English Sentence Structure: S + V + O

What is a clause?
Clause is a group of words consisting of subject and verb.
Clause

S+V+O
Predicate

Types of clauses:
1. Main Clause:
Group of words that can stand alone and gives a complete sense is
called main clause.
Example: I first met her in Paris where I lived as a small child.
“I first met her in Paris” is main clause.
It is also called sentence or independent clause.
2. Subordinating clause:
A clause that cannot stand alone is called subordinating clause.
Example: I first met her in Paris where I lived as a small child.
“where I lived as a small child” is subordinating clause.
It is also called dependent clause.
Types of Subordinating Clauses:
1. Noun Clause
2. Adverb Clause
3. Adjective Clause
 NOUN CLAUSE
 What is a noun?
 Name of anything and everything is called noun.
 Eg: Ali, Islamabad, parrot etc.
 What is a noun clause?
 A noun clause plays the role of a noun.
 Why do we need a noun clause?
 Noun clauses are needed when a single word is not enough.

How to spot Noun Clause?

1. Identify “S+V” unit.
2. Starts with subordinating conjunction; how, if, that & Wh- words.
(who, whom, whoever, whomever, what, whatever, where,
wherever, which, whichever, why, whatever)
3. Ask “what”. The answer you get, that will be the noun clause.
4. Replace it with a noun or pronoun.

Placement of Noun Clause

1. Can be subject of a sentence.
 How the student behaved was not very polite.
 Where she lives is not known.
 What she told surprised me.
2. Can be object of a sentence.
 He didn’t realize that he was lost.
 I asked where she was going.
 There is no logic in what they say.
 3. Can be complement
 The truth is that he is a policeman.
 Life is how we enjoy it.
 We believe that they are loyal.
4. Can be a case in apposition
i.e. defines the noun preceding it.
 The news that General Pervaiz Musharraf died shocked
everyone.
 The rumor that he failed is fake.
Comma rule for case in apposition:

 If the information is necessary then no comma is needed as in;

 The news that General Pervaiz Musharraf died shocked

everyone.

 If the information is extra then the noun clause is set off by two
commas, one before it and one after it.

 General Pervaiz Musharraf, the former president of Pakistan,

died.
Solved Example:
She told that she would resign.
1. Identify S+V unit.
Oh no, here are two SV units; “She told” & “She would resign”
2. Identify subordinating clause.
Subordinating clause starts with a subordinating conjunction.
 There is no conjunction with “She told” so it means that “that she
would resign” is a subordinating clause starting with “that, a
subordinating conjunction”.
But wait! There are three types of subordinating clause; Noun
Clause, Adverb Clause & Adjective Clause. So this is which one of
them?
3. Ask “What”, the answer will be the noun clause.
What did she tell?
That she would resign.
One check point cleared.
4. Replace with a pronoun.
She told it.
Another check point cleared.
Hence proved that “that she would resign” is a noun clause.
What is the position of this noun clause in the sentence?
S: She
V: told
O: that she would resign.
Now identify the Noun clauses and its placement in the following
examples using the above strategy.
1. She was saddened by what she had read.
2. How the students behaved hurt the teacher.
3. I cannot rely on what he says.
4. The king ordered that the traitor should be put to death.
5. I cannot rely on what he says.
 ADVERBIAL CLAUSES
What is adverb?
 It is a word that modifies a
 Verb
 Adjective
 Another adverb
 Often ends in –ly
 Frequently
 Quietly
 Quickly
What is an adverb clause?
An adverb clause plays the role of an adverb in a sentence.

Tips to spot an adverbial clause

1. SV unit will be there.
2. It begins with a subordinating conjunction.
3. They answer questions like how, when, where and why.
4. They can be switched around. It can be put in the beginning,
middle and end of a sentence. Comma is used;
a. If placed in the beginning, a comma will be put after it. (,)
i. When my brother is hungry, he starts yelling.
b. If comes in the middle of a sentence, two commas will be
put; one before and one after it. (,…..,)
i. My brother, when he is hungry, starts yelling.
c. No comma if comes at the end.
i. My brother starts yelling when he is hungry.
Some of the subordinating conjunctions are:

Idea being modified Subordinating conjunction

Time When, whenever, while, before,
after, since, until, once
Place Where, wherever, everywhere,
anywhere
Condition If, unless, whether or not, in the
event
Reason or Purpose Because, as, since, so, so that, in
order to
Contrast/ concession Though, although, even though,
whereas, even if
Comparison or manner Like, as, as….. As, as if, the way,
than
Result So……that, such……that,

Solved example:
My brother starts yelling when he is hungry.
1. Identify SV unit.
a. “my brother starts yelling” & “he is hungry”
Again 2 SV units
2. Identify subordinating conjunction.
a. “When”
It means “when he is hungry” is a subordinating clause.
Is it adverbial clause?
3. Ask question how/when/where/why. If it answers any one of them
it is adverbial clause.
 a. When does he start yelling?
When he is hungry
Note: ‘that’ & ‘as’ are sometimes skipped.
Example: The train moved so slowly we were late. (‘that’ is skipped)
Do this exercise I have shown you. (‘as’ is skipped)
It means it is an adverbial clause.
Another test;
4. Switch it around; if the meaning is not affected then it’s an
adverbial clause.
a. When my brother is hungry, he starts yelling.
b. My brother, when he is hungry, starts yelling.
c. My brother starts yelling when he is hungry.
It is proved that it’s an adverbial clause.
Exercise
Identify the adverbial clauses and tell what type of adverb clauses
are they i.e. time, place etc.
1. Wherever the train stops, Skimble gets out of the train.
2. Since Skimble is on board, there is nothing to worry about.
3. He will post your letter as he is going that way.
4. Though he is only four, he speaks English very well.
5. The man came though we asked him not to.
6. Although he has eaten a dozen of bananas, he was still hungry.
7. Do this exercise I have shown you.
8. She works as hard as her sister.
9. You will know when you grow up.
10. He looks as though he is ill.
 ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
What is an adjective?
Adjective gives us more information about a noun or pronoun.
It tells
i. Quality
ii. Quantity
iii. Number
iv. Color
v. Shape
vi. Size
of a noun.
What is adjective clause?
Adjective clause functions the same as adjective. It is also called relative
clause.
Types of Adjective Clauses:
1. Defining adjective clauses
They give the necessary information about the noun, without
which the noun is incomplete.
Example: The man who lives next door is a doctor.
2. Modifying adjective clauses:
They give us extra information about the noun.
Example: Mr. John, who lives next door, is a doctor.
Comma Rule:
 1. If the adjective clause is defining then no comma is needed.
2. If the adjective clause is modifying, two commas will be put, one
before it and one after it.

Tips to identify adjective clauses

 Identify “S + V” unit.

 Adjective clause comes right after the nouns, they modify.

 Usually begins with relative pronouns.

 Relative pronouns; who, whom, which, whose, that, when,
where.

 They answer questions such as ‘Which’ or ‘What type of’.

Note: the relative pronoun in the adjective clause is sometimes not
written.
Eg: The boy who is leading the parade is my cousin.
The boy leading the parade is my cousin.
Solved Example:
The students who are talking can leave the class.
1. Identify SV unit.
Who are talking
2. Identify relative pronoun.
Who
3. Check whether the adjective clause is put right after the noun it
modifies or not. If yes then it is an adjective clause.

The students who are talking can leave the class.

Examples
1. The tourists explore this region which is in the mountains.
2. The lady who lives across the street is my aunt.
3. The people who do not give respect don’t get it.
4. I don’t like people who are mean to animals.
5. The reason why I left is a secret.
6. Can you see the bird that is on the fence?
7. The cat that we are watching just caught a mouse.
8. Did you go to the school where my friend goes?
9. Students who work hard get good grades.
10. I know someone whose father worked in World War II.