Sentence Power Clauses

Question 1

Understanding (how the terrorists received financing) led the investigators to an off-shore bank account.

Answer 1

Noun clause used as object of present participle (“understanding,” which is the simple subject)

Question 2

In an effort to understand (why the experiment worked), Bill went back to his notes.

Answer 2

Noun clause as object of the infinitive

part of adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 3

When to use that vs. which?

Answer 3

If clause is restrictive, use that (NO commas)

If clause is nonrestrictive, use which (YES commas)

Question 4

Types of sentences: Complex

Answer 4

Simple + subordinate/dependent clause(s)

Question 5

Meg solved the problem by attempting (what her peers had not been able to do).

Answer 5

Noun clause used as object of the transitive present participle
(“attempting” is the object of the preposition “by,” which starts the adverbial prepositional phrase)
SO sentence is complex

Question 6

I ate the cake (that Mary baked).

Answer 6

Adjectival clause (restrictive)

Question 7

Tom, who never woke even though the dog barked throughout the night, claimed to have a visual recollection of the man (who broke into the car that the neighbor had parked in front of the house).

Answer 7

Adjectival clause with nested adjectival clause with nested adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 8

Mary Jones, (who baked the cake,) lives on my block.

Answer 8

Adjectival clause (nonrestrictive)

Question 9

(That Mary bakes cakes) and (that she gives them to me) makes me happy.

Answer 9

Compound noun clauses in the subject position

Question 10

All of the students wondered (if they would pass the exam).

Answer 10

Noun clause in the direct object position

Question 11

Tom worked on (what was left of the old barn).

Answer 11

Noun clause as the object of the preposition

Question 12

(That all men are created equal) remains a guiding principle of democracy.

Answer 12

Noun clause in the subject position

Question 13

Name all the coordinating conjunctions

Answer 13

for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (FANBOYS)

Question 14

Believing (the dream had come true,) Fanny drove to her friend’s house.

Answer 14

Noun clause used as object of present participle

Question 15

I believe (all people are created equal).

Answer 15

Noun clause as object (subject complement)

Question 16

Types of sentences: Compound complex

Answer 16

Compound + subordinate clause(s)

Question 17

Diana says (she will buy, first thing, an electric pencil sharpener, something she has always wanted).

Answer 17

Noun clause as direct object, with nested adverb phrase, DO, appositive adverbial clause

Question 18

I knew (when the rain would begin).

Answer 18

Noun clause in the direct object position

Question 19

Types of sentences: Compound

Answer 19

2 independent clauses

Question 20

What is an independent clause?

Answer 20

A group of words that has a subject and a predicate and can stand alone.

All complete sentences = an independent clause

Question 21

(When the rain stopped,) Tom went outside to play (because he needed to release his pent-up energy).

Answer 21

2 adverb clauses

Question 22

Sally knew (whenever her cat had caught a mouse), knew (why her pet refused his dinner), and knew (how she could prevent future rodent carnage).

Answer 22

3 noun clauses in direct object positions

Question 23

I agree with (what you said).

Answer 23

Noun clause as object of the preposition

Question 24

The girl (who baked the cake) liked the boy (who ate the cake).

Answer 24

2 adjectival clauses

Question 25

The classroom clock (that always runs slow) needs an adjustment.

Answer 25

Adjectival clause (restrictive)

Question 26

(Whoever wants to see the movie) needs a ticket.

Answer 26

Noun clause with nested nominative infinitive phrase as subject

Question 27

The girl (who baked the cake) lives on my block.

Answer 27

Adjectival clause (restrictive)

Question 28

Diana says she will buy, first thing, an electric pencil sharpener, (something she has always wanted).

Answer 28

Adverbial clause, appositive to “pencil sharpener”

Question 29

Mary, who wanted to surprise her aunt, looked for the cake ingredients in (what had been her grandmother’s secret cupboard).

Answer 29

Noun clause as the object of the preposition

“looked for” is phrasal verb

Question 30

Mary baked the cake (as if it were the most important task she had to accomplish).

Answer 30

Adverb clause with nested adjectival clause

Question 31

I enjoy eating (whatever Susie, who is a terrific baker, creates for a snack).

Answer 31

Noun clause used as object of present participle, with nested nonrestrictive adjective clause

Question 32

In an effort (to understand) why the experiment worked, Bill went back to his notes.

Answer 32

Adjectival infinitive
(part of adverbial prepositional phrase)
So sentence is complex

Question 33

The girl tried to hear (what the speaker was saying).

Answer 33

Noun clause as object of a verbal infinitive phrase

Question 34

Winning the game was (what motivated Jerry).

Answer 34

Noun clause as subject complement

Question 35

Susie wanted to analyze (how the economy had failed).

Answer 35

Noun clause as object of the infinitive

Question 36

(That Tom believed he could climb the mountain) surprised everyone.

Answer 36

Noun clause in the subject position, with nested noun clause as its direct object

Question 37

What is a subordinate clause?

Answer 37

A group of words that has a subject and a predicate that cannot stand alone. AKA dependent clause

function as nouns, adjectives, adverb

(same as a dependent clause)

Question 38

The mystery to solve is (how the dog can be in two places at the same time).

Answer 38

Noun clause in the subject complement position

Question 39

(How the robbers stole the money) became a mystery

Answer 39

Noun clause in the subject position

Question 40

What is a dependent clause?

Answer 40

A group of words that has a subject and a predicate that cannot stand alone.

function as nouns, adjectives, adverb

(same as a subordinate clause)

Question 41

Claire, (who doesn’t own a cat,) visited the animal shelter.

Answer 41

Adjectival clause (nonrestrictive)

Question 42

Mary tried to bake (what would win her the competition).

Answer 42

Noun clause as object of the infinitive

Question 43

Types of sentences: Simple

Answer 43

1 independent clause (1 subject + 1 predicate)

Question 44

The teacher’s greatest concern, (how she would instruct the children in math,) became an obsession.

Answer 44

Noun subordinate clause as appositive

Question 45

The hero became (whoever the reader wanted her to be).

Answer 45

Noun clause in the subject complement position

Question 46

The look (that orphan had given him, with his simple, grateful formula), had pierced like a needle.

Answer 46

Adjectival clause (restrictive)

Question 47

Our classroom clock, (which always runs slow,) needs an adjustment.

Answer 47

Adjectival clause (nonrestrictive)

Question 48

I ate Mary’s cake, (which was delicious).

Answer 48

Adjectival clause (nonrestrictive)

Question 49

Tom believed (that the home team would win) and understood (how the practices could ensure a victory).

Answer 49

2 noun clauses in direct object positions

Question 50

Tom told (whoever would listen) the story.

Answer 50

Noun clause as indirect object

Question 51

Tom, (who never woke even though the dog barked throughout the night,) claimed to have a visual recollection of the man who broke into the car that the neighbor had parked in front of the house.

Answer 51

Adjectival clause with nested adverb clause with adverbial prepositional phrase

Question 52

Mary, (who wanted to surprise her aunt,) looked for the cake ingredients in what had been her grandmother’s secret cupboard.

Answer 52

Adjectival clause (nonrestrictive)

Question 53

The interesting part of the movie was (how each character seemed to be a ghost).

Answer 53

Noun clause in the subject complement position

Question 54

Questions adverbial phrases/clauses answer

Answer 54

Under what conditions does it operate

how, when, why, where, when

Question 55

(That democracy has its roots in ancient Greece) surprised the students.

Answer 55

Noun clause in the subject position with nested adj prepositional phrase

Question 56

(Even though the dog barked throughout the night,) Tom never woke (because he had taken a sleeping pill).

Answer 56

2 subordinate adverb clauses

Question 57

The woman (who doesn’t own a cat) visited the animal shelter.

Answer 57

Adjectival clause (restrictive)

Question 58

The time (when the team played the school’s chief rival) stood out in Bill’s memory, (which wasn’t always reliable).

Answer 58

2 adjectival clauses, first restrictive, second nonrestrictive

Question 59

The authorities were ignorant of (how many tourists were at the resort).

Answer 59

Noun clause as the object of an adverbial prepositional phrase modifying the adjective ‘ignorant’