Adjective & Adverb Clauses

Adjective & Adverb Clauses

• consist of a few words but need both a subject and a verb

Clauses

• only consist of a few words

Phrases

Phrases vs. Clauses

• Incomplete sentences - cannot stand alone and sound like they need to keep going

• Must have both a subject and verb

Dependent

• Complete sentences - can stand alone

• Must have both a subject and verb

Independent

Independent vs. Dependent

Multiple Choice

The dog is playing catch.

• Dependent Clause

• Independent Clause

Multiple Choice

When my mother arrives.

• Dependent Clause

• Independent Clause

Multiple Choice

Because I studied hard for my test.

• Dependent Clause

• Independent Clause

Multiple Choice

I was watching my brother play video games.

• Dependent Clause

• Independent Clause

Multiple Choice

While I was playing soccer.

• Dependent Clause

• Independent Clause

Adjective & Adverb Clauses: Independent or Dependent?

• ALWAYS dependent - cannot stand alone

• They NEED to be connected to independent clauses (complete sentences).

Adjective Clauses

• Easy to identify

• Usually set off with commas

• Start with relative pronouns:

  • Who

  • Whom

  • Whose

  • Which

  • That

• ​Answer adjective questions:

  • Which one?

  • What kind?

  • How many?

  • How much?

Multiple Choice

What is the adjective clause in the following sentence?

Cable television, which was originally used to bring in distant stations, provides many types of specialized programming.

• which was originally used to bring in distant stations

• cable television

• which

Multiple Choice

What is the adjective clause in the following sentence?

John Chapman, who was nicknamed Johnny Appleseed, planted apple seeds in Ohio,

Indiana, and Illinois.

• John Chapman

• who

• who was nicknamed Johnny Appleseed

Multiple Choice

What is the adjective clause in the following sentence?

Hummingbirds are tiny birds that are less than three inches long.

• hummingbirds

• are

• that are less than three inches long

Multiple Choice

What is the adjective clause in the following sentence?

The Irish wolfhound, which is a hunting dog, is the tallest breed of the species.

• which is a hunting dog

• the Irish wolfhound

• which

Adverb Clauses

• Easy to identify

• Start with subordinating

  conjunctions:

• ​Answer adverb questions:

  • When?

  • Where?

  • Why?

  • How?

  • To what extent?

Multiple Choice

Which one of the following is NOT a subordinating conjunction?

• how
• when
• whereas 
• because

Multiple Choice

What is the adverb clause in the following sentence?

The track star is a fierce competitor since he won the 5K race.

• since he won the 5K race
• The track star is a fierce competitor
• won the 5K race
• fierce competitor since he won

Multiple Choice

What is the adverb clause in the following sentence?

The student sprinted down the hall because he heard the late bell.

• The student sprinted down the hall
• because he heard the late bell
• down the hall
• he heard the late bell

Multiple Choice

What is the adverb clause in the following sentence?

David fed his dog after he gave her a bath.

• David fed his dog

• after he gave her a bath.

• after he gave

• he gave her a bath.

Tricky Situations

• Where and when can start both adjective and adverb clauses

• How to differentiate:

  • Put "is" between the noun and the clause. If it reads like a sentence, it's an adjective. If not, it's an adverb.

  • Example: This is the house where I grew up.

    • Adjective: The house is where I grew up.

Tricky Situations Continued

• Adjective clauses can eliminate the relative pronouns that introduce them, making them hard to find.

• Example:

  • Here's the coffee flavor I like.

  • Here's the coffee flavor that I like.

Multiple Choice

What is the adjective clause in the following sentence?

A university is a college where many subjects are studied.

• A university is a college

• where many subjects are studied

• where

Multiple Choice

What is the adjective clause in the following sentence?

Help came at a time when Stan needed it most.

• when Stan needed it most

• when

• Help came at a time

Fill in the Blanks

Type the adjective clause from the sentence.

Jefferson planned a daily schedule that kept him busy all day.

Fill in the Blanks

What word does the underlined adjective clause modify?

This shade of paint, which is not very pretty, was on sale at the hardware store.

Multiple Choice

What adverb question is the adverb clause answering?

I ate a bowl of popcorn while I did my homework.

• Where?

• When?

• To what extent?

Fill in the Blanks

Type the adverb phrase in the following sentence.

A giraffe is taller than an elephant is.