August 31, 2011

Week 7 (cont): Grammar: Dependent Clauses: Adverbial, Adjectival, Nominal

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Dependent Clauses:  Adverbial, Adjectival, Nominal

 My scores:  Adberbial exercises: 8/10  9/10                      

Adjectival exercises: 8/10  9/10                                            

Nominal exercises: 8.5/10 8.5/10                                                  


Dependent clauses may work like adverbs, adjectives, or nouns in complex sentences.

1. Adverbial clauses

Like a single-word adverb, an adverbial clause describes a verb (in the sentence's 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:
after
in order (that)
unless
although
insofar as
until
as
in that
when
as far as
lest
whenever
as soon as
no matter how
where
as if
now that
wherever
as though
once
whether
because
provided (that)
while
before
since
why
even if
so that
even though
supposing (that)

how
than
if
that
inasmuch as
though
in 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 didn't 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 clauses

Comma 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.
       

2.  Adjectival clauses

Like a single-word adjective, an adjectival clause describes a noun (in the sentence's 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
NOTE:  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 trustworthy

Adjectival 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 clauses

Comma 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:
  
  

 

3.  Nominal Clauses

Like 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 object


Nominal clauses may begin with interrogatives:
    who     whom   what    which     whoever      whomever     whatever     when    where     how   why
An  interrogative beginning a nominal clause, has a function within the nominal clause.
Each of the  following 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 expletives:
         that        whether       if
An expletive beginning a nominal clause has no function within the nominal clause.
   Nominal clause beginning with expletive that
       

   Nominal clause beginning with expletive whether
       

   Nominal clause beginning with expletive if 
       



Adverbial Clauses - Exercise 1
Directions:  Locate the adverbial clause  in each sentence.   Type your answer into the box below the sentence. When you are finished, click  the "Check My Work" button at the bottom of the page to view the correct answers.

1.  While you were gone, we cleaned the house.
    
2.  The judge dismissed the case because there was not enough evidence.
  
3.  Jones will speak after everyone has eaten.
  
4.  The family moved to the country when the company relocated.
  
5.  Although there is little we can do, we will try our best to help you.
  
6.  If the plant is watered regularly, it will grow to be five feet tall.
  
7.  Please decide upon a color so that the painter can put us into her schedule.
  
8.  Whenever it rains, Joe stays in bed and reads magazines.
  
9.  In that situation Meyers acted as if the sky had fallen.
  
10. At the sound of the bell, the horses will run unless you keep the reins tight.

Adverbial Clauses - Exercise 2
Directions:  Locate the adverbial clause  in each sentence.   Type your answer into the box below the sentence. When you are finished, click  the "Check My Work" button at the bottom of the page to view the correct answers.

1.  He finished the project on solar eclipses before it was due.
  
2.  When the office staff learned about Jones's promotion, they threw her a party.
  
3.  After he graduates, Tom plans to visit several European countries.
  
4.  Mary would not reveal your secret unless you gave her permission.
  
5.  As he passed his old high school, Randy remembered the night of the senior prom.
  
6.  We bought the new television from Sammy's because the price was low there.
  
7.  She gazed at the Monet paintings while her friends shopped in the museum store.
  
8.  Although gambling can be fun, it can also be addictive.
  
9.  The lamp went on before I pushed the button.
  
10. The family has not seen the dog since the storm struck the community.

Adjectival Clauses - Exercise 1
Directions:  Locate the adjectival clause  in each sentence.   Type your answer into the box below the sentence. When you are finished, click  the "Check My Work" button at the bottom of the page to view the correct answers.

1.  The skis that I bought yesterday were expensive.
  
2.  Margaret is the woman whom I mentioned on the telephone.
  
3.  In a daze, the student left the room where the exam had been given.
  
4.  Nixo gum, which is on sale this week at the supermarket, does wonders for bad breath.
  
5.  Anyone who sees anything suspicious should call the police immediately.
  
6.  Do you like the pink flamingos that I bought for you?
  
7.  The Pin Oak, which is a hardy tree, retains many of its brown leaves throughout the winter.
  
8.  The secretary could not find a time that was convenient for all of us.
  
9.  The man who is waving to us is Harry's uncle.
  
10.  The guide welcomed us to Monticello, which was the home of Thomas Jefferson.
  


Adjectival Clauses - Exercise 2
Directions:  Locate the adjectival clause  in each sentence.   Type your answer into the box below the sentence. When you are finished, click  the "Check My Work" button at the bottom of the page to view the correct answers

1. The lamp that is sitting on my desk does not emit much light.
  
2.  People who live on 33rd Street have trouble finding parking spaces at night.
  
3.  "The Star Spangled Banner," which is the U.S.A.'s national anthem, was written by Francis Scott Key.
  
4.   We visited the house where Tom was raised.
  
5.  Martha, whose hobby is knitting, has made lots of scarves.
  
6.  That book that you recommended has a complicated plot.
  
7.  Ms. Brown always takes that train, which doesn't make many stops.
  
8. What did you d with the food that I left here?
  
9.  The prime minister, whom we recognized from the pictures on the internet, visited our city last July.
  
10. A person who is good with plants is said to have a "green thumb."
  

Nominal Clauses - Exercise 1
Directions:  Locate the nominal clause  in each sentence.   Type your answer into the box below the sentence. Then identify the nominal clause's function in the sentence as subject, direct object, subjective complement, object of preposition, or appositive.
When you are finished, click  the "Check My Work" button at the bottom of the page to view the correct answers.

1.  Jared thought that he had seen a ghost.
   nominal clause = 
   function = 
  
2.  What you eat affects your weight.
   nominal clause = 
   function = 

3.  The group was strongly persuaded by what you said.
   nominal clause = 
   function = 

4.  The company will comply with whatever the board of directors decides.
   nominal clause = 
   function = 

5.  A long vacation is what Smithers needs.
   nominal clause = 
   function = 

6. Not surprisingly, the fact that you are here makes us very happy.
   nominal clause = 
   function = 

7.  Whoever reaches the tape first will be declared winner.
   nominal clause = 
   function = 

8.  It is not surprising that  the author has not written much lately.
   nominal clause = 
   function = 

9.  The poor child did not know who would be picking him up from school.
   nominal clause = 
   function = 

10. The truth is that I love you.
   nominal clause = 
   function = 
Nominal Clauses - Exercise 2
Directions:  Locate the nominal clause  in each sentence.   Type your answer into the box below the sentence. Then identify the nominal clause's function in the sentence as subject, direct object, subjective complement, object of preposition, or appositive.
When you are finished, click  the "Check My Work" button at the bottom of the page to view the correct answers.

1.  He told us what we should do with the extra copies.
      nominal clause = 
       function = 
2.  Miriam had no belongings except what she carried in her suitcase.
      nominal clause = 
       function = 
3.  A good night's sleep is exactly what you need.
      nominal clause = 
       function = 
4.  Michael wrote that he would come to lunch the following day.
      nominal clause = 
       function = 
5.  What we have here is a failure to communicate.
       nominal clause = 
       function = 
6.  This idea, that knowledge makes people good, was a popular belief during the nineteenth century.
      nominal clause = 
       function = 
7.  People seem amused by whatever you say.
      nominal clause = 
       function = 
8.  My own opinion is that every able citizen should vote.
      nominal clause = 
       function = 
9.  She hated the fact that he left his clothes strewn across the floor.
      nominal clause = 
       function = 
10. No one has been told about how the matter will be resolved.
     nominal clause = 
       function = 




















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