Understanding clauses is essential for mastering sentence structure. Let’s break down the three types of subordinate clauses—Noun Clauses, Adjective Clauses, and Adverbial Clauses—and learn how to identify them.
How to Identify Noun, Adjective, and Adverbial Clauses
(With Noun Clauses as Appositions and Objects of Prepositions)
1. Noun Clauses
A noun clause functions as a noun in a sentence. It can act as a subject, object, complement, noun in apposition, or object of a preposition.
How to Identify a Noun Clause:
It answers "What?" or "Who?"
It often begins with that, what, whatever, who, whoever, whom, whomever, how, why, when, where, whether, if.
It can be replaced with a single noun or pronoun and the sentence will still make sense.
Functions of Noun Clauses in a Sentence
As Subject:
What he said surprised everyone.
As Object of a Verb:
She believes that she will win the race.
As Subject Complement (Predicate Nominative):
The problem is how we can fix it.
As Noun in Apposition:
His belief, that hard work leads to success, motivated him.
(Here, "that hard work leads to success" renames "his belief.")
As Object of a Preposition:
She is worried about what he might do next.
(Here, "what he might do next" is the object of the preposition "about.")
30 Sentences with Noun Clauses and Their Functions
1. Noun Clauses as Subjects
What he said surprised everyone. (Subject)
That she won the competition made her parents proud. (Subject)
Whether we will go on the trip depends on the weather. (Subject)
Why he left the meeting early remains a mystery. (Subject)
Who will take responsibility for this mistake is still unclear. (Subject)
2. Noun Clauses as Objects of Verbs
She believes that she will win the race. (Object of verb “believes”)
I don’t know where he went. (Object of verb “know”)
The teacher explained how photosynthesis works. (Object of verb “explained”)
They forgot what time the meeting starts. (Object of verb “forgot”)
He admitted that he had made a mistake. (Object of verb “admitted”)
3. Noun Clauses as Subject Complements (Predicate Nominatives)
The truth is that she was never interested in the job. (Subject complement)
The problem is how we can fix this issue. (Subject complement)
My biggest worry is whether I will pass the exam. (Subject complement)
His goal was that he would finish the project before the deadline. (Subject complement)
The fact remains that they were never invited. (Subject complement)
4. Noun Clauses as Objects of Prepositions
She is worried about what he might do next. (Object of preposition “about”)
We talked about where we should go for the holidays. (Object of preposition “about”)
There was confusion over who would be the next team leader. (Object of preposition “over”)
He has no idea about how they managed to escape. (Object of preposition “about”)
The argument was about whether they should continue the project. (Object of preposition “about”)
5. Noun Clauses as Appositions
A noun clause in apposition renames or explains a noun that comes before it. It usually follows a noun and is set off by commas if it provides additional information.
His belief, that honesty is the best policy, guided all his actions.
The fact, that she won the scholarship, made her family proud.
My biggest fear, that I would fail the exam, kept me awake all night.
Her statement, that she saw a ghost in the old house, shocked everyone.
The teacher’s advice, that we should read more books, was helpful.
Their assumption, that the meeting was canceled, turned out to be wrong.
The idea, that we could finish the project in one day, was unrealistic.
His excuse, that he had forgotten about the deadline, didn’t convince the manager.
The hope, that they would win the championship, motivated the players.
Her concern, that the weather would ruin the picnic, was unnecessary.
1-20: Noun Clause Identification Examples
I wonder what she meant by that. (Object of verb)
Why he refused to help remains a mystery. (Subject)
The teacher emphasized that practice makes perfect. (Object of verb)
We are not sure where he went after school. (Object of verb)
The fact, that she graduated with honors, made her parents proud. (Apposition)
They are discussing whether they should expand the business. (Object of verb)
His excuse, that he had lost his keys, didn’t convince the teacher. (Apposition)
I don’t know how they managed to solve the problem. (Object of verb)
His concern, that the weather might ruin the trip, was unnecessary. (Apposition)
I have no idea who left the door open. (Object of verb)
We were unaware of what had happened during the meeting. (Object of preposition)
The decision, that they would postpone the event, was unexpected. (Apposition)
The real question is whether they will cooperate. (Subject complement)
It is unclear why the experiment failed. (Subject)
The doctor explained how the new treatment works. (Object of verb)
They were confused by what she said in her speech. (Object of preposition)
Where he went after the party is unknown. (Subject)
Her argument, that the policy should be changed, was logical. (Apposition)
The success of the project depends on how well the team works together. (Object of preposition)
Nobody knows when they will announce the results. (Object of verb)
2. Adjective Clauses (Relative Clauses)
An adjective clause (or relative clause) modifies a noun or pronoun in a sentence.
How to Identify an Adjective Clause:
It describes a noun (acts like an adjective).
It starts with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) or a relative adverb (where, when, why).
It is placed right after the noun it describes.
Examples:
The boy who won the race is my cousin.
She lives in a house that has a big garden.
This is the book which I borrowed from the library.
Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Clauses: Explanation and Examples
A restrictive clause and a non-restrictive clause are both types of adjective (relative) clauses, but they function differently in a sentence. Understanding these distinctions is important for proper punctuation and clarity.
1. What is a Restrictive Clause?
A restrictive clause (also called a defining clause) provides essential information about a noun. Without it, the meaning of the sentence would be incomplete or unclear.
🔹 Key Features:
It is necessary to identify the noun it modifies.
It does not use commas.
It is often introduced by that or who/whom/whose/which (without commas).
🔹 Examples:
The book that I borrowed from the library is very interesting.
(This specifies which book; removing the clause would make the sentence unclear.)
The teacher who teaches us English is very strict.
(This identifies which teacher; removing it would leave ambiguity.)
Students who study regularly perform better in exams.
(This tells which students perform better; it is essential information.)
🔹 How to Identify?
✅ If you remove the clause, does the sentence lose its meaning or become unclear? ✅ If yes, it's a restrictive clause.
2. What is a Non-Restrictive Clause?
A non-restrictive clause (also called a non-defining clause) adds extra, non-essential information about a noun. If you remove it, the sentence still makes sense.
🔹 Key Features:
It provides additional (but unnecessary) details about the noun.
It is set off by commas.
It is introduced by who, whom, whose, which (but not "that").
🔹 Examples:
My laptop, which I bought last year, is not working.
("Which I bought last year" is extra information; removing it does not change the core meaning.)
My friend, who lives in New York, is visiting next month.
("Who lives in New York" adds extra detail; it is not needed to identify "my friend.")
The Eiffel Tower, which is located in Paris, is a famous landmark.
("Which is located in Paris" is just additional information.)
🔹How to Identify?
✅ If you remove the clause, does the sentence still make sense?
✅ If yes, it's a non-restrictive clause.
Key Differences Between Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Clauses
Feature | Restrictive Clause | Non-Restrictive Clause |
Purpose | Identifies which specific noun is being referred to | Adds extra information about the noun |
Essential? | Yes – removing it changes the sentence meaning | No – removing it does not change the meaning |
Punctuation | No commas | Uses commas |
Relative Pronouns | Who, whom, whose, that, which | Who, whom, whose, which (never "that") |
Example | The car that is parked outside belongs to me. | The car, which is parked outside, belongs to me. |
Quick Test: Identify the Clause Type
Decide whether the bolded clause is restrictive or non-restrictive:
The student who won the scholarship is from my class.
My uncle, who is a retired doctor, volunteers at the hospital.
The movie that I watched last night was thrilling.
The Grand Canyon, which is located in Arizona, attracts millions of tourists.
The company which was founded in 1990 specializes in software development.
Answer Key: Identifying Restrictive and Non-Restrictive Clauses
Instructions: Identify whether the bolded clause is Restrictive (R) or Non-Restrictive (NR).
The student who won the scholarship is from my class.
Restrictive (R)
(It tells us which student is being referred to. No commas needed.)
My uncle, who is a retired doctor, volunteers at the hospital.
Non-Restrictive (NR)
("Who is a retired doctor" is extra information. Commas are needed.)
The movie that I watched last night was thrilling.
Restrictive (R)
(It specifies which movie. No commas needed.)
The Grand Canyon, which is located in Arizona, attracts millions of tourists.
Non-Restrictive (NR)
("Which is located in Arizona" is extra information. Commas are needed.)
The company which was founded in 1990 specializes in software development.
Restrictive (R)
(It specifies which company. No commas needed.)
Summary of Answers
Restrictive Clauses (R) → No commas, essential to identify the noun.
Non-Restrictive Clauses (NR) → Use commas, add extra information.
3. Adverbial Clauses
An adverbial clause functions as an adverb, modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb.
How to Identify an Adverbial Clause:
It answers questions like How? When? Where? Why? To what extent? Under what condition?
It begins with a subordinating conjunction such as because, since, although, if, when, while, until, unless, before, after, as, though.
Examples:
I stayed home because I was feeling sick. (Reason)
She ran quickly until she reached the bus stop. (Time)
If you study hard, you will pass the exam. (Condition)
Adverbial Clauses: Types, Examples, and Exercises
An adverbial clause is a dependent clause that functions as an adverb, modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb by providing information about time, place, reason, condition, purpose, concession, comparison, result, manner, or extent. It always begins with a subordinating conjunction.
Types of Adverbial Clauses with Examples
1. Adverbial Clauses of Time (Tell when an action happens.)
🔹 Subordinating Conjunctions: when, while, before, after, as soon as, until, since, as
📌 Examples:
I will call you when I reach home.
We stayed inside until the rain stopped.
She left as soon as the meeting ended.
2. Adverbial Clauses of Place (Tell where an action happens.)
🔹 Subordinating Conjunctions: where, wherever
📌 Examples:
I will sit wherever you prefer.
They built a cottage where the two rivers meet.
3. Adverbial Clauses of Reason (Cause) (Tell why something happens.)
🔹 Subordinating Conjunctions: because, since, as, now that
📌 Examples:
She stayed home because she was sick.
Since it was raining, we took an umbrella.
I left early as I had an appointment.
4. Adverbial Clauses of Condition (Tell under what condition something happens.)
🔹 Subordinating Conjunctions: if, unless, provided that, as long as, even if
📌 Examples:
You can go out if you finish your homework.
Unless you study, you will fail the test.
I will help you as long as you try your best.
5. Adverbial Clauses of Purpose (Tell the purpose of an action.)
🔹 Subordinating Conjunctions: so that, in order that, for the purpose of
📌 Examples:
She left early so that she could catch the train.
I spoke slowly in order that everyone could understand me.
6. Adverbial Clauses of Concession (Contrast) (Show unexpected results or contrast.)
🔹 Subordinating Conjunctions: although, even though, while, whereas, though
📌 Examples:
Although he was tired, he continued working.
Even though it was expensive, she bought the dress.
He is rich, whereas his brother struggles financially.
7. Adverbial Clauses of Comparison (Compare two things.)
🔹 Subordinating Conjunctions: than, as...as
📌 Examples:
She is taller than her brother is.
He drives as carefully as his father does.
8. Adverbial Clauses of Result (Effect) (Tell the result of an action.)
🔹 Subordinating Conjunctions: so…that, such…that
📌 Examples:
The weather was so cold that we stayed inside.
He had such a great time that he didn’t want to leave.
9. Adverbial Clauses of Manner (Tell how something happens.)
🔹 Subordinating Conjunctions: as, as if, as though
📌 Examples:
She speaks as if she knows everything.
He acted as though he had seen a ghost.
10. Adverbial Clauses of Extent or Degree (Tell to what extent something happens.)
🔹 Subordinating Conjunctions: so…that, such…that
📌 Examples:
She was so tired that she fell asleep immediately.
He is such a good teacher that his students love him.
He is such a good teacher that his students love him.
Exercise: Fill in the Blanks with an Appropriate Adverbial Clause
Part 1: Identify the Type of Adverbial Clause
Determine the type of adverbial clause in the following sentences:
She couldn’t attend the party because she was sick.
We waited until the show started.
If you need help, just call me.
He spoke as if he were an expert.
She arrived early so that she could get a good seat.
We sat where we could see the stage clearly.
Although he studied hard, he didn’t pass the exam.
He worked harder than I expected.
It was so cold that we couldn’t go outside.
You can stay here as long as you follow the rules.
Part 2: Complete the Sentences with an Adverbial Clause
I will call you when ______________.
She exercises every day because ______________.
He drives as though ______________.
We will go on a picnic unless ______________.
The child ran so fast that ______________.
You can go wherever ______________.
He works hard so that ______________.
They left early in order that ______________.
Although ______________, she remained calm.
He looks as if ______________.
Exercises
I. Noun Clauses - Identify the Noun Clause and its Function
I don’t know why she left early. (Object of verb)
The teacher explained how the water cycle works. (Object of verb)
The decision depends on what he chooses. (Object of preposition)
They are unsure whether they should accept the offer. (Object of verb)
His hope, that he would win the race, kept him motivated. (Apposition)
II. Adjective Clauses - Fill in the blanks using an adjective clause
The book __________ is my favourite.
The girl __________ is my best friend.
I visited the museum __________.
The restaurant __________ serves amazing food.
The teacher __________ gave us extra homework.
III. Adverbial Clauses - Complete the sentences with an adverbial clause
I couldn’t go to the party because __________.
She practiced every day so that __________.
He will call me when __________.
The students stayed quiet until __________.
If you work hard, __________.
Exercises
I. Noun Clauses - Identify the Noun Clause in each sentence
I don’t know why she left early.
The teacher explained how the water cycle works.
The decision depends on what he chooses.
They are unsure whether they should accept the offer.
That she was late surprised everyone.
II. Adjective Clauses - Fill in the blanks using an adjective clause
The book __________ is my favourite.
The girl __________ is my best friend.
I visited the museum __________.
The restaurant __________ serves amazing food.
The teacher __________ gave us extra homework.
III. Adverbial Clauses - Complete the sentences with an adverbial clause
I couldn’t go to the party because __________.
She practiced every day so that __________.
He will call me when __________.
The students stayed quiet until __________.
If you work hard, __________.
____________________________________________________________________________
Identifying the Type of Clause
Determine whether the bolded clause in each sentence is a Noun Clause, Adjective Clause, or Adverbial Clause.
1. I don’t know why she left early.
2. The teacher explained how the water cycle works.
3. The decision depends on what he chooses.
4. They are unsure whether they should accept the offer.
5. That she was late surprised everyone.
6. The book that I borrowed from the library is my favourite.
7. The girl who sits next to me is my best friend.
8. I visited the museum where ancient artifacts are displayed.
9. The restaurant which serves Italian food is amazing.
10. The teacher who teaches us English gave us extra homework.
11. I couldn’t go to the party because I was feeling sick.
12. She practiced every day so that she could improve her performance.
13. He will call me when he reaches home.
14. The students stayed quiet until the teacher arrived.
15. If you work hard, you will achieve success.
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