Diagramming Clauses

Here is everything you need to know about diagramming clauses! Have fun!

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• Adjective Clauses

These are a type of dependent clause which act as adjectives. They can modify any noun or pronoun in a sentence.

In this diagram, the adjective clause is modifying the subject of the independent clause.




In this diagram, the adjective clause is modifying the object of the preposition.


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• Noun Clauses

These are a type of dependent clause acting as nouns. That means that they can do any of the noun jobs (subject, direct object, indirect object, predicate noun, object of the preposition).

This diagram shows a noun clause acting as the subject.




This diagram shows a noun clause acting as the object of the preposition.

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• Adverb Clauses

These are dependent clause which act as adverbs. That means that they can modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.





• Elliptical Clauses

These are a type of adverb clause where the subject, verb, or both is left out. Diagram the implied words in parentheses.




Here is a diagram of the sentence They are more experienced than I. (than I is the elliptical clause.)


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• Subordinate Clauses

All of the above clauses (adjective, noun, adverb, elliptical) are types of subordinate clauses.

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• Independent Clauses/ Main Clauses

These stand alone without any help. This example shows a very basic independent clause, but they can be much more complicated.

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