Exercise 71 — The Clause
A subordinate clause, like a phrase, is a group of words used as a part of speech, the chief difference being that a clause must have a subject and a predicate. Clauses are introduced
1. By relative pronouns:
who, whose, whom, which, what, that
2. By subordinate conjunctions:
| when | because | than | unless |
| where | since | provided | till |
| while | if | whereas | until |
| as | as soon as | wherever | before |
| as if | as long as | whether | after |
| though | in order that | why | for |
| although | lest | that | whenever |
Illustrations
Adjective: A lamp that smokes is a torture to a student.
A smoking lamp
| Adverb: | When she was good | she was very, very good. | ||
| Sometimes | ||||
| When she was bad | she was horrid. | |||
| Sometimes |
Does the clause or the simple adverb give the more definite idea?
Noun: I know where he lives.
the house.
Write three sentences illustrating adjective clauses, three illustrating adverbial clauses, and three illustrating noun clauses.
Exercise 72
Name all the clauses in Exercises 179, 185, and 186. Explain the use of each.
Exercise 73
Write sentences using each of the following words to introduce a phrase, and to introduce a clause.
| 1. after | 3. for | 5. until |
| 2. before | 4. since |
Remember that just as a preposition must be followed by an object to form a phrase, a conjunction must be followed by a subject to form a clause.
| I have not seen him since | Christmas.—Object. | |
| he went away.—Subject. |
Exercise 74
Name the complete subject in the following. Then name the simple subject, explaining by what elements—words, phrases, or clauses—it is modified.
Name the complete predicate. Then name the simple predicate, explaining by what elements the verb is modified.
1. Modern business cannot be carried on by old-fashioned methods.
2. When a man engages in business, he buys or sells.
3. The great routes of trade have changed from time to time.
4. Your order will be filled within a few days.
5. Both blanks were properly filled out at the time.
6. Means of travel have developed from the slowly moving caravan to the palatial railway coach.
7. Commerce originated when one human being demanded something which had to be supplied by some one else.
8. The latest American and European styles will be displayed in our new millinery department, which will be formally opened on the first of March.
9. The prosperity of nations rests very largely on the six inches of soil between the surface and the subsoil of the territory.
10. One of the greatest losses to the Ohio farm lands in the floods of 1913 came about because the water took off the top soil from the hillside and valleys and carried the vegetable material with it.
11. The conserving of the top soil is one of the greatest problems in national prosperity.
12. We trust that shipment about September 8 will be satisfactory to you, as it is the best that we can do under the circumstances.