Adverbial and adjectival (relative) clauses

We know that every sentence has a SUBJECT and a VERB.

But some sentences have “mini-sentences” inside them.

A CLAUSE is a sentence element that has both a SUBJECT and a VERB WITH TENSE (or a modal auxiliary)

First: What is a CLAUSE?

A CLAUSE is a sentence element that has both a SUBJECT and a VERB WITH TENSE (or a modal auxiliary)

Two types of clause that we have looked at:

ADVERBIAL When the film ended, everyone in the theatre applauded.

I won’t go swimming today if it’s too cold.ADJECTIVAL (relative) My father gave me some

advice that I will never forget.Passengers who miss their flights will be re-

scheduled.

First: What is a CLAUSE?

Why do we classify some clauses as ADVERBIAL and others as ADJECTIVAL in function?

Adverbials are extra elements, outside the core sentence structure S V, S V O, S V SC, S V IO DO.

They give information about: Where? When? Why? How? In what manner?

Adjectivals are linked to a NOUN PHRASE. They give information about the noun.. They describe/ characterize/ modify a noun.

Adjectivals function as adjectives, describing a noun phrase.

What are the structural differences between adverbial and adjectival (relative) clauses?

Adverbial clauses are COMPLETE SENTENCES with an extra introductory word:

When the film ended, everyone in the theatre applauded.

When The film ended.

Adjectival (relative) clauses do not repeat the head noun; the introductory word substitutes for that element:

Passengers who miss their flights will be re-scheduled.

Who miss their flights. (Subject is missing)

What are the structural differences between adverbial and adjectival (relative) clauses?

Adverbial clauses, like other adverbs and adverbials, can be moved to different positions in the sentence.

When the film ended, everyone in the theatre applauded.

Everyone in the theatre applauded when the film ended.

Adjectival (relative) clauses can’t move around; they come immediately after their head noun.

Passengers who miss their flights will be re-scheduled.

XX Passengers will be rescheduled who miss their flights.

So do I need to say “I liked the movie that it was filmed in my home town”?

Why is it important? There are differences in structure between

adverbial and adjectival clauses. Don’t lead students to think that all clauses follow the same rules….

You can’t say “I liked the movie because was filmed in my home town.” You can’t leave out the subject in a clause… say “because it was filmed in my home town.”

But why do I have to say it in “I liked the movie because it was filmed in my home town.” ???

Why is it important?

There are differences in structure between adverbial and adjectival clauses. Don’t lead students to think that all clauses follow the same rules….

You can’t say “I liked the movie that it was filmed in my home town.” Drop “it”… it’s the same thing as “the movie,” so it’s redundant…

But why do I have to say it in “I liked the movie because it was filmed in my home town.” ???

Why is it important?

There are differences in structure between adverbial and adjectival clauses. Don’t lead students to think that all clauses follow the same rules….

You can’t say “I liked the movie that it was filmed in my home town.” Drop “it”… it’s the same thing as “the movie,” so it’s redundant…

An adverbial clause needs all sentence elements... We can’t dropthe subject. In an adjectival/relative clause, we don’t need to repeat the head noun... we replace it.

A CLAUSE is a sentence element that has both a SUBJECT and a VERB WITH TENSE (or a modal auxiliary)

Identify the 2 clauses in:

If I had a million dollars, I would buy you you a car.

(first, look for SUBJECTS and VERBS)

Identifying clauses

Identify the clauses:(first, look for SUBJECTS and VERBS)

If I had a million dollars, I would buy you a car. S V S V

Identifying clauses

Next, identify: What's the main clause? Where does each clause begin and end?

If I had a million dollars, I would buy you a car. S V S V

Identifying clauses

Next, identify: Where does each clause begin and end?

[If I had a million dollars,] [I would buy you a car]

Which clause is the main clause? Which clause is extra?

The main clause is a complete sentence... it doesn't need the the other clause to be complete.

Identifying clauses

Next, identify: What's the main clause? Which clause is extra?

[If I had a million dollars,] Not main clause... it can't stand alone as a sentence

because of “if.” I had a million dollars.... Complete sentenceIf I had a million dollars... Needs another clause!

Identifying clauses

Next, identify: What's the main clause? Which clause is extra?

[I would buy you a car.] Main clause... it's a complete sentence all by itself.

[If I had a million dollars,] [I would buy you a car] ? clause Main clause

Identifying clauses

Distinguishing between adverbial and adjective (relative ) clauses

So, what kind of clause is this... is it acting as an ADJECTIVAL or ADVERBIAL in the sentence?

[If I had a million dollars,] [I would buy you a car] ? clause Main clause

Distinguishing between adverbial and adjective (relative ) clauses

So, what kind of clause is this... is it acting as an ADJECTIVAL or ADVERBIAL in the sentence?

[If I had a million dollars,] [I would buy you a car] ? clause Main clause

Remember that ADJECTIVALS describe/modify/ specify a noun. Look for a noun immediately before an adjective (relative) clause.Remember that ADVERBIALS tell us things like where, when, why, how. We can usually move an adverbial element around in the sentence.

Distinguishing between adverbial and adjective (relative ) clauses

Remember that ADVERBIALS tell us things like where, when, why, how. We can usually move an adverbial element around in the sentence.

[If I had a million dollars,] [I would buy you a car] [I would buy you a car] [if I had a million dollars,]

[If I had a million dollars] is ADVERBIAL because it can be at the beginning or end.

Distinguishing between adverbial and adjective (relative ) clauses

So, what kind of clause is this... is it acting as an ADJECTIVAL or ADVERBIAL in the sentence?

Another way to test this: we can look for the words that typically introduce clauses...Who, whom, which, that, whose: Relative (adjectival) clause

When, after, before, while, so that, because, if, although, even though: Adverbial clause

[If I had a million dollars,] [I would buy you a car] ? clause Main clause

Distinguishing between adverbial and adjective (relative ) clauses

So, what kind of clause is this... is it acting as an ADJECTIVAL or ADVERBIAL in the sentence?

Another way to test this: we can look for the words that typically introduce clauses...Who, whom, which, that, whose: Relative (adjectival) clause

When, after, before, while, so that, because, if, although, even though: Adverbial clause

[If I had a million dollars,] [I would buy you a car] Adverbial clause Main clause

Let's try another one...

Identify the clauses in:

The medicine that I'm taking makes me sleepy.

(first, look for SUBJECTS and VERBS)

Identifying clauses

Identify the clauses:(first, look for SUBJECTS and VERBS)

The medicine that I'm taking makes me sleepy. S S V V

Tricky! In this one, one of the S V elements occurs IN BETWEEN the other S and V.

In other words, when we see “medicine,” we know it's a subject... then we find “I'm taking,” and we are still waiting for a verb to go with “medicine.”

Identifying clauses

Next, identify: What's the main clause? Where does each clause begin and end?

[The medicine...... makes me sleepy. ][The medicine [that I'm taking] makes me sleepy.]

One of the clauses is inside the other one... it is “embedded.”

Identifying clauses

Next, identify: What's the main clause?Remember that the main clause can stand alone as a

complete sentence. So which clause can we remove?

[The medicine [that I'm taking] makes me sleepy.]

[That I'm taking] It's not a complete sentence.

[The medicine...... makes me sleepy. ] Ah! It's a complete sentence. This is the main clause.

Identifying clauses

Distinguishing between adverbial and adjective (relative ) clauses

So, what kind of clause is the mystery clause... is it an adverbial, or adjectival (relative) clause?

[The medicine [that I'm taking] makes me sleepy.] [Main ... [? clause] clause ]

Remember that ADJECTIVALS describe/modify/ specify a noun. Look for a noun immediately before an adjective (relative) clause.Remember that ADVERBIALS tell us things like where, when, why, how. We can usually move an adverbial element around in the sentence.

Distinguishing between adverbial and adjective (relative ) clauses

Remember that ADJECTIVALS describe/modify/ specify a noun. Look for a noun immediately before an adjectival (relative) clause.

[The medicine [that I'm taking] makes me sleepy.]

[that I'm taking] is an adjectival clause because it tells me “which medicine?” The clause modifies/ tells about a noun. It comes immediately after the noun.

Distinguishing between adverbial and adjective (relative ) clauses

So, what kind of clause is this... is it acting as an ADJECTIVAL or ADVERBIAL in the sentence?

Another way to test this: we can look for the words that typically introduce clauses...Who, whom, which, that, whose: Relative (adjectival) clause

When, after, before, while, so that, because, if, although, even though: Adverbial clause

[The medicine [that I'm taking] makes me sleepy.]

Distinguishing between adverbial and adjective (relative ) clauses

So, what kind of clause is this... is it acting as an ADJECTIVAL or ADVERBIAL in the sentence?

Another way to test this: we can look for the words that typically introduce clauses...Who, whom, which, that, whose: Relative (adjectival) clause

When, after, before, while, so that, because, if, although, even though: Adverbial clause

[The medicine [that I'm taking] makes me sleepy.] [ relative clause]

Here are a few more sentences to try...

• The police questioned my roommate, who saw a crime last night.

• People are wearing shorts today, even though it is freezing outside!

• You can be proud because you have finished this course successfully.

• Students who finish this course successfully know a lot about grammar!

Here are a few more sentences to try...

• The police questioned my roommate, who saw a crime last night. Relative (adjectival) clause

• Even though it is freezing outside, some people are... Adverbial clause

• You can be proud because you have finished this course successfully. Adverbial clause

• Students who finish this course successfully know... Relative (adjectival) clause

You can be proud because you soon will have finished this course successfully.

Students who finish this course successfully know a lot about grammar!

(and that includes all of you)

Thank you