Basic English Structure
Clauses

Clauses 子句
A clause is a group of related words which form a part of the sentence but has its own subject and (finite) verb. It is different from a phrase in that a phrase does not include a subject and a verb relationship.
子句是句子的組成部分，它是由一些相關的字構成，包括一個主語及一個(限定)動詞。片語則不同，片語並不包含主語+限定動詞這種關係。
e.g.
She likes hit songs of the 90's. (a clause forms a sentence) (一個子句構成一個句子)
She likes hit songs of the 90's but she doesn't like songs with unhealthy themes. (a sentence with two clauses joined by the conjunction 'but') (兩個由連接詞‘but’聯繫起來的子句組成一個句子)
hit songs of the 90's (a phrase) (一個片語)
songs with unhealthy themes (a phrase) (一個片語)


Two Kinds of Clauses 兩類子句
Independent Clauses (Main Clauses) 獨立子句 (主句)
An Independent clause can make a sentence by itself. It contains the subject and the verb. Independent clauses follow this pattern:
一個獨立子句可以單獨成為一個句子，它包含一個主語及一個動詞。
Independent clauses follow this pattern:
Subject + Verb = Complete Thought 獨立子句：主語+動詞 = 完整思想
e.g.
Tom(Subject) + works(Verb) hard. = Complete Thought

There must be at least one independent clause in a sentence.
一個句子內必須至少要有一個獨立子句。
He is poor. (an independent clause forms a sentence) (一個獨立子句構成一個句子)
He is poor because he is unemployed. (two independent clauses joined together by the conjunction 'because') (兩個獨立子句由連接詞‘because’聯繫起來，組成一個句子)

Exercise 1
I. Recognizing independent clauses


Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clauses) 從屬子句 (從句)
A dependent clause cannot make a sentence by itself. It depends on an independent clause for its meaning. It connects the independent clause by a conjunction (when, after, before, if, although, because, that, so that...).
一個從屬子句不能單獨成為一個句子，它必須依附著一個獨立子句，組合起來，才能表達完整意思。它是利用連接詞(when, after, before, if, although, because, that, so that…)與獨立子句連接起來的。
Dependent clauses follow this pattern: 從屬子句：
Conjunction + Subject + Verb ≠ Complete Thought 連接詞+ 主語 + 動詞 ≠ 完整思想
e.g.
Before(Conjunction) she(Subject) left(Verb) home. ≠Complete Thought
Although(Conjunction) Peter(Subject) worked(Verb) hard. ≠Complete Thought

Types of Dependent Clauses 從屬子句的類型
Dependent clauses are classified according to the work they do in the sentence. Dependent clauses do the work of nouns (Noun Clauses), adverbs (Adverb Clauses) and adjective (Adjective Clauses).
從屬子句可以按其在句子中所擔當的角色來分類：作名詞使用(名詞從句)、作副詞使用(副詞從句)及作形容詞使用(形容詞從句)。

Noun Clauses 名詞從句
A noun clause does the work of a noun. It can be the subject, object and object of preposition.
一個名詞從句當作一個名詞使用，它既可作為主語，亦可充當賓語或介詞賓語。
1. The subject of a verb 動詞主語
What he said was very strange.
Where he went was a secret.
2. The object of a verb 動詞賓語
I did not understand what he said.
Tell me where you will go.
3. The object of a preposition 介詞賓語
We were very interested in what he said.
I agreed with what he proposed.

Exercise 2
I. Recognizing kinds of noun clauses

Adverb Clauses 副詞從句
An adverb clause does the work of an adverb. It tends to tell us something about the sentence's main verb: when, where, why, under what conditions.
一個副詞從句當作一個副詞使用，主要來修飾動詞：何時、何地、為什麼、何種狀況。
1. Manner 舉止
It indicates how an action is done. 它說明一個行動是怎樣幹。
I shall do the exercises as I have been taught.
You look as if you had seen a ghost.
Do as I told you.
2. Place 地方
It indicates where an action was done. 它表明一個行動在什麼地方幹。
The building stood where Jordan Road meets Nathan Road.
I will go wherever you go.
Stay where you are!
3. Time 時間
It indicates when an action was done. 它顯示一個行動在什麼時候幹。
While I was speaking to him, he was looking at the sky.
As soon as the crowd heard the news, they rushed to the street.
After the music had finished, he bowed to the audience.
4. Reason 原因
It indicates why an action was done. 它指出為什麼會有某行動。
He succeeded because he worked hard.
He was injured because he drove too fast.
He was popular because he was kind to anyone.
5. Purpose 目的
She opened the book in order that her friend might look at the picture.
He is working late so that he may be free to go away tomorrow.
The thief hid behind some bushes so that the policemen would not see him.
6. Result 結果
The student worked so hard that the principal awarded him the prize.
He was such a hard worker that we all expected him to pass.
He was so frightened that he did not go on.
7. Concession 讓步
Although/though he tried hard, he was not successful.
He failed the exam though he had worked hard.
However hard he tries, he never seems able to do the work satisfactorily.
8. Comparison 比較
This work is not so easy as you think.
That question is easier than I thought.
The sooner you finish your work, the sooner you will go home.
9. Condition 條件
I shall go if he asks me.
If I dropped this it would explode.
If I had known of your arrival I should have met you.

Exercise 3
I. Recognizing kinds of adverb clauses

Adjective Clauses (Relative Clasues) 形容詞從句(關係從句)
Adjective Clauses qualify nouns. Adjective clauses begin with relative pronouns (who, which, that or whom) or relative adverbs (when or where).
形容詞從句用作修飾名詞。關係代名詞(who, which, that or whom)或關係副詞(when or where)是位於形容詞從句之開頭位置。
e.g.
The student who answered the question was John.
Miss Wong, whom you met at our house, is going to marry Mr.Chan.  
I remember the day when we visited Paris.

Adjective clauses follow these patterns: 形容詞從句
Relative Pronoun + Verb ≠ Complete Thought 關係代名詞 + 動詞 ≠ 完整思想
Relative Pronoun (or Relative Adverb) + Subject + Verb ≠ Complete Thought 關係代名詞 (或關係副詞) + 主語 + 動詞 ≠ 完整思想
e.g.
Who(Relative Pronoun) answered(Verb) the question.≠Complete Thought
Whom(Relative Pronoun) you(Subject) met(Verb) at our house.≠Complete Thought
When(Relative Adverb) we(Subject) visited(Verb) Paris.≠Complete Thought

Exercise 4
I. Recognizing adjective clauses

Revision
I. Recognizing kinds of dependent clauses (I)
II. Recognizing kinds of dependent clauses (higher level)

Basic English Structure