Chapter 6 Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics

Language Skills Practice

Clauses
 Identifying Clauses Hint:
A clause is a word group that contains a verb and its subject and that is used as a sentence or as part of a sentence. Subject
Verb
Every clause has a subject and a verb, but not every clause expresses a complete thought.
SENTENCE While the bear crossed the road, the tourists stayed inside their cars.
CLAUSE While the bear crossed the road [incomplete thought]
CLAUSE the tourists stayed inside their cars [complete thought]

Do not mistake a phrase for a clause. A phrase does not contain both a verb and its subject.
PHRASE After the soccer game, the coach took us out for pizza.
CLAUSE After we won the soccer game, the coach took us out for pizza.
EXERCISE A For the underlined clause in each of the following sentences, identify the subject and verb by writing S above
the subject and V above the verb.
Example 1. After Jim woke, he watched a Japanese monster movie on television.
• 1. Antonio told her that he had not planned on coming to the party.
• 2. I have no idea when the mechanic finished the repairs on the car.
• 3. Before the storm struck, the sky turned an odd shade of green.
• 4. When she arrived at the dock, the ferry had already left for the island.
• 5. At last Gretchen met Conrad and Padgett, who were the pets of her friend Mimi.
• 6. Grabbing his hat, Robb dashed out into the snow.
• 7. Even though they invited her, Joie decided not to come along on the field trip.
• 8. Vince decided to read the book before he saw the movie.
• 9. You may come with us if you want.
• 10. Teddy stopped the dryer when he heard his boots clunking around inside it.
 Hint:
Identifying Clauses Subject
A clause is a word group that contains a verb and its subject and that is used as a sentence or as part of a sentence. Verb
Every clause has a subject and a verb, but not every clause expresses a complete thought.
SENTENCE While the bear crossed the road, the tourists stayed inside their cars.
CLAUSE While the bear crossed the road [incomplete thought]
CLAUSE the tourists stayed inside their cars [complete thought]

Do not mistake a phrase for a clause. A phrase does not contain both a verb and its subject.
PHRASE After the soccer game, the coach took us out for pizza.
CLAUSE After we won the soccer game, the coach took us out for pizza.

EXERCISE B On the line provided, identify the underlined word group in each of the following
.sentences as a clause or a phrase
Example _clause__ 1. Before I met you, I had never heard of the jazz musician Miles Davis.
• 11. After the game, the winning team shook hands with the losing team.
• 12. While they waited for sunset, the crowd sang songs.
• 13. During the broadcast, the singer kept her eye on the camera.
• 14. Unfortunately for us, Warren did not bring enough food for everybody.
• 15. Sometimes the Santos family likes to eat popcorn while they watch a video.
Relative Pronouns and Relative Adverbs
A relative pronoun or relative adverb relates an adjective clause to the word or words the
clause modifies.
EXAMPLE One of the slides that we saw showed the hospital where I was born. [That relates we
saw to slides. Where relates I was born to hospital.]
EXERCISE A Underline each adjective clause, and circle each relative pronoun or relative adverb.
Example 1. Last night was the first time that she conducted the orchestra.
• 1. Is Rafael the one who wrote the poem about trees in winter?
• 2. Starr Auditorium is the place where I first heard English Folk Song Suite.
• 3. The river that was polluted by the factory has been restored to its natural state.
• 4. Ms. Pollard is the teacher for whom I wrote my history report about the Gulf War.
• 5. He won’t be able to come until Saturday, when he has a day off from his job.
• 6. The famous author, whose novel I read, visited our school.
• 7. Gettysburg, where a famous battle was fought in the Civil War, is in southern Pennsylvania.
• 8. I was awake at dawn, which is too early.
• 9. The newspaper printed a picture of the old barn in which the stolen money was found.
• 10. I know a few lines of the poem that Kerry quoted on television.
The Adverb Clause A
An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
An adverb clause tells where, when, how, why, to what extent, or under what condition. Unlike an
adverb or an adverb phrase, an adverb clause has a subject and a verb.

EXAMPLES Did you see the manatee exhibit when you visited the aquarium? [The adverb
clause modifies the verb Did see, telling when.]
The dolphin show was just as entertaining as it was before. [The adverb clause
modifies the adjective entertaining, telling to what extent.]
EXERCISE A In each of the following sentences, underline the adverb clause and circle the word or words it modifies.
Example 1. Before I left the aquarium, I had learned many facts about some of our most common sea animals.
• 1. A lobster fears few enemies because it has a hard, protective shell.
• 2. A shark can swim faster than a human can.
• 3. The life expectancy of a sea turtle is not as long as it once was.
• 4. When an octopus is attacked, it can spray a jet of inky fluid at its opponent.
• 5. Up close at night, a coral reef is more beautiful than you can imagine.
• 6. When a moray eel feels threatened, it withdraws into its hiding place.
• 7. A sea cow can swim faster than you might think.
• 8. The sting of most jellyfish can be dangerous unless it is treated.
• 9. A puffer inflates itself like a balloon until its attacker swims away.
• 10. Ice fish live where temperatures sometimes drop below freezing.
The Adverb Clause B
An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
An adverb clause tells where, when, how, why, to what extent, or under what condition. An adverb
clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction—a word or word group that shows the
relationship between the adverb clause and the word or words the clause modifies. Common
subordinating conjunctions include although, as, because, if, since, so that, than, unless, until, when,
where, and while.

EXAMPLES As the storm clouds gathered, a waterspout formed over the bay. [The adverb clause
modifies the verb formed, telling when.]
Brad can run faster than anyone else on the track team can. [The adverb clause
modifies the adverb faster, telling to what extent.]
EXERCISE A In each of the following sentences, underline the adverb clause and circle the word or words it modifies.
Example 1. After I had locked the door behind me, I realized I had left my keys inside the house.
• 1. Please read whenever you like.
• 2. Regis looked as though he had been caught in a rainstorm.
• 3. None of you should build a campfire until you have learned the proper technique.
• 4. If your uncle comes to the reunion tomorrow, ask him about his experiences in Indonesia.
• 5. Paolo mixed the pancake batter carefully so that there wouldn’t be any lumps.
• 6. Ever since James hiked the Appalachian Trail, he has been in better shape.
• 7. We traveled slowly unless we were forced to go faster.
• 8. Although she wrote a book set in the Galápagos Islands, she has never been there.
• 9. After the rainstorm ended, the droplets on the leaves of the trees sparkled like diamonds.
• 10. I recited the poem more dramatically than she did.
The Adverb Clause B, continued
An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
An adverb clause tells where, when, how, why, to what extent, or under what condition. An adverb
clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction—a word or word group that shows the
relationship between the adverb clause and the word or words the clause modifies. Common
subordinating conjunctions include although, as, because, if, since, so that, than, unless, until, when,
where, and while.

EXAMPLES As the storm clouds gathered, a waterspout formed over the bay. [The adverb clause
modifies the verb formed, telling when.]
Brad can run faster than anyone else on the track team can. [The adverb clause
modifies the adverb faster, telling to what extent.]
EXERCISE B Underline the adverb clause in each of the following sentences. Then, circle the
subordinating conjunction.
Example 1. The cat won’t do tricks unless you give it treats.
• 11. Until Maya brings the eggplant, we won’t be able to start dinner.
• 12. Clarence is a much better bicycle mechanic than I am.
• 13. The cat batted its toy mouse under the refrigerator so that no one could reach it.
• 14. Vladimir played the piano as though his life depended on it.
• 15. Because the sky is clear, we will have a good view of the meteor shower.
 Subordinating Conjunctions
An adverb clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction—a word or word group that
shows the relationship between the adverb clause and the word or words the clause modifies.
Common subordinating conjunctions include although, as if, because, if, so that, than, unless,
when, where, and while.

EXAMPLE The aroma of shrimp gumbo greeted Mother when she arrived home
from work. [When shows the relationship between the adverb clause
and the verb greeted.]
EXERCISE A In each of the following sentences, draw a line under the adverb clause and circle the subordinating conjunction.
Example 1. Before she left for work, Keiko remembered to pack a lunch.
• 1. Though I did not enjoy the first page, I finished the story.
• 2. Oscar can swim much farther than I can.
• 3. You may watch television after dinner as long as you finish your homework first.
• 4. The post office is closed because today is Presidents’ Day.
• 5. Unless the track team wins its next two meets, it will not go to the state finals.
• 6. There are footnotes at the bottom of each page so that the reader can immediately see the meaning of old or obscure
words.
• 7. If the weather stays nice, we can go biking this afternoon.
• 8. Susannah sounds as though she has a bad cold.
• 9. Although the salad usually came with olives, Gretchen asked the cook not to put olives on hers.
• 10. Jan’s kite soared higher than Mimi’s model airplane flew.
 Subordinating Conjunctions, continued
An adverb clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction—a word or word group that
shows the relationship between the adverb clause and the word or words the clause modifies.
Common subordinating conjunctions include although, as if, because, if, so that, than, unless,
when, where, and while.

EXAMPLE The aroma of shrimp gumbo greeted Mother when she arrived home
from work. [When shows the relationship between the adverb clause
and the verb greeted.]
EXERCISE B On the line provided, identify the underlined word group as AC for adverb clause
or PP for prepositional phrase.
Example PP 1. Until Saturday, the folk singer will be appearing nightly at the pizza
parlor.
11. Until I was born, my family lived in St. Louis, Missouri.
12. We left the campsite a few minutes before dawn.
13. Since breakfast, we have seen eight blue jays.
14. Hilary spoke to Steve and Judy after she spoke to me.
15. Try to finish those dishes before you leave.
 The Noun Clause
A noun clause is a subordinate clause that is used as a noun.

EXAMPLES That life exists on other planets seems possible. [subject of the verb seems]
A new computer is what Matthew needs.[predicate nominative identifying the subject computer]
A good salesperson knows what customers want.[direct object of the verb knows]
I will pay whoever finds the gerbil a reward.[indirect object of the verb will pay]

EXERCISE A In each of the following sentences, underline the noun clause.

EXAMPLES That life exists on other planets seems possible. [subject of the verb seems]
A new computer is what Matthew needs.[predicate nominative identifying the subject computer]
A good salesperson knows what customers want.[direct object of the verb knows]
I will pay whoever finds the gerbil a reward.[indirect object of the verb will pay]

EXERCISE B Underline the noun clause in each of the following sentences. Then, identify the use of the clause by writing above
it one of these abbreviations: S for subject, PN for predicate nominative, DO for direct object, IO for indirect object, or OP for
object of a preposition. DO
Example 1. No one knows who first set foot in America.
• 6. That the referee called a technical foul caused an uproar among the fans.
• 7. The guest speaker told us what could be done about acid rain.
• 8. The number of commercials during a television program is what annoys me most.
• 9. The cafeteria worker gave whoever asked for more pasta another generous helping.
• 10. Whatever happens at the Super Bowl will be seen by millions of people.
• 11. Please do not tell me how the movie ends.
• 12. That the storm caused some damage is an understatement.
• 13. The ship’s captain offered whoever spotted a whale three gold coins.
• 14. Whatever happened to Amelia Earhart’s airplane remains a mystery.
• 15. Tsang Ying is reading a book about what happened to the bison of North America.