DEPARTAMENTO DE HUMANIDADES

GRAMATICA INGLESA

FINITE CLAUSES

SEMANA 5
FINITE CLAUSES

A finite clause is a group of words that

contains a finite verb (a verb that shows
tense, person, and number) and can function
as a complete sentence (independent clause)
or as part of a larger sentence
(dependent/subordinate clause).
Key Features of Finite Clauses:

1.Contains a finite verb (a verb that is

inflected for tense, person, and number).
A. Example: She writes letters. (Present
tense, third-person singular)
B. Example: They went to school. (Past tense)
2. Can stand alone as a complete sentence
(independent clause) or be part of a
complex sentence (dependent clause).
A. Independent: He left early.
B. Dependent: Because he left early, we were
surprised. (Complex sentence)
3. Has an explicit or implied subject.
A. Example: "(You) Sit down!" (Implied subject
"you")
Types of Finite Clauses

Independent (Main) Clauses

These can stand alone as complete sentences.
•She laughed.
•The sun is shining.
•They will arrive soon.
Dependent (Subordinate) Clauses
These cannot stand alone and rely on the main
clause for meaning. Dependent clauses can be
Noun Clauses, Adjective (Relative) Clauses and
Adverbial Clauses.
A. Noun Clauses (Function as a noun: subject,
object, complement)
•What she said surprised me. (Subject)
•I know that he is lying. (Object)
•The truth is that nobody knew. (Complement)
B. Adjective (Relative) Clauses (Modify a
noun, introduced by relative pronouns like who,
which, that)
•The man who called you is my uncle.
•The book that I borrowed is fascinating.
C. Adverbial Clauses (Function as adverbs:
express time, reason, condition, etc.)
•When the bell rings, we will leave. (Time)
•Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
(Reason)
•If you study hard, you will pass. (Condition)
•He talked to me as if he knew me. (Manner)
•I’ll be here so that you’ll feel confident.
(Purpose)
Noun clauses

Function as a subject, object, or

complement in a sentence.
Key words: that, whether, if, who, what, when,
where, why, how
Examples:
•Subject: What she said surprised everyone.
•Object: I don’t know where he went.
•Complement: The problem is that we have
no money.
Exercise

Underline the noun clause in each sentence and

state its function (subject, object, or
complement).
1.She believes that he is honest.
2.Whoever wins the race will get a prize.
3.My question is whether they will arrive on time.
4.He told me what the answer was.
5.Why she left remains a mystery.
Answers

(Answers: 1. Object, 2. Subject, 3. Complement, 4. Object, 5.

Subject)
Adjective (Relative) Clauses

Modify a noun and usually begin with relative

pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that) or relative
adverbs (where, when, why).

Examples:
•The man who called you is my boss.
•The book that I borrowed is very interesting.
•The house where I grew up was sold.
Exercise

Exercises:
Underline the adjective clause and identify the noun it
modifies.
1.The student who answered first got extra credit.
2.The laptop that I bought yesterday stopped working.
3.The reason why she resigned is still unknown.
4.The restaurant where we met has closed down.
5.The woman whose car was stolen reported it to the police.
Answers

(Answers: 1. student, 2. laptop, 3. reason, 4. restaurant, 5.

woman)
Adverbial Clauses
Function as adverbs, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other
adverbs. They express time, reason, condition, contrast,
purpose, etc.

Examples:
•Time: When the bell rings, we will leave.
•Reason: Because it was raining, we stayed home.
•Condition: If you study hard, you will pass.
•Contrast: Although he was tired, he kept working.
•Purpose: She worked hard so that she could buy a car.
•Manner: They behaved as if they were the owners.
Common subordinators of Adverbial clauses

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
Time: when, after, before, as soon as, until, by the time,
while
Reason: because, since
Condition: if, as long as, so long as, provided that, providing
that, unless
Contrast: although, even though, though
Purpose: so that
Exercise

Identify the type of adverbial clause in each sentence (time,

reason, condition, contrast, purpose).
1.Since you’re tired, you should rest. (Adverbial Clause of
Reason)
2.Before the movie starts, let’s get popcorn. (Adv. Clause of
Time)
3.Even though it was expensive, I bought it. (Adv. Clause of
Contrast)
4.If you save money, you can travel. (Adv. Clause of
Condition)
5.She spoke slowly so that everyone could understand. (Adv.
Clause of Purp.)
Answers

(Answers: 1. Reason, 2. Time, 3. Contrast, 4. Condition, 5.

Purpose)
 Final Summary Table

Type Function Key Words Example

Acts as
Noun Clause subject/object/compleme that, whether, what, who I know that he is lying.
nt
The book that I read was
Adjective Clause Modifies a noun who, which, that, where
great.
Modifies verb (time, when, because, if, She left because she was
Adverbial Clause
reason, etc.) although tired
Extra exercises (Noun Clauses as subjects)

Instructions: Complete each sentence by adding a noun

clause as the subject. Use starters like What..., That...,
Whether..., How..., Why...
1.________________________ surprised everyone in the room.
2.________________________ is still unknown to scientists.
3.________________________ made the baby laugh
uncontrollably.
4.________________________ remains the biggest mystery of the
case.
5.________________________ changed my perspective on life.
Example Answers:
1.What she said surprised everyone in the room.
2.How the universe began is still unknown to scientists.
3.That funny face he made made the baby laugh
uncontrollably.
4.Where the suspect hid the money remains the biggest
mystery of the case.
5.What happened last summer changed my perspective
on life.
Exercise: Noun clauses as objects

Instructions: Complete each sentence by adding a noun clause

as the object. Use starters like that, what, whether, how, why,
who, when, where.
1.The teacher explained ________________________.
2.I can't believe ________________________.
3.Do you know ________________________?
4.She finally revealed ________________________.
5.We need to determine ________________________.
Example Answers:
1.The teacher explained how to solve the equation.
2.I can't believe that he forgot my birthday.
3.Do you know where they went on vacation?
4.She finally revealed why she was upset.
5.We need to determine whether we should accept the
offer.
Exercise: Noun Clauses as Subject Complements Exercise

Instructions: Complete each sentence with a noun clause

after these copulative verbs: is, was, remains, seems,
became. Use that, what, why, how, whether.
1.The most surprising fact was ________________________.
2.Her greatest achievement is ________________________.
3.The mystery remains ________________________.
4.What troubled me most was ________________________.
5.The key question seems ________________________.
Extra Exercises

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct time

subordinator from the list below.

Subordinators to choose from:

when, while, before, after, until, since, as soon as, once,
whenever, by the time
when, while, before, after, until, since, as soon as, once,
whenever, by the time

1._________ the sun sets, the she moved to Canada last

streetlights turn on. year.
2.She had already left _________ I 7._________ you hear the alarm,
arrived at the party. evacuate the building
immediately.
3._________ you finish your
homework, 8.They waited _________ the rain
stopped before going outside.
you can play video games.
9._________ I visit my
4.He checked his phone grandparents, they tell me old
repeatedly _________ the train family stories.
arrived.
10._________ we got to the
5._________ I was cooking cinema, the movie had already
dinner, my brother set the table. started.
6.We haven’t seen her _________
Answer Key: 9.Whenever
1.When 10.By the time
2.before
3.After / Once / As soon as
4.until
5.While
6.since
7.When / As soon as
8.until
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