Language
Noun, adjective and adverb clauses
Name a subordinate clause by the job it does in its sentence.
A subordinate clause cannot stand alone, so it has to do a job inside somebody else's sentence. There are only three jobs available, and they are the same three jobs single words do: naming, describing and modifying. That is why the clauses are named after nouns, adjectives and adverbs.
Noun clause — stands where a noun could
I know that he is honest. Take the clause out and the sentence needs a noun in its place: I know the truth. Noun clauses usually begin with that, what, whether or why.
Adjective clause — describes a noun
The boy who won the race is my cousin. It tells you which boy, exactly as an adjective would. These begin with who, whom, whose, which or that, and sit right after the noun they describe.
Adverb clause — tells you when, why, where or how
We left before the rain started. He smiled because he was pleased. These begin with when, before, after, because, although, if or until, and they modify the verb of the main clause.
The test that settles it
Ask what the clause answers. Which one? Adjective. When, why, where, how? Adverb. Neither — it is the thing itself? Noun.
Worked example
Name the clause in: "She forgot where she had left the keys."
The main clause is "She forgot", so "where she had left the keys" is subordinate.
"She forgot" makes sense alone; the rest does not.
Try it together
Name a clause, one question at a time.
The sentence is: "The letter that arrived this morning has upset her." Write one word at each step.
1.Write the one word that begins the subordinate clause.
Have a go
In "The pen which you gave me has run out", the clause "which you gave me" is a ____.
Ready to practice?
Eight questions on what you have just read. Nothing is timed, and you can play as many times as you like.