Kinds of clauses
Identify main, noun, adjective and adverb clauses and build them.
In the last lesson you analysed sentences with one finite verb. Now we look inside longer sentences, where each group of words with its own subject and verb forms a clause.
A clause is a group of words with a subject and a finite verb; a main clause stands alone, while a subordinate clause works as a noun, adjective or adverb inside the sentence.
Examples
- Whoever finishes first will get a prize.
- She told me that the meeting was postponed.
- The laptop which I bought last year has stopped working.
- I will call you when I reach Mysuru.
- Speak slowly so that everyone can follow.
How it works
Main clause
A main clause has a subject and a finite verb and makes full sense alone. Every sentence has at least one.
We missed the film because the traffic was terrible.
Noun clause
A noun clause does a noun's job as subject, object or complement. It often begins with that, what, whether, how, who. Test it by replacing it with it or this.
What you need is a good night's sleep.
Adjective clause
An adjective clause describes the noun or pronoun just before it. It begins with a relative word such as who, whom, whose, which, that, where, when.
Do you know the girl whose painting won?
Adverb clause
An adverb clause modifies the verb of the main clause and says when, where, why, how, for what purpose or on what condition. It can usually move to the front of the sentence.
Unless you book early, the seats will be gone.
Quick reference
| Kind | Job | Typical starters | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noun | subject, object or complement | that, what, whether, how | I wonder whether he knows. |
| Adjective | describes a noun | who, which, that, whose, where | the shop where I work |
| Adverb of time | says when | when, while, after, until | after the guests left |
| Adverb of reason | says why | because, as, since | as it was late |
| Adverb of condition | says on what condition | if, unless, provided that | if you agree |
| Adverb of purpose | says with what aim | so that, in order that, lest | so that we could hear |
| Adverb of contrast | shows an unexpected fact | although, though, even if | though he was rich |
Common mistakes
✕The man who he lives next door is a pilot.
✓The man who lives next door is a pilot.
Who is already the subject of the adjective clause, so he is extra.
✕This is the house where I was born in.
✓This is the house where I was born.
Where already means in which, so in repeats it.
✕When I reached home.
✓When I reached home, the lights were off.
A subordinate clause cannot stand alone; it needs a main clause.
Worked example
Exercise 1
Tap the word that begins the subordinate clause.
I know that you are right.
✓that
That introduces the noun clause that you are right.
Unlock practice for this lesson
- Quick check with 5 questions and solutions
- 7 interactive exercises, from easy to hard, checked as you go
- How to use this in your own writing
- Progress tracking and a certificate when you finish
Already Premium?
Practice
7 exercises in this lesson
Practice is part of Premium. Lesson 1 is free if you want to try the format first.