Clauses include both subjects and verbs that work together as a single unit. When they form stand-alone sentences, they’re called independent clauses. An independent clause can stand alone or can be used with other clauses and phrases. A dependent clause also includes both a subject and a verb, but it must combine with an independent clause to form a complete sentence.
|
Types of Dependent Clauses |
Descriptions |
Examples |
|
Adverb clause |
Serves as an adverb; tells when, how, why, where, under what condition, to what degree, how often, or how much |
To avoid sunburn, she plastered her body with sunscreen. |
|
Noun clause |
Serves as a noun when attached to a verb |
That she would win the raceseemed quite likely. |
|
She thoughtthat she would win the race. |
||
|
Adjective clause (also called a relative clause) |
Begins with a relative pronoun (that, who, whom, whose,which) or a relative adverb (when, where, why); functions as an adjective; attaches to a noun; has both a subject and a verb; tells what kind, how many, or which one |
The day that he lost his watchwas an unlucky day.* |
|
The housewhere they lived is gone. |
||
|
Appositive clause |
Functions as an appositive by restating a noun or noun-related verb in clause form; begins with that; typical nouns involved include possibilities such as assumption, belief, conviction, idea, knowledge, and theory |
The idea that Josie will someday be taller than meis crazy. |
|
*In some instances, the relative pronoun or adverb can be implied (e.g., “The day he lost his watch was an unlucky day”). |
||
Phrases are groups of words that work together as a single unit but do not have a subject or a verb. English includes five basic kinds of phrases.
|
Types of Phrases |
Descriptions |
Examples |
|
Noun phrase |
Multiple words serving as a noun |
Darcy ate a ham sandwich. |
|
Verb phrase |
Used as the verb in sentences that are in the progressive and perfect tenses |
The class should have started a half-hour earlier. |
|
Prepositional phrase |
Begins with a preposition (covered in more depth in Section 21.9 “Gerunds and Infinitives”) |
Work will be easier after the holiday rush. |
|
Adjective phrase |
Functions as an adjective; might include prepositional phrases and/or nouns |
My brother is very tall and handsome. |
|
Adverb phrase |
Functions as an adverb; might include prepositional phrases and/or multiple adverbs |
Let’s go walking after dinner. |
|
Ignacia walked wearily and unsteadily. |
Adapted from Appendix A, “Writing for Nonnative English Speakers” in Writer’s Handbook v 1.0 used according to Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 3.0