Īn independent clause is a clause that can stand on its own as a distinct sentence. No matter what time of day we visit, we always run into the loud dog.No matter what time of day we visit, we always run into the dog that barks.My motorcyclist friend said it’s a great weekend to ride.My friend who rides a motorcycle said it’s a great weekend to ride.Here are a few examples with adjectives swapped in to illustrate them: In case you can’t, here it is: An adjective clause acts as an adjective in its sentence. īased on the other two categories, we bet you can guess how an adjective clause works. The pool was installed after they built the deck.They spent four years living outside the United States.She fixed the sink without facing difficulty.Just like a noun clause is a clause taking on a noun’s role, an adverbial clause is a clause acting as an adverb. I don’t know their onboarding process.I don’t know how the company handles onboarding.They remembered the keynote speaker’s presentation.They remembered what the keynote speaker covered.Here are two more examples of noun clauses illustrated through swapped-in nouns:

If your sentence still makes sense, you’ve got a noun clause. To test whether a clause is a noun clause, try swapping it out for a noun.

She completely understood his explanation.

Everything he said can be replaced with his explanation and the sentence still makes perfect sense: In this example, everything he said is a dependent clause that acts as a noun because it communicates the specific “thing” that she, the subject of the sentence, understands.

She completely understood everything he said.That cat meows so loudly when she wants to eat.Ĭlauses can perform three distinct functions: They can operate as adverbs, adjectives, or nouns.It can also be part of a complex sentence. In this example, the clause can be an independent sentence. Here’s a quick look at the difference between a phrase and a clause: In many cases, a clause can function as its own sentence. When it comes to expressing a complete thought, a clause falls between a phrase and a sentence. Read on to learn how clauses are classified, the roles clauses play in sentences, how to combine clauses to express your thoughts, and the difference between independent and dependent clauses. Although you use clauses in your speech and writing every day, it can be easy to overlook the intricacies of clauses in English.

What are adjective clauses