Chapter 9 · English Grammar

Clauses

Intermediate ⏱ 35–45 minutes 🎓 Grade 7

What you will be able to do

  • Tell an independent clause apart from a dependent one
  • Identify a noun clause and its job in a sentence
  • Identify an adjective (relative) clause
  • Identify an adverb clause and the relationship it shows
  • Use clauses to build richer sentences
Builds on / Related chapters
Grade 6 · Sentence Structure & Types

1 Quick Introduction

English

A clause is a group of words with its own subject and verb. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence; a dependent (subordinate) clause cannot. Dependent clauses do one of three jobs — they act as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb — and that is the heart of this chapter.

हिन्दी

उपवाक्य (clause) वह शब्द-समूह है जिसमें अपना कर्ता और क्रिया हो। स्वतंत्र उपवाक्य अकेला वाक्य बन सकता है; आश्रित उपवाक्य नहीं। आश्रित उपवाक्य तीन में से कोई एक काम करते हैं — संज्ञा, विशेषण या क्रिया-विशेषण की तरह — और यही इस अध्याय का सार है।

2 A Real-Life Situation

Imagine this

You tell a friend about a film:

You: What I liked most was the ending. The hero, who never gives up, wins because he works as a team.

Why this form? 'What I liked most' is a noun clause (the subject); 'who never gives up' is an adjective clause (describing the hero); 'because he works as a team' is an adverb clause (the reason). Three clause types in one sentence.

3 The Grammar Rule

Rule & Formula
ClauseActs asBegins with
Nouna nounthat, what, who, whether, why
Adjective (Relative)an adjectivewho, which, that, whose, where
Adverban adverbbecause, when, if, although, so that
Noun clause = a thing · Adjective clause = describes a noun · Adverb clause = how/when/why
That he is honest (noun) is known to all. The man who called (adjective) left. I'll go if it stops raining (adverb).

4 Noun & Adjective Clauses

A noun clause does the work of a noun. It can be the subject, the object, or the complement.

  • Subject: What she said surprised us.
  • Object: I know that he is right.
  • Complement: The truth is that he failed.

An adjective (relative) clause describes a noun and usually begins with a relative pronoun (who, which, that, whose) or a relative adverb (where, when).

  • The boy who sits next to me is my friend. (describes 'boy')
  • This is the house where I was born. (describes 'house')

A defining relative clause (no commas) is essential; a non-defining one (with commas) just adds extra information: My brother, who lives in Pune, is a doctor.

Visual — Noun & Adjective Clauses
The boy who sits next to me is my friend.adjective clause → describes 'boy'begins with the relative pronoun 'who'
1
Worked Example
Identify the noun clause: I don't know where he lives.
Solution

where he lives — it is the object of 'know' (a noun clause).

2
Worked Example
Identify the adjective clause: The pen that you gave me is lost.
Solution

that you gave me — it describes the noun 'pen'.

Key Points

  • Noun clause = does a noun's job (subject/object/complement)
  • Adjective (relative) clause describes a noun (who/which/that)
  • Defining = no commas (essential); non-defining = commas (extra info)

5 Adverb Clauses

An adverb clause does the work of an adverb — it tells when, where, why, how, or under what condition. It begins with a subordinating conjunction.

ShowsConjunctionsExample
Timewhen, while, after, before, as soon asCall me when you arrive.
Reasonbecause, since, asHe left because he was tired.
Conditionif, unless, providedYou'll pass if you work hard.
Concessionalthough, even thoughAlthough it rained, we played.
Purpose / Resultso that; so…thatHe ran so that he could catch the bus.
1
Worked Example
What does this adverb clause show: We waited until the rain stopped.?
Solution

Time — 'until the rain stopped' tells when we waited.

2
Worked Example
Identify the adverb clause and its type: She was happy because she won.
Solution

because she won — an adverb clause of reason.

Key Points

  • Adverb clause tells when/where/why/how/under what condition
  • Begins with a subordinating conjunction
  • Types: time, reason, condition, concession, purpose, result

6 Vocabulary Builder

WordMeaningहिन्दी
Clausea subject + verb groupउपवाक्य
Subordinatedependentआश्रित
Relative pronounwho/which/thatसंबंधवाचक सर्वनाम
Concessionadmitting a contrastस्वीकृति/विरोध
Conditionan 'if' situationशर्त
✎ Vocabulary Quick Test0 / 1
Q.A clause that describes a noun is a/an:
Explanation: An adjective (relative) clause describes a noun.

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗ IncorrectThe man which called is here.
✓ CorrectThe man who called is here.
Use 'who' for people, 'which' for things.
✗ IncorrectMy father who is a doctor works hard. (extra info, needs commas)
✓ CorrectMy father, who is a doctor, works hard.
A non-defining clause needs commas on both sides.
✗ IncorrectI know that what he said.
✓ CorrectI know what he said.
Don't stack 'that' and 'what'; one connector is enough.
✗ IncorrectAlthough he was tired, but he worked.
✓ CorrectAlthough he was tired, he worked.
Don't use 'although' with 'but'.

8 Practice Exercises

Fill in the BlanksLevel 1
Name the type of the underlined clause: noun, adjective, or adverb.
  1. I believe (that he is honest).
  2. The book (which I bought) is good.
  3. We left (when it got dark).
  4. (What you said) is true.
  5. He failed (because he was careless).
Answer Key
  1. noun clause
  2. adjective clause
  3. adverb clause
  4. noun clause
  5. adverb clause
Fill in the BlanksLevel 2
Complete each sentence with a suitable clause connector.
  1. This is the house ______ I was born. (relative adverb)
  2. I don't know ______ he will come. (noun clause)
  3. ______ it was late, we continued. (concession)
  4. The girl ______ won the prize is my cousin. (relative)
  5. Wait here ______ I return. (time)
Answer Key
  1. where
  2. whether / if
  3. Although / Though
  4. who
  5. until / till
Error Detection
  1. The man which helped us was kind.
  2. I know that what you mean.
  3. Although she tried, but she failed.
  4. This is the place where that I met him.
Answer Key
  1. The man who helped us was kind. (error: which)
  2. I know what you mean. (error: that what)
  3. Although she tried, she failed. (error: but)
  4. This is the place where I met him. (error: where that)
Sentence Correction
  1. The book who I read was nice.
  2. I asked him that where he was going.
  3. My uncle who lives abroad is rich (extra info).
Answer Key
  1. The book that I read was nice.
  2. I asked him where he was going.
  3. My uncle, who lives abroad, is rich.
Rearrange the Words
  1. said / what / true / she / is
  2. who / the / called / man / left
  3. tired / he / because / was / he / rested
Answer Key
  1. What she said is true.
  2. The man who called left.
  3. He rested because he was tired.
Match the Following
Column AColumn B
1. What he saida. adverb clause (condition)
2. who lives next doorb. noun clause
3. because it rainedc. adverb clause (reason)
4. if you tryd. adjective clause
Answer Key
What he said → noun clausewho lives next door → adjective clausebecause it rained → adverb clause (reason)if you try → adverb clause (condition)

9 Micro Quiz

✎ Quick Check — 5 questions0 / 5
Q1.'I know that he is honest.' — the clause 'that he is honest' is a:
Explanation: It is the object of 'know' → noun clause.
Q2.'The car which I bought is red.' — the underlined clause is:
Explanation: It describes 'car' → adjective (relative) clause.
Q3.'We left when the show ended.' — type of clause?
Explanation: 'when the show ended' tells the time → adverb clause.
Q4.Relative pronoun for people:
Explanation: 'who' refers to people.
Q5.Which clause shows condition?
Explanation: 'if you study' is an adverb clause of condition.

10 Reading Practice

What surprised everyone was the result. The student who had failed last year, because he had not studied, now stood first. "I worked hard so that I could prove myself," he said. Although the road was difficult, he never gave up. This is the success that hard work brings.

Comprehension Questions
  1. Find the noun clause in the first sentence.
  2. Identify an adjective (relative) clause.
  3. Find an adverb clause of concession.
Answer Key
  1. "What surprised everyone" — it is the subject (a noun clause).
  2. "who had failed last year" or "that hard work brings" — describing a noun.
  3. "Although the road was difficult" — it shows concession/contrast.

11 Speaking, Writing & Daily Use

Say these aloud
  • What you said is correct.
  • The girl who sings well is my sister.
  • We stayed indoors because it was raining.
  • I will help you if you ask.
  • Although he was poor, he was honest.
Write five sentences, each containing a different clause: a noun clause, a defining relative clause, a non-defining relative clause, an adverb clause of time, and one of reason.
Example: What I want is rest. The boy who won is here. My friend, who lives in Goa, called. When the bell rings, we leave. We stayed because it rained.

12 Challenge Zone

🔥 Higher-Level Questions — 30 / 3
Q1.Identify the function of the clause: 'I am sure of what he said.'
Explanation: 'what he said' is a noun clause acting as the object of the preposition 'of'.
Q2.Which sentence uses a non-defining clause correctly?
Explanation: A non-defining clause needs a comma on both sides.
Q3.Identify the type: 'He spoke so softly that no one heard.'
Explanation: 'so … that' shows result.

13 Chapter Mind Map

Mind Map
              CLAUSES
                |
   +------------+------------+
   |            |            |
 NOUN       ADJECTIVE     ADVERB
 that/what/  (relative)   when/because
 who/whether who/which/   if/although
 acts as a   that/where   so that
 noun        describes    time/reason/
             a noun       condition

14 One-Minute Revision

Remember these

  • A clause has a subject and a verb
  • Noun clause does a noun's job (subject/object/complement)
  • Adjective (relative) clause describes a noun (who/which/that)
  • Adverb clause shows time/reason/condition/concession/purpose/result
  • Defining relative clauses take no commas; non-defining ones do