a dependent clause that functions as a noun. Because it functions as a noun, this clause can be a subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition, predicate nominative, or appositive. For instance:
·         No one understands why experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
·         The noun clause “why experience is something you don't get until just after you need it” functions as a direct object.
·         Where the candy bar is hidden remains a mystery.
·         The noun clause “where the candy bar is hidden” functions as the subject of the sentence.
You Could Look It Up
A noun clause is a dependent clause that functions as a noun.
·         The instructor gave whoever got their papers in early extra credit.
·         The noun clause “whoever got their papers in early” functions as an indirect object.
Connect the Dots
Clauses can also be used to express comparisons. When such clauses imply some of the words rather than state them outright, you have created an elliptical clause. The name “elliptical” comes from the word ellipsis, which means “omission.” For example:

• The other members of the demonstration were as angry as I.

·         Insert the missing word was after “I.”

• The social climber feared the judgment of the decorator more than the cost of the project.

·         Insert the missing subject and verb “he (or she) feared” after the word than.
You Could Look It Up
Elliptical clauses intentionally omit words for conciseness.
Elliptical clauses come in different flavors: adverb, adjective, and noun. Here's how you can recognize them.

Type of Clause	What's Omitted
Adverb clause	Subject, verb, or either one
Adjective clause	The words that, which, whom
Noun clause	Subject, verb, or the second half of the comparison

Danger
Because elliptical clauses are missing words, there's a danger that they might not convey your meaning. As you write, say the word or words you are leaving out to make sure your clauses are clear.
The mark of punctuation called an ellipsis is three spaced dots (…). It's used to show that something has been intentionally omitted from a sentence. Elliptical clauses don't use the three spaced dots of the ellipsis; instead, the elliptical clause just swipes the name of the ellipsis and adopts its function in the way it structures a sentence by omitting certain words.
Elliptical clauses help create concise writing and speech. In these days when many people have a lot to say but say little, we want to support the use of the elliptical clause as much as possible.
Getting Down and Dirty
Time for fun, Gentle Reader. Knowing how to identify clauses is important, but it's even more important that you know how to use them to create precise and graceful sentences. Try it now. Combine each pair of clauses to eliminate unnecessary words and express the meaning more clearly. There are several different ways to combine each sentence. If you're stumped, I've given you a hint in parenthesis at the end of each pair of sentences.
1. I found the book. I need the book. (that)
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2. “Rock Around the Clock” was released by Bill Haley and the Comets in 1955.
It is often called the first big rock-and-roll hit. (which)
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. Many people believe that skyscrapers can sway eight feet or more in a strong wind.
That is not true. (although or but)
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4. Charlie Chaplin was widely copied.
He once entered a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest and came in third. (who)
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5. You recommended a movie.
It is no longer playing. (that)
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6. Dopey does not have a beard.
He is the only one of the seven dwarfs without a beard. (who)
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7. I received a postcard from a friend.
The friend is working in Bora-Bora. (from whom)
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8. He travels all over.
He collects bizarre souvenirs. (wherever)
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9. Thomas Jefferson returned from Naples to American with four crates of “maccarony.”
He never guessed that someday his countrymen would be eating more than 150 types of pasta. (when)
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10. Pasta has the reputation of being fattening.
It is not necessarily fattening. (despite)
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Answers

1. I found the book that I need.
2. “Rock Around the Clock,” which is often called the first big rock-and-roll hit, was released by Bill Haley and the Comets in 1955.
3. Although many people believe that skyscrapers can sway eight feet or more in a strong wind, that is not true.
4. Charlie Chaplin, who was widely copied, once entered a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest and came in third.
5. The movie that you recommended is no longer playing.
6. The only one of the seven dwarfs who does not have a beard is Dopey.

o    Or:
o    Dopey is the only one of the seven dwarfs who does not have a beard.

1. The friend from whom I received a postcard is working in Bora-Bora.
2. Wherever he travels, he collects bizarre souvenirs.
3. When Thomas Jefferson returned from Naples to American with four crates of “maccarony,” he never guessed that someday his countrymen would be eating more than 150 types of pasta.
4. Despite its reputation, pasta is not necessarily fattening.