## 📝 **Clause Identification: Quick Revision Notes** A **clause** is a group of words that contains a **subject** and a **verb**. It's the fundamental building block of a sentence. ### **Types of Clauses** There are two main types of clauses: * **Independent Clause (Main Clause):** * This clause can stand alone as a complete sentence because it expresses a complete thought. * It contains a subject and a verb. * **Trick:** If you can say it out loud and it makes perfect sense as a standalone sentence, it's an independent clause. * **Example:** *She sang a beautiful song.* (Subject: *She*, Verb: *sang*). * **Dependent Clause (Subordinate Clause):** * This clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on an independent clause to make sense. * It contains a subject and a verb but starts with a **subordinating conjunction** or a **relative pronoun**. * **Trick:** It often begins with words like *because, since, although, when, where, who, which, that*. * **Example:** *...because he was tired.* (This doesn't make sense on its own). --- ### **Types of Dependent Clauses** Dependent clauses are further categorized based on their function in a sentence. #### **1. Noun Clause** * **Function:** Acts as a noun. It can be the subject, object, or complement of a verb. * **Tricks:** * It answers the question "what?" * You can often replace the entire clause with a single noun or pronoun (*it*, *this*, *that*). * **Common Starting Words:** *what, whatever, who, whoever, whom, whomever, that, why, how, when, whether, if*. * **Examples:** * ***What he said*** was surprising. (Subject of the verb *was*) * I know ***that you can do it***. (Object of the verb *know*) #### **2. Adjective Clause (Relative Clause)** * **Function:** Acts as an adjective. It modifies (describes) a noun or pronoun in the main clause. * **Tricks:** * It usually follows the noun it modifies. * It answers the question "which one?" or "what kind?" * **Common Starting Words (Relative Pronouns):** *who, whom, whose, which, that*. * **Examples:** * The student ***who studied hard*** passed the exam. (Describes the noun *student*) * The car ***that I bought*** is red. (Describes the noun *car*) #### **3. Adverb Clause** * **Function:** Acts as an adverb. It modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. * **Tricks:** * It answers questions like "when?", "where?", "why?", "how?", "to what extent?". * It often begins with a **subordinating conjunction**. * **Common Starting Words:** *when, while, since, before, after, because, as, if, unless, though, although, so that, in order that, than, as soon as*. * **Examples:** * He left ***when the bell rang***. (Tells *when* he left) * She passed the test ***because she studied***. (Tells *why* she passed) --- ### **Important Exam Concepts & Tricks** * **Relative Pronoun Omission:** Sometimes the relative pronoun (*that*, *which*, *whom*) can be omitted in an adjective clause, especially in informal contexts, but the clause remains. * **Example:** The book *(that)* I read was excellent. * **Elliptical Clauses:** These are clauses where a part (usually the verb) is omitted because it's understood from the context. * **Example:** He is taller than I *(am)*. * **Identifying the Core Clause:** When a sentence is long and complex, first identify the independent clause. Everything else is a dependent clause. * **Punctuation:** An adverb clause at the beginning of a sentence is usually followed by a comma. * **Example:** *Because it was raining*, we stayed inside. --- ### **Objective Questions** 1. Identify the clause: "He ran **because he was late**." * **Answer:** Adverb clause 2. What kind of clause is a relative clause? * **Answer:** Adjective clause 3. Name the type of clause that can stand alone as a sentence. * **Answer:** Independent clause 4. "I know **that he is a doctor**." Identify the bold clause. * **Answer:** Noun clause 5. What part of a sentence does an adjective clause modify? * **Answer:** Noun or pronoun 6. A clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction is always what type of clause? * **Answer:** Dependent clause 7. "The woman **who is my teacher** is kind." What is the bold clause? * **Answer:** Adjective clause 8. Which type of clause answers the question "what?" * **Answer:** Noun clause 9. "You can sit **wherever you want**." Identify the bold clause. * **Answer:** Adverb clause 10. What are the two essential components of any clause? * **Answer:** Subject and verb 11. "I saw the man **whom you met**." Identify the bold clause. * **Answer:** Adjective clause 12. Is a dependent clause a complete thought? * **Answer:** No 13. In "I believe **that the earth is round**," what kind of clause is the bold part? * **Answer:** Noun clause 14. An adverb clause tells you *when*, *where*, *why*, or *how* something happened. True or False? * **Answer:** True 15. What is another name for an independent clause? * **Answer:** Main clause 16. "She passed the exam **though she didn't study**." What is the bold clause? * **Answer:** Adverb clause 17. What type of word usually introduces an adjective clause? * **Answer:** Relative pronoun 18. "I don't remember **what he said**." What kind of clause is the bold part? * **Answer:** Noun clause 19. "The boy **who won the race** is my friend." What is the function of the bold clause? * **Answer:** It modifies the noun "boy." 20. In the sentence "He left early," how many clauses are there? * **Answer:** One (Independent clause) --- *Last updated: 19/8/2025*
## 📝 **Clause Identification: Quick Revision Notes** A **clause** is a group of words that contains a **subject** and a **verb**. It's the fundamental building block of a sentence. ### **Types of Clauses** There are two main types of clauses: * **Independent Clause (Main Clause):** * This clause can stand alone as a complete sentence because it expresses a complete thought. * It contains a subject and a verb. * **Trick:** If you can say it out loud and it makes perfect sense as a standalone sentence, it's an independent clause. * **Example:** *She sang a beautiful song.* (Subject: *She*, Verb: *sang*). * **Dependent Clause (Subordinate Clause):** * This clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on an independent clause to make sense. * It contains a subject and a verb but starts with a **subordinating conjunction** or a **relative pronoun**. * **Trick:** It often begins with words like *because, since, although, when, where, who, which, that*. * **Example:** *...because he was tired.* (This doesn't make sense on its own). --- ### **Types of Dependent Clauses** Dependent clauses are further categorized based on their function in a sentence. #### **1. Noun Clause** * **Function:** Acts as a noun. It can be the subject, object, or complement of a verb. * **Tricks:** * It answers the question "what?" * You can often replace the entire clause with a single noun or pronoun (*it*, *this*, *that*). * **Common Starting Words:** *what, whatever, who, whoever, whom, whomever, that, why, how, when, whether, if*. * **Examples:** * ***What he said*** was surprising. (Subject of the verb *was*) * I know ***that you can do it***. (Object of the verb *know*) #### **2. Adjective Clause (Relative Clause)** * **Function:** Acts as an adjective. It modifies (describes) a noun or pronoun in the main clause. * **Tricks:** * It usually follows the noun it modifies. * It answers the question "which one?" or "what kind?" * **Common Starting Words (Relative Pronouns):** *who, whom, whose, which, that*. * **Examples:** * The student ***who studied hard*** passed the exam. (Describes the noun *student*) * The car ***that I bought*** is red. (Describes the noun *car*) #### **3. Adverb Clause** * **Function:** Acts as an adverb. It modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. * **Tricks:** * It answers questions like "when?", "where?", "why?", "how?", "to what extent?". * It often begins with a **subordinating conjunction**. * **Common Starting Words:** *when, while, since, before, after, because, as, if, unless, though, although, so that, in order that, than, as soon as*. * **Examples:** * He left ***when the bell rang***. (Tells *when* he left) * She passed the test ***because she studied***. (Tells *why* she passed) --- ### **Important Exam Concepts & Tricks** * **Relative Pronoun Omission:** Sometimes the relative pronoun (*that*, *which*, *whom*) can be omitted in an adjective clause, especially in informal contexts, but the clause remains. * **Example:** The book *(that)* I read was excellent. * **Elliptical Clauses:** These are clauses where a part (usually the verb) is omitted because it's understood from the context. * **Example:** He is taller than I *(am)*. * **Identifying the Core Clause:** When a sentence is long and complex, first identify the independent clause. Everything else is a dependent clause. * **Punctuation:** An adverb clause at the beginning of a sentence is usually followed by a comma. * **Example:** *Because it was raining*, we stayed inside. --- ### **Objective Questions** 1. Identify the clause: "He ran **because he was late**." * **Answer:** Adverb clause 2. What kind of clause is a relative clause? * **Answer:** Adjective clause 3. Name the type of clause that can stand alone as a sentence. * **Answer:** Independent clause 4. "I know **that he is a doctor**." Identify the bold clause. * **Answer:** Noun clause 5. What part of a sentence does an adjective clause modify? * **Answer:** Noun or pronoun 6. A clause that begins with a subordinating conjunction is always what type of clause? * **Answer:** Dependent clause 7. "The woman **who is my teacher** is kind." What is the bold clause? * **Answer:** Adjective clause 8. Which type of clause answers the question "what?" * **Answer:** Noun clause 9. "You can sit **wherever you want**." Identify the bold clause. * **Answer:** Adverb clause 10. What are the two essential components of any clause? * **Answer:** Subject and verb 11. "I saw the man **whom you met**." Identify the bold clause. * **Answer:** Adjective clause 12. Is a dependent clause a complete thought? * **Answer:** No 13. In "I believe **that the earth is round**," what kind of clause is the bold part? * **Answer:** Noun clause 14. An adverb clause tells you *when*, *where*, *why*, or *how* something happened. True or False? * **Answer:** True 15. What is another name for an independent clause? * **Answer:** Main clause 16. "She passed the exam **though she didn't study**." What is the bold clause? * **Answer:** Adverb clause 17. What type of word usually introduces an adjective clause? * **Answer:** Relative pronoun 18. "I don't remember **what he said**." What kind of clause is the bold part? * **Answer:** Noun clause 19. "The boy **who won the race** is my friend." What is the function of the bold clause? * **Answer:** It modifies the noun "boy." 20. In the sentence "He left early," how many clauses are there? * **Answer:** One (Independent clause) --- *Last updated: 19/8/2025*