独立从句Dependent Clauses

Dependent Clauses: An OverviewDependent clauses may work like adverbs, adjectives, or nouns in complex sentences.Adverbial clausesLike a single-word adverb, an adverbial clause describes a verb (in the sentences main clause) and answers one of these questions where? why? how? when? to what degree?An adverbial clause begins with a subordinating conjunction, which makes the clause subordinate (dependent).Common subordinating conjunctions:afterin order (that)unlessalthoughinsofar asuntilasin thatwhenas far aslestwheneveras soon asno matter howwhereas ifnow thatwhereveras thoughoncewhetherbecauseprovided (that)whilebeforesincewhyeven ifso thateven thoughsupposing (that)howthanifthatinasmuch asthoughin case (that)till Example of adverbial clause answering when? When will the flowers bloom? Answer: when spring arrives Example of adverbial clause answering why? Why didnt the poor woman have money? Answer: because she had lost her job Example of adverbial clause answering where? Where is there fire? Answer: where there is smoke Example of adverbial clause answering how? How did he answer the question? Answer: as if he knew the subject quite well Example of adverbial clause answering to what degree? To what degree of lateness will Jones arrive? Answer: (later) than Smith (will arrive) Another example of an adverbial clause answering to what degree? To what degree is he young? Answer: (younger) than his brother (is)Comma use with adverbial clausesComma use with adverbial clauses depends upon placement of the adverbial clause.If the adverbial clause introduces the sentence, place a comma between it and the main clause. If the adverbial clause follows the main clause in a sentence, do not place a comma between the two. Adjectival clausesLike a single-word adjective, an adjectival clause describes a noun (in the sentences main clause) and answers one of these questions which one? what kind?An adjectival clause usually begins with a relative pronoun, which makes the clause subordinate (dependent).Common relative pronouns: that which who whom whose whyNOTE: Use who, whom, and whose to describe people. Use that and which to describe things.Adjectival clauses always follow the person, place, or thing they describe, usually immediately. Example of adjectival clause answering which one? Which book did Joe read? Answer: the one that I gave him Example of adjectival clause answering what kind? What kind of politician has the support of the people? Answer: one who is trustworthyAdjectival clauses may also begin with selected subordinating conjunctions: when - to describe a time where - to describe a place why - to describe a reason Comma use with adjectival clausesComma use with adjectival clauses depends upon essentiality of the adjectival clause.If the adjectival clause is essential (or needed), no commas should be used to separate it from the main clause.Generally, essential adjectival clauses should not begin with which. Examples Since the adjectival clauses in the above examples are needed to clarify the noun that they describe, they are essential and should not be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.If the adjectival clause is nonessential (or not needed), commas should separate it from the main clause.Nonessential adjectival clauses should not begin with that. Examples Since the adjectival clauses in the above examples are not needed to clarify the noun that they describe, they are nonessential and should be separated from the rest of the sentence with commas.Note the difference between the sentences in each pair: Nominal ClausesLike a noun, a nominal clause names a person, place, thing, or idea. A nominal clause may function in a sentence as any of the following:Subject,subjective complement,appositive,object of preposition, direct object,indirect object,retained objectNominal clauses may begin with interrogatives:whowhom what whichwhoeverwhomever whateverwhenwhere how whyAninterrogative beginning a nominal clause, has a function within the nominal clause.Each of thefollowing examples illustrates a nominal clause the function of the nominal clause within the sentence the function of the interrogative within the nominal clause Nominal clause as subject in sentence Nominal clause as subjective complement in sentence Nominal clause as object of preposition in sentence Nominal clause as direct object in sentence Nominal clause as indirect object in sentence Nominal clause as retained object in sentence Nominal clauses may also begin with explet