ENGLISH LANGUAGE-PART A (CLAUSES)Compiled by Chikondi Nelson

CLAUSES AND PHRASES

Objectives

By the end of this topic a student should achieve the following objectives;

Ø Should be able to know what a main clause and subordinate clause are.
Ø Should be able to know types of subordinate clauses
Ø Should be able to differentiate each type of a clause from one another
Ø Should also be able to differentiate a clause from a phrase.
Introduction

PART A -CLAUSES

Clauses and Phrases are one of areas in English grammar that most students find
difficulties when dealing with them.

However, with a few points and examples highlighted in this edition, one will be
assisted and be able to identify them in a simplest way. Make sure you follow carefully
each and every point and example for you to be successful.

What is a main clause?

It is a group of words with one or many verbs in it and gives a meaning on its own. A
main clause is also known as independent clause.

Examples;

Ø He writes.

Ø John walks fast.

Ø Merry is cooking.

Ø Daniel likes playing games.

What is a subordinate clause?

It is a group of related words with one or more verbs that has a subject and a contain a
predicate which includes a finite verb but cannot stand on its. own. Subordinate clause
relies on main clause for it to make sense. It is introduced by a related pronoun or a
conjunction. A subordinate clause is also known as dependent clause.

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Examples of subordinate clauses

Ø When he comes.

Ø If you wanted to give me.

Ø That he is humble.

NOTE: Both main clause and a subordinate clause are combined to make one complex
sentence.

For the exams purpose the subordinate clause is the one that in most cases in
underlined.

Let’s look at the following examples to see how a main clause and a subordinate
clause are combined and used together in one sentence. In the following examples the
subordinate clauses have been underlined while the main clauses have been left not
underlined.

Examples
1. Jane asked if the train would arrive soon.
2. What he said confuse me.
3. This is the man I was talking about.
4. He arrived home when the sun was setting.
5. I don’t understand what you mean.
Having looked at how the main clause and a subordinate clause are combined and
used together in one sentence, let us now focus much on subordinate clauses. The
following points have explained what a subordinate clause is. The points have also
explained well how one can easily recognize a subordinate clause and be able to
differentiate it from a phrase.

SUBORDINATE CLAUSES
Let’s us now define a subordinate clause as;

A group of words having a subject and a predicate.

When we say a subject we mean there’s a doer of an action. A predicate is a remaining part of
the sentence after removing the subject.

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Let’s look at one example to illustrate this. In this example we have not included the main
clause since our main focus is on the subordinate clause.

Example
Ø When Hazard is playing football.

We can analyze the above sentence in this way;

Hazard is a subject because he is the one doing an action i.e playing football.

Our predicate is the remaining part after removing Hazard i.e is playing football.

That is the general structure of all clause thus inclusive of a subject and a predicate.

From this sentence we can also find something that is making the whole of it to be
sensible. When the sentence contains a subject and a predicate it also means it
contains a finite verb. Now the question can be What is a finite verb? To answer this
question let’s go back to our sentence

Ø When Hazard is playing football.

We are able to get what this sentence is all about due to the fact that it has a main verb
that helps us get what action is being done as well as when this action is taking place.
This helps us to know the meaning of the word finite verb.

A finite verb is the main verb that indicates an action as well as time at which an action
is done.
To prove whether a certain sentence contains a finite verb or not we can simply try to
change that sentence into various verb tenses such as; simple present tense, simple
future tense and any other tenses you wish. If the sentence can be able to be changed
into various tenses, then it contains a finite verb but if it cannot be changed then it
means there is no finite verb.

Let’s go back to our first sentence and try to find out whether it contains a finite verb or
not by changing it into various tenses as explained earlier on.
Ø When Hazard is playing football.

In what tense is this sentence? Probably because of axillary verb “is “and main verb
“playing” we can confidently say that it is in the simple present continuous tense.

If we can change it into past continuous tense the sentence will be read as;

Ø When Hazard was playing football.

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If we can change it into simple present tense the sentence will be;

Ø When Hazard plays football.

This means that this sentence has a finite verb that is why we are able to change it
according to time we want an action to be done.

Having looked at what a finite verb is and how we can prove whether a certain
sentence contains it or not let’s look at the structure of a clause.
The main difference between a phrase and a clause.

Ø A clause contains a finite verb while a phrase does not contain a finite verb. This
means one cannot change a phrase into different verb tenses the way we did
with the clauses above.

(Phrases will be covered in details later)

Let’s look at the following sentence for more information about a finite verb.

Ø What he said surprised everyone.

If we cannot be able to know whether this sentence contains a finite verb or not do not
panic. Let’s just try to change our subordinate clause into different tenses the way we
did with the first sentence. If the underlined part will be able to be changed then we will
conclude to say that it is a clause but if it doesn’t then we have to forget about
regarding it as a clause.

The sentence ‘what he said’ is in the simple past tense and let’s try to change it into
other tenses.

In simple present tense this sentence will be;

Ø What he says.

Now that we have seen that this sentence has been changed from simple past tense to
simple present tense, it simply means that the above sentence contains a finite verb.

Let’s try to change it into simple future tense; In this tense this sentence will be;
Ø What he will say

Indeed, this means that this sentence has a finite verb.

Now we can make a conclusion to say that the above sentence is a clause due to the

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fact that all clauses contain a finite verb.

If the group of related words doesn’t contain a finite verb it means that that group of
related words is not a clause rather it is a phrase.

QUICK FACT ABOUT THE CLAUSE;

It contains a finite verb which is found in a sentence which has a subject and a
predicate.

TYPES OF SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

Basically there are three types of subordinate clauses.

1. Noun subordinate clause

2. Adjective subordinate clause
3. Adverb subordinate clause
Let’s look at each one of them one at a time in details.

NOUN SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

A noun subordinate clause is a group of related words which contains a subject

and predicate that includes a finite verb and functions a single noun. A noun
clause is known by its name due to the fact that it is used as a noun, only that in
this case it is a group of related words.

NOTE: One can easily recognize a noun clause if he as asks the question WHAT
from the main clause and the noun subordinate clause answers the question
asked. What does this mean? It means we ask a question from the main clause
and the subordinate clause is the answer. A noun subordinate clause answers
the question WHAT.

Let’s look at an example to illustrate this ‘;

1. What he said surprised us.

Main clause: Surprised us.

Subordinate Clause: What he said.

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What question can you ask from the main clause and the answer should be a
subordinate clause?

The question will be, what surprised us?

And the answer is, what he said.

Let’s look at one more example;

2. He did not explain why he failed exams.

Main clause: He did not explain.

Subordinate clause: Why he failed exams.

Question; What did he not explain?

Answer; Why he failed exams.

Conclusion; Both subordinate clauses are noun clauses.

Reason; Both subordinate clauses answer the question WHAT

Noun subordinate clause is introduced by words such as What, Where, How, If,
Whatever, Whosoever, whoever etc.

CATEGORIES OF NOUN CLAUSES

Noun clauses are categorized according to the function played by different

group of a related words that functions as a noun. A noun subordinate clause
can function in five different ways. These are

1. Noun clause as a subject of the verb

2. Noun clause as object of the verb
3. Noun clause as object of the preposition
4. Noun clause as a complement of the verb
5. Noun clause in apposition to another noun.
Now let’s look at each one of these in details.

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NOUN CLAUSE SUBJECT OF THE VERB

In this case the subordinate clause is found at the beginning of the sentence.
Let’s look at the following two examples;

1. What he said surprised us.

Type of the clause: Noun clause

Reason: The subordinate clause is answering the question ‘WHAT’ (What

surprised us? = “What he said”.)

Function: Subject of the verb “surprised”.

Reason: The subordinate clause (what he said) is found at the beginning of the
sentence.

2. How he won the prize he did not explain.

Type of the clause: Noun clause

Reason: The subordinate clause is answering the question ‘WHAT’ (What did he
not explain? = “How he won the prize”)

Function: Subject of the verb “did not explain”

Reason: The subordinate clause is found at the beginning of the sentence.

NOTE: If you see a subordinate clause being found at the beginning of the
sentence do not make a conclusion that it is a noun clause, subject of the verb.
This is because the other types of subordinate clauses can also be found at the
beginning of the sentence. It is only the question WHAT that can give you a
confidence to make a conclusion that it is a noun clause if it answers it.

NOUN CLAUSE OBJECT OF THE VERB

In this case the subordinate clause comes before a main verb. Let’s look at the
following two examples.

1. He explained what he meant.

Type of the clause: Noun clause

Reason: The subordinate clause is answering question “WHAT” (What did he

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explain? = “What he meant”)

Function: Object of the verb “Explained”

Reason: The main verb in the main follows a subordinate clause.

2. Mercy asked if the teacher would help her.

Type of the clause: Noun clause

Reason: The subordinate clause is answering the question “WHAT” (What did
Mercy ask? = “If the teacher would help her”)

Function: Object of the verb “Asked”

Reason: The main verb in the subordinate clause comes before a subordinate
clause.

NOUN CLAUSE COMPLEMENT OF THE VERB

In this case the structure of the sentence looks similar to noun subordinate
clause object of the verb only that in this case the subordinate clause completes
the work of a verb which is called a linking verb.

Examples of linking verbs are; is, are. were, get, be.

If the main clause ends in with any of linking verbs the function of that particular
clause is called Noun clause complement of the verb.

Let’s look at the following two examples;

1. This is what he said.

Type of the subordinate clause: Noun clause

Reason: The subordinate clause is answering the question “WHAT” (What is

this? = “What he said”)

Function: Complement of the verb “is.”

Reason: Between a main clause and subordinate clause there’s a linking verb “i
s”.

2. It looks to be what he was talking about.

Type of the subordinate clause: Noun clause

Reason: The subordinate clause answers the question “WHAT” (What does it

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look to be? = “What he was talking about.”)

Function: Complement of the verb “be”

Reason: Between a main clause and a subordinate clause there’s a linking verb
“be”.

NOTE: There are so many examples of linking verbs. You have to find out all of
them for to be safe.

NOUN CLAUSE OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION

This type of a noun clause is also called a noun clause governed by the
preposition.

This appear to be simplest of all as long as you know different examples of

prepositions.

In this case between a main clause and a subordinate clause there is a

preposition. It is also similar to the two we have just looked at recently, only that
a preposition is placed between a main clause and a subordinate clause.

Let’s look at the following two examples.

1. We cannot depend on what he said.

Type of the subordinate clause: Noun clause

Reason: The subordinate clause is answering the question “WHAT” (What can
we not depend on? = “What he said”)

Function: Object of the preposition “On”.

2. Emmanuel explained about what many students never understand.

Type of the clause: Noun clause

Reason: The subordinate clause is answering the question “WHAT” (What did
Emmanuel explain about? “What many students never understand”

Function: Object of the preposition “about”.

Reason: Between a main clause and a subordinate clause there is a preposition

“on”.

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NOTE: Some of the prepositions that can be found between main clause and
subordinate clause are as follows;

For, before, since, at, in, to, from, to mention but just a few. Make sure the
preposition is only found very close to the subordinate clause thus it has to be
found in between the main clause and the subordinate clause not at any other
positions.

NOUN CLAUSE IN APPOSITION TO ANOTHER NOUN

In this case the subordinate clause stands for the noun that it precedes. The
best way to deal with this one is by knowing the following two facts.

1. Most of the times (but not always) noun which is found in the main clause is
abstractive noun. (All the nouns that cannot be seen and touched nor felt)
These nouns include; news, story, rumuor, issue, knowledge etc.

2. The subordinate clause is most of the times introduced by “THAT”, such that
when you try to remove it and put “WHICH” the sentence does not make
sense at all. This can be illustrated in the following example.

Ø The news that I am a teacher is false.

If we remove the relative conjunction “THAT” and put “WHICH” the sentence
will be as following;

Ø The news which I am a teacher is false

Now you can observe that the sentence is no longer giving sense after
substituting “THAT” for “WHICH”. This means that the type of a clause is
a noun clause.

Now let’s look at the following two examples;

1. The rumour that we will fly to America is doubtful.

Type of the subordinate clause: Noun clause.

Reason 1: The noun rumour is abstractive noun

Reason 2: The relative “THAT” in the subordinate clause cannot give sense if it
is removed and put WHICH. (try to do it)

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Function: In apposition to noun “Rumour”

Reason: (Given already)

2. The idea that we should work hard will help us.

Type of the subordinate clause; Noun clause

Reason: The noun “Idea” is abstractive noun and the relative pronoun “THAT”
which is in our main clause, cannot make sense if we remove it and put “WHICH”.
(try it)

Function: In apposition to noun “Idea”

Reason: (Given already)

NOTE: If the subordinate clause gives sense after removing “THAT” and put
“WHICH,” you have to forget about a noun clause. It is an adjective clause which
will be discussed later on.

Look at the following last example;

Ø The idea that he shared is straight forward.

If “THAT” is removed and “WHICH” is used instead, the sentence will be like as
following;

The idea which he shared is straight forward.

From this example you can notice that the sentence is giving sense after putting
WHICH instead of “THAT”, this can give us a conclusion to say that this is not a
noun clause.

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That is all about noun clauses. If you get confused go through them more than
twice.

ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

An adjective clause is a group of related words which have a subject and a

predicate that includes a finite verb. An adjective clause functions a single
adjective and answers the question “WHICH”.

An adjective clause qualifies a noun or pronoun. The word “qualifies “in this
case simply means an adjective describes more about a noun or pronoun.

In most cases (but not always) it qualifies a concrete noun. A concrete noun is
any noun that can be seen, felt and touched. Examples of these nouns include;
stone, tree, car, man, boy, girl, school etc.

The noun which is qualified by an adjective is found in the main clause. The
quick way of identifying adjective clause is simply by asking yourself what the
subordinate is talking about in that sentence. In this case if you’re familiar with
adjective in as far as part of speech is concerned, you can apply the same
knowledge here. The only difference is that in parts of speech we look at a
single word talking more about a noun or a pronoun. Now that we are talking
about clauses we look at a group of words but doing the same function a single
adjective does.

Let’s look at the following two examples;

Ø This is the place where I met her.

If you look closely at this sentence you find out that the underline and bolded
words are talking about something. Fortunately, if we look at our main clause we
are finding the thing that is being talked by those underlined words. What is this
this? Probably the underlined part is talking about a Place. What part of speech
is the word Place? For sure the “word” place, is a noun. Now we have a single
noun (place) being described by a group of words (where I met her). When a
word talks more about a noun or pronoun we call that word “adjective”, and
when a group of words talk more about a noun or pronoun we call that group of
words collectively as an adjective clause.

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In this case it means Where I met her, is an adjective clause qualifying a noun
place.

To confirm this, we can ask a question from the main clause and the
subordinate clause becomes the answer. This can be done as the following;

Ø This is the place where I met her.

Question: Which place is this?

Answer: Where I met her.

Conclusion; The subordinate clause is adjective clause

Reason 1: It is answering the question “WHICH”.

Reason 2: It is talking more about a noun “place”

Other few examples.

1. The car that was burnt last night is mine.

Type: Adjective clause

Reason 1: The subordinate clause (underlined part) is talking more about a noun
“car”.

Reason 2: Trying to substitute “THAT” for “WHICH” will not change anything
since the sentence still makes sense. (try it)

2. Chisomo is the girl whom we trust in.

Type of the subordinate clause; Adjective clause.

Reason 1: The subordinate clause (underlined part) is talking about a proper

noun “CHISOMO”.

Reason 2: The subordinate clause is answering the question “WHICH” (Which

girl is Chisomo? = “Whom we trust in”)

NOTE: The subordinate clause of the adjective is introduced by different

conjunction;

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who, whom, where, when, etc. and a relative pronoun that.

Let’s look at the following last example;

Ø This is the time we go for break.

If you look very carefully at this sentence you will notice that there’s something
that has been hidden in our subordinate clause. Mind you a subordinate clause
is called a by its name due to the fact that on it’s on it does not make sense. The
major thing that makes it not to stand on its own is that its sentence begins with
a conjunction or a pronoun.

If you look at this sentence, we only see that it has begun with a pronoun. But
does it mean that it really does not contain a conjunction or a relative pronoun?
The answer is no!! That sentence has begun with THAT/WHICH or WHEN only
that it is in silent mode. Now let’s us Identify the type as well the function of this
clause.

Type of the clause: Adjective clause

Reason 1: The subordinate clause answers the question “WHICH” (Which time is
this? = “That we go for break”)

Reason 2: The subordinate clause (underline part) is talking more about the
common noun “time”.

Function: Qualifying a noun ‘time’

Lastly let us look at the last type of subordinate clauses which is adverb clause.

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THE ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

What is an adverb clause?

This is a group of related words which have a subject and a predicate that
includes a finite verb. An adverb clause functions as a single adverb, an adverb
clause modifies a verb, an adjective and another adverb. There are different
types of adverb but we will at these in our edition. For now, let’s us just
concentrate on how best we can be able to identify an adverb clause in a given
sentence.

For the purpose of exams, focus much on Noun and adjective clauses. This is
because you can be able to identify an adverb clause if you realize that the
subordinate clause neither answers the question “WHAT” nor “WHICH”.

An adverb subordinate clause is introduced by words such as since, if, because,

for, so that, where, when, as if etc. The adverb clause answers the questions
such why, where, when, for, unless etc. except “WHICH” and “WHAT”.

Let’s look at the following two examples.

1. I will tell you when I finish eating.

Type of the subordinate clause: Adverb clause

Reason 1: The subordinate clause is answering the question “WHEN” (When will
you tell me? “When I finish eating”)

Reason 2: The subordinate clause is not answering a question “WHAT” or

“WHICH”. This simply means it can’t be nothing strange other than an adverb
clause.

Function: Modifying the verb “will tell”

2. He was given a punishment because he was found teasing.

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Type of the subordinate clause: Adverb clause

Reason: The subordinate clause is answering the question “WHY”.

Function: modifies a verb “was given”

NOTE: You can also easily identify an adverb clause just by inspection. You can
do it by asking yourself a simple question. This question is; What is this group of
underlined words talking more about? Then to answer this question just look at
your main clause.

If it talks more about an action taking place, then we can conclude that it is an
adverb clause modifying the verb being talked about.

If it talks more about another adverb which is found in the main clause, then we
can conclude that it is an adverb clause modifying another adverb mentioned

Lastly if it talks more about an adjective which is found in the main clause then
we can conclude by saying that it is an adverb clause and its function is”
modifying the mentioned adjective.”

Other examples;

1. He wanted him so that he can assist us.

2. I will call if I find time.
3. They meet where Mr Mchepa stays.
4. When it’s time tell me.
5. I knew James when I joined Biology WhatsApp group.
6. Work hard now since you never know about tomorrow.
(This part will be covered fully in next edition.)
PART B-PHRASES

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