Module: Grammar Teacher: Mr.

Abes

Sentence and Clause

A sentence is a grammatical unit that consists of at least one clause and a clause is a
grammatical unit that consists of a subject and a predicate. Sentences can be classified by
number of clauses and clause connectors into four types:

1. Sentence Types

1.1. Simple sentence a sentence of one clause or a sentence with one subject and one
predicate is classified as a simple sentence. It is a complete unit of meaning which
contains a subject and a verb, followed, if necessary, by other words which make up the
meaning:

 Subject + verb: The rice is burning.

 Subject + verb + complement: She is a lawyer. She is intelligent.
 Subject + verb + direct object: I have read this book.
 Subject + verb + indirect object + direct object: My boss wrote me a letter.
 Subject + verb + object + complement: They made him very famous.

1.2. Compound sentence consists of at least two independent clauses connected by three
types of cohesion devices:
a. A semicolon (;)
 Mr. White was sleeping; his wife was cooking.

b. Coordinating conjunctions, and, and then, but, for, nor, or, so, yet; either... or;
neither... nor...; not only... but... (also/as well/too):
 He washed the car and polished it.
 He washed the car and then polished it.
 She sold her house, but/yet (she) can't help regretting it.
 You can park your car on the drive or on the road.
 He couldn't find his pen, so he wrote in pencil.
 We rarely stay in hotels, for we can't afford it.

c. Or conjunctive adverbs (furthermore, moreover, similarly, however,

nevertheless, nonetheless, therefore, consequently, finally, likewise,
otherwise, meanwhile)
 Mr. White was sleeping; however, his wife was cooking.

In a compound sentence, the independent clauses can each stand alone as a complete
sentence.

Task: Combine each pair using a coordinating conjunction, conjunctive adverb, or semicolon.

1. The manager approved the budget. The board later rejected it.

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 2. You must complete the form. Otherwise, your application will be delayed.
3. He apologized sincerely. She wasn’t ready to forgive him.
4. My phone was dead. I couldn’t contact anyone.
5. The lecture was long. The topic was fascinating.
6. I cleaned the kitchen. My brother took out the trash.
7. She was injured. She managed to finish the race.

1.3. Complex sentence consists of at least two clauses connected by subordinating

conjunctions. In a complex sentence, one clause is independent while the other clause is
dependent. A dependent clause (also called a sub-ordinate clause) does not express a
complete thought and cannot be a sentence by itself. It can be one of three types:

a. Complex sentence containing a dependent noun clause

 I know what you did last summer.(with 1 dependent noun clause)

b. Complex sentence containing a dependent adjective clause

 The man whom we suspected had gone. (with 1 dependent adjective
clause)

c. Complex sentence containing a dependent adverb clause

 The man had left before we arrived. (with 1 dependent adverb clause)
 The man whom we suspect had left before we arrived. (with 2 dependent
clauses:1 adjective clause and 1 adverb clause)

1.3.1. Complex sentence with Noun Clause

A noun clause does the work of a noun. It answers the questions Who? or What?
 He told me about his success. (Told me about what?): his success is a 'noun
phrase'.
 He told me that he had succeeded. (... What?): that he had succeeded is a
noun clause.

Noun clauses usually begin with: that, wh-question words, whether, if, and function as
nouns.

a. As a subject
 Whoever crosses the line first wins the prize.

b. As an object of the main verb

 I’ll do whatever you want.

c. As an object of the preposition

 He worried about how ill she was.

d. As an object of the infinitive or the participle

 I want to know where he lives.
 Fearing that he might fail the exam, Ahmed studied all night.

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 e. As a complement of the subject
 The problem is that nobody listened.

f. As an Apposition to a noun or pronoun

 The fact that he was guilty was obvious.

Task: Underline the noun clause and state its function.

1. What she does during the weekends is none of my concern.

2. I don’t know whether we should trust him again.
3. That the company went bankrupt surprised everyone.
4. They couldn't believe what they were hearing.
5. You must consider how your actions affect others.
6. It depends on whether the meeting is postponed.
7. He revealed that he had been lying all along.
8. Who she decides to hire is entirely up to her.
9. The fact that they arrived late annoyed the organizer.

1.3.2. Complex sentence with Adjective Clause

An adjective clause (also called adjectival clause) is a dependent clause that modifies
a noun and usually begins with a relative pronoun (which, that, who, whom, whose) or a
relative adverb (where, when, why, before, and after).
a. As modifiers of nouns or pronouns which are the subjects of independent clauses
 The boy who found the box did not leave his name.
b. As modifiers of nouns or pronouns which are the objects of independent clauses
 I know the boy who found the box.
c. As modifiers of the complements of the subjects in independent clauses.
 He is the boy who found the box.

1.3.2.1. Types of Adjective Clauses

Restrictive/Defining and Non-Restrictive/Non-Defining Adjective Clauses

These two types of adjective clauses are classified according to their necessity to define their
nouns.

a. Restrictive/ Defining Adjective Clause

This type of adjective clause is used when a noun is too broad and thus necessary to be
specified with some details.
 The man whom we suspect has gone before we arrived.

b. Non-Restrictive/Non-Defining Adjective Clause

This type of adjective clause is used when a noun is already specific and does not need
further definition. Usually, proper names are followed by non-defining adjective clauses
which are placed after a comma or between commas.

 Phuket, which is an island in the south of Thailand, is very beautiful.

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Practice Add commas to the following sentences where necessary.
Ex: My husband, who is on a business trip to Rome all this week, sent me this postcard.
1. The person who told you that story didn't know what he was talking about.
2. Will the driver whose vehicle has the registration number PXB2140 please move it?
3. The author Barbara Branwell whose latest novel has already sold over a million copies will
be giving a lecture at the public library tomorrow.
4. The person whom you got that information from is my cousin.
5. The manager whom I complained to about the service has refunded part of our bill.

1.3.2.2. Adjective Clause with Relative Adverb

An adjective clause may be introduced by three adverbs: when to modify a noun of time,
where to modify a noun of place, and why to modify a noun of reason. Originally, these
adverbs themselves also modify verbs in the adjective clauses. In this case, these adverbs are
called relative adverbs. For each of following sentences, the original form of the adjective
clause is in brackets.
 The time when you were born is still unknown. (You were born at that time)
 The office is the place where you waste most of your life. (You waste most of
your time at the place/there.)
 I want to know the reason why you left me. (You left me for that reason.)

a. Adjective Clause contrasted with Noun Clause

Clauses beginning with relative pronoun that and relative adverbs where, when and why can
be either adjective clauses or noun clauses, depending on their functions. Noun clauses
answer questions with what…?. In the following examples, what the dependent clauses
modify are in bold letters.

 Adjective Clause: I know the news that you told. (Which news do you know?)
Noun Clause: I know the news that there will be a flood. (What is the news?)

 Adjective Clause: Do you know the time when he finishes his work? (Which time
do you know?)
Noun Clause: When he finishes his work is not sure. (What is not true?)

 Adjective Clause: The place where he left his ring is confusing. (Which place is
confusing?)
Noun Clause: Where he left his ring is confusing. (What is confusing?)

 Adjective Clause: The reason why he has gone is still unknown. (Which reason is
still unknown?)
Noun Clause: I don’t know why he has gone. (What don’t you know?)

Task: Underline the adjective clause and circle the noun it modifies.

1. The story that she told us was completely made up.

2. I have a friend who once climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

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 3. That’s the kind of movie that makes you think for days.
4. The museum, which was built in 1890, is undergoing restoration.
5. She couldn't forget the moment when he said goodbye.
6. We visited the village where her ancestors were buried.
7. The professor whom you met yesterday is an expert in AI ethics.
8. The student whose essay won the prize is in my group.
9. I still remember the teacher who encouraged me to write.

1.3.3. Complex sentence with Adverb Clause

Adverb clauses begin with adverbial subordinators or subordinating conjunctions and do the
same job as adverbs. Adverb clauses are classified into sub-types due to the details they
provide to the verbs.
1.3.3.1. Adverb clauses of time (answer questions when…?) usually begin
with: when, whenever, while, as, since, before, after, until, as soon as, until,
etc.
 Mary likes going with Pam when she goes shopping,

1.3.3.2. Adverb clauses of place (answer questions where…?) usually begin

with: where, wherever, as far as, anywhere, everywhere, etc.
 Mary enjoys shopping wherever credit cards are accepted.

1.3.3.3. Adverb clauses of cause (answer questions Why…?) usually begin

with: because, since, as. now, now that, seeing that, in as much as, on
account of the fact that, owing to the fact that, in view of the fact that,
because of the fact that, due to the fact that, etc.
 Now that everything is expensive, Mary does less shopping
than usual.

1.3.3.1. Adverb clauses of purpose (answer the question Why…?) usually

begin with: that, so that, in order that, for the purpose that, for fear that, lest,
etc.
 Mary does less shopping in order that she can save more
money.

1.3.3.2. Adverb clauses of manner (answer the questions How…?) usually

begin with: as, as if, as though, as+ adv +as, not so+ adv+ as, adv + er //
more + adv than
 Mary uses her money as if she were a millionaire. John does not
drive as fast as his brother (does).

1.3.3.3. Adverb clauses of distance (answer questions How far…?) usually

begin with ‘as far as’ .
 Pat jogs on the beach as far as he can.

1.3.3.4. Adverb clauses of frequency (answer questions How often …?)

usually begin with ‘as often as’.
 Pat jogs on the beach as often as he can.

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 1.3.3.5. Adverb clauses of result usually begin with: so adj / adv that, such
(a/an) adj noun that
 Paul is so careless that he always has accidents.
 Paul is such a careless man that he always has accidents.

1.3.3.6. Adverb clauses of condition usually begin with: if, if only, supposing /
suppose that, on condition that, provided/providing that, in the event that, in
case that, unless, as long as, so long as, etc.
 I won’t leave you as long as you need me.

1.3.3.7. Adverb clauses of concession usually begin with: although, though,

even though, even if, whatever, despite/in spite of the fact that,
notwithstanding (the fact) that, while, whereas.
 Notwithstanding that the storm is coming, George has gone
out for dinner.

1.3.3.8. Adverb clauses of comparison usually begin with: as adj. as, not so
adj. as, adj+er than, more adj. than
 Joy is not so beautiful as Jane (is).

b. Adjective Clause contrasted with Adverb Clause

Clauses beginning with relative adverbs where and when can be either adjective clauses or
adverb clauses, depending on what they modify. Adjective clauses modify nouns or answer
questions with “which + noun”. Adverb clauses modify verbs or answer questions with when
or where. In the following examples, what the dependent clauses modify are in bold letters.

 Relative Clause: The time when you were born is still unknown. (Which time is
still unknown?)
Adverb Clause: Your father left when you were born. (When did your father
leave?)

 Relative Clause: I want to know the place where you found the ring. (Which
place do you want to know?)
Adverb Clause: He found the ring where he left it. (Where did he find the ring?)

Task: Identify the adverb clause and classify its type.

1. She called me as soon as she landed at the airport.

2. Wherever he travels, he collects rare stamps.
3. Although the room was silent, tension filled the air.
4. He acts as though he were in charge of the company.
5. Since the instructions were unclear, we made several mistakes.
6. They worked overtime so that the project would be ready on time.
7. She takes notes while the lecture is in progress.
8. The alarm didn’t ring because the battery was dead.
9. If I had seen the sign, I wouldn’t have parked there.
10. She trains harder than most of her teammates do.

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Practice Find the adjective, adverb, or noun clauses in these sentences. If it is
an adjective or adverb clause, tell which word it modifies, and if it is a noun clause tell how
they are used (subject, subject complement, direct object, appositive, indirect object,
or object of the preposition).

1. Donna is my mother-in-law who died several years ago.

2. Atlantic City is where the Boardwalk is located.

3. The man had another back operation because he ruptured another disk.

4. A nurse can find a job wherever she goes.

5. Now I understand why you didn't want to attend.