Essential English Grammar review

For better writing

Prepared by: Makhjanul Islam Tauhid
Cell: 01196103435
Email: tauhid.bd2012@gmail.com

The world of clauses

Clauses

 Groups of words with subject and verb

 Clauses are, you may say, pumped up phrases
 Combines ideas to show their relationship

Independent/main/principal clause
 Complete thought
 Can stand alone in a sentence

Dependent clause

 Incomplete thought
 Can’t stand alone; it needs the support of the independent clause for meaning
 Always starts with subordinating or relative conjunction that makes it incomplete

List of subordinating conjunction:

Relationship Examples
Condition Unless, provided that, if, even if
Reason Because, as, as if
Choice Rather than, than, whether
Contrast Though, although, even though, but
Location Where, wherever
Result, effect In order that, so, so that, that
Time While, once, when since, whenever, after,
before, until, as soon as, as long as.

Dependent clause Independent clause

Until Columbus discovered America, Nobody knew the place
Although he was the best batsman in the world, Thomas failed to score a single run in the
final.
Because his salary in 2009 was taka 75000, Nafiz was the best-paid employee in the
company.

 Types of clauses (only dependent clauses are part of this)

Name of the Answers the Examples Analysis

clauses questions/how to
identify
Adverb clauses Why, how , when Wherever she goes, she leaves a The underlined
or where, to what luggage behind. Bob enjoyed the clause modifies
 extent, under what movie more than I did. Prince the verb ‘leave’.
condition wanted to change his name The underlined
because too many dogs answered clause modifies
when he was called. the adverb
‘more’. The
underlined
clause modifies
the verb
‘wanted’.
Adjective Which, what kind, I found a quiet, secluded place The underlined
clauses (usually how many where we can meet. It never rains clause describes
starts with on days when my garden needs the noun ‘place’.
relative pronoun watering. The underlined
like who, where, clause describes
when, that…etc. the noun ‘days’.
Noun clauses Who, what ( it is No one understands why The underlined
the subject, direct experience is something you don’t clause functions
object, indirect get until just after you needs it. as the direct
object, object of Where the candy bar is hidden object. The
preposition, remains a mystery. The instructor underlined
predicate get whoever got their papers in clause functions
nominative or early extra credit. as the subject of
appositive) the sentence.
The underlined
clause functions
as the indirect
object of the
sentence.