Adjective Clause, Noun Clause and Adverbial Clause

Adjective Clause/Relative Clause Noun Clause Adverbial Clause

It is a dependent clause that modifies noun. It describes, identifies, or gives further information about a noun.

An adjective clause closely follows the noun it modifies.

The adjective clause pronouns/relative clause pronouns: who, whom, which, that, whose, where and when.Who-for peopleWhich-for thingsThat-for both people and thingsWhere-placeWhen -time

Adjective clause pronouns used as the subject:

I thanked the woman. She helped me. I thanked the woman who helped me.

The book is mine. It is on the table.The book which is on the table is mine.

The taxi driver was friendly.He took me to the airport.The taxi driver who took me to the airport was friendly.

It is a dependent clause which is used as a subject or an object.

The noun clause has its own subject and verb.

Noun Clause as Subject:Where she went is none of your business.(It is none of your business)Why they left the country is a secret.(That is a secret)What we are doing in class is easy.(This is easy)Whether the team wins or loses is not important.(It is not important)

Noun Clause as Object.

Do you know whose pen this is?(Do you know it?)Please tell me where you live.(Please tell me something)I don’t know how old he is.(I don’t know that)I wonder if she will come or not.(I wonder something)He always says whatever comes into his mind.(He always says anything)She can go wherever she wants to go.(She can go anywhere)

It is a dependent clause which shows cause and effect, contrast, conditions, and time.

Cause and EffectBecause he was sleepy, he went to bed.Now that the semester is over, I’m going to rest a few days and then take a trip.Since you’re a good cook and I am not, you should cook the dinner.

ContrastEven though I wasn’t tired, I went to bed.Some people are tall, whereas others are short.While some parts of the world get an abundance of rain, others get little or none.

ConditionsIf it rains tomorrow, I will take my umbrella.Whether it is cold or not, I am going to go swimming tomorrow.Even if the weather is cold, I’m going to go swimming.I’ll be at my uncle’s house in case you need to reach me.I’ll go swimming tomorrow unless it’s cold.(unless = if … not)Only if it rains will the picnic be cancelled.Only in my hometown do I feel at ease.(the use of only at the beginning of a sentence requires Subject-Verb inversion in the main clause)

Adjective clause pronoun used as the object of a verb:

The people were very nice. We visited them yesterday.The people whom we visited yesterday were very nice.

The movie wasn’t very good.We saw it last night.The movie which /that/ 0 we saw last night wasn’t very good.

She is the woman. I told you about her.She is the woman about whom I told you.She is the woman whom I told you about.She is the woman that/ 0 I told you about.

That is the author. I read his book.That is the author whose book I read.

Mrs. Catt has a painting. Its value is inestimable.Mrs. Catt has a painting whose value is inestimable.

That is the drawer. I keep my jewelry there.That is the drawer where I keep my jewelry.

They cried the day. They left on that day.They cried the day when they left.

TimeAfter, before, when, while, as soon as, until, by the time, whenever, the first time that, the last time that, as long as, every time that.