Learn on PengiElements of Language, 3rd CourseChapter 4: The Clause: Independent and Subordinate Clauses

Lesson 1: Types of Clauses

In this Grade 6 grammar lesson from Elements of Language, 3rd Course, students learn to identify and use adjective clauses and adverb clauses as types of subordinate clauses. The lesson covers how adjective clauses modify nouns or pronouns using relative pronouns such as who, whom, whose, which, and that, and how adverb clauses modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs to express conditions, time, place, and degree. Students practice locating these clauses in sentences and distinguishing them from independent clauses.

Section 1

The Adjective Clause

Definition

An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun.

Explanation

Think of an adjective clause as a group of words that acts like a single adjective, telling you what kind or which one. It usually comes right after the noun or pronoun it's describing. Importantly, a subordinate clause always has a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Examples

  • She bought a bracelet that has a silver charm.
  • His watch, which was an antique, has a leather strap.
  • Take the phone that Mom gave you to the store for a screen protector.

Section 2

Relative Pronouns and Adverbs

Definition

An adjective clause usually begins with a relative pronoun.

Explanation

Relative pronouns like who, whom, whose, which, and that are the special words that kick off most adjective clauses. They do a crucial job: they connect the clause to the word it's modifying. The words where and when can also start these clauses, acting as relative adverbs.

Examples

  • An author whom I respect is Maya Angelou.
  • He developed new recipes that were made from sweet potatoes.
  • The park where we play is now named after a local hero.

Section 3

The Adverb Clause

Definition

An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

Explanation

An adverb clause answers questions like how, when, where, why, or under what condition. A key punctuation rule to remember: if the adverb clause starts the sentence, you must use a comma to separate it from the main clause. No comma is needed if the clause comes at the end.

Examples

  • If our team scores this goal, we will advance to the finals.
  • Did she arrive while I was in the meeting?
  • We ordered pizza because I ran out of time to cook.

Section 4

Subordinating Conjunctions

Definition

Adverb clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions.

Explanation

Subordinating conjunctions are the intro words for adverb clauses, showing the relationship between the clause and the main idea. Watch out, as some of these words (like after, before, since) can also be prepositions. The difference is that an adverb clause has a subject and a verb, but a prepositional phrase does not.

Examples

  • Finish your project before you play video games. (The clause has the subject you and the verb play.)
  • Finish your project before the game. (The phrase has no subject or verb.)

Section 5

The Noun Clause

Definition

A noun clause is a subordinate clause that is used as a noun.

Explanation

A noun clause is a group of words that functions as a single noun. You can use it as a subject, predicate nominative, direct object, or object of a preposition. These clauses often begin with words like that, what, whoever, why, or when. Like all subordinate clauses, it has a subject and verb but cannot stand alone.

Examples

  • Why the power went out is still unknown. (The noun clause is the subject.)
  • The report gives a reason for why the project was delayed. (The noun clause is the object of a preposition.)
  • The winner will be whichever team finds the most items.

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Chapter 4: The Clause: Independent and Subordinate Clauses

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    Lesson 1: Types of Clauses

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Section 1

The Adjective Clause

Definition

An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun.

Explanation

Think of an adjective clause as a group of words that acts like a single adjective, telling you what kind or which one. It usually comes right after the noun or pronoun it's describing. Importantly, a subordinate clause always has a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Examples

  • She bought a bracelet that has a silver charm.
  • His watch, which was an antique, has a leather strap.
  • Take the phone that Mom gave you to the store for a screen protector.

Section 2

Relative Pronouns and Adverbs

Definition

An adjective clause usually begins with a relative pronoun.

Explanation

Relative pronouns like who, whom, whose, which, and that are the special words that kick off most adjective clauses. They do a crucial job: they connect the clause to the word it's modifying. The words where and when can also start these clauses, acting as relative adverbs.

Examples

  • An author whom I respect is Maya Angelou.
  • He developed new recipes that were made from sweet potatoes.
  • The park where we play is now named after a local hero.

Section 3

The Adverb Clause

Definition

An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

Explanation

An adverb clause answers questions like how, when, where, why, or under what condition. A key punctuation rule to remember: if the adverb clause starts the sentence, you must use a comma to separate it from the main clause. No comma is needed if the clause comes at the end.

Examples

  • If our team scores this goal, we will advance to the finals.
  • Did she arrive while I was in the meeting?
  • We ordered pizza because I ran out of time to cook.

Section 4

Subordinating Conjunctions

Definition

Adverb clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions.

Explanation

Subordinating conjunctions are the intro words for adverb clauses, showing the relationship between the clause and the main idea. Watch out, as some of these words (like after, before, since) can also be prepositions. The difference is that an adverb clause has a subject and a verb, but a prepositional phrase does not.

Examples

  • Finish your project before you play video games. (The clause has the subject you and the verb play.)
  • Finish your project before the game. (The phrase has no subject or verb.)

Section 5

The Noun Clause

Definition

A noun clause is a subordinate clause that is used as a noun.

Explanation

A noun clause is a group of words that functions as a single noun. You can use it as a subject, predicate nominative, direct object, or object of a preposition. These clauses often begin with words like that, what, whoever, why, or when. Like all subordinate clauses, it has a subject and verb but cannot stand alone.

Examples

  • Why the power went out is still unknown. (The noun clause is the subject.)
  • The report gives a reason for why the project was delayed. (The noun clause is the object of a preposition.)
  • The winner will be whichever team finds the most items.

Book overview

Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.

Continue this chapter

Chapter 4: The Clause: Independent and Subordinate Clauses

  1. Lesson 1Current

    Lesson 1: Types of Clauses

    LearnPractice
  2. Lesson 2

    Lesson 2: Sentence Structure

    LearnPractice