Advanced English Grammar: Dependent Clauses

Do you have a hard time understanding dependent clauses? In English, we have four types of dependent clauses. In this advanced lesson, I'll help you understand each type of dependent clause and its purpose. I'll give you definitions and examples of each clause. Mastering these clauses will improve your reading comprehension and make you a better writer. After the class, take the quiz to practice what you've learned. www.engvid.com/...
Watch Adam's series on clauses!
Noun Clauses • Advanced English Gramm...
Adjective Clauses • Learn English Grammar:...
Adverb Clauses • Learn English Grammar:...
TRANSCRIPT
Hi. Welcome back to www.engvid.com. I'm Adam, and today's lesson is a special lesson. It's an introduction to dependent clauses. Now, before I begin, I want you to understand I'm only going to look at the functions of the dependent clauses today. I'm not going to look at how they're built, how to structure them, the conjunctions they use, the relative pronouns they use; only about the functions, because it's very important that you are able to recognize the different types of dependent clauses. Once you recognize the function of a clause, you know how it's built, you know what it's doing in the sentence, you can understand the sentence better, you can write better sentences.
So, dependent clauses, what are they? First of all, they're also called subordinate clauses. You might see "subordinate", you might see "dependent". They're very different from the independent clause. The independent clause is a clause that can stand by itself, and has a complete meaning. It doesn't have... It doesn't need any other information. A "clause" is a collection of words-sorry-that must include a subject and a verb.
Okay, we have basically four types. Technically, we think of three types, but there's one extra one that we're going to look at today. We have "noun clauses", we have "adjective clauses"-adjective clauses" are also called "relative clauses"-we have "adverb clauses", and we have something called a "that clause", which is really none of these three. It's closest to the noun clause, but it doesn't function like a noun clause.
We're going to start with the noun clause, then. What is a noun clause? First of all, a noun clause has a specific function in a sentence. It is used, just like it's called, it's used like a noun. You think of a noun clause as you would a noun, except that it's a clause. There's a subject, there's a verb, there's other pieces to it. We can use it as a subject of a sentence, we can use it as a subject of an otherwise independent clause. "What you do in your free time is your business." So, look... Let's, first of all, look at all the verbs, here. We have "do" and we have "is". We have two verbs. The subject for "you"... For "do" is "you". Okay? What is the subject for "is"? Well, if you look around, it's not "time", it's not "your", and it's not "you" because "you" is already being used. So the whole thing: "What you do in your free time", this is the subject, this is the verb, this is the subject complement. Okay?
Now, very rarely do people actually use noun clauses as subjects, especially in writing. What they might say is "it": "It is your business what you do in your free time." Okay? We call this a "preparatory 'it'". It means we prepare you for the subject that's going to come later. Why do we do this? Because it's more... It's a bit awkward to do it like this. It's more convenient to begin with "it", get to the verb, and get to whatever comes after the verb, and put the subject later because it's long. Okay? "What you do in your free time", subject, "is", verb.
Now, we can use it as a subject complement. A subject complement looks like an object, but it is not. It comes after a "be" verb. It comes after a "be" verb, okay? And it completes the meaning of the subject. So, Tom, what do we know about Tom? "Tom isn't"... Isn't what? He "isn't what you would call friendly." This is the noun clause. There is the subject, there is the verb. These, by the way, these are just called the pronouns or the conjunctions, whatever you want to call them. They begin the clause. Now, as we know from other lessons, "is" works like an equal sign. Tom, not really friendly. That's basically what this sentence means. This is the subject complement to Tom, noun clause. Notice the conjunction "what" can only be used in a noun clause; not in an adjective clause, not in an adverb clause.

[@engvidAlex]

Getting good at these kinds of structures is especially useful in writing.

[@OrganicVeg22]

Thank you very much for your video and that is helpful to me.

[@vadympro6066]

+fina Kaphan It is not Alex's video :D

[@danlurny4129]

+English Lessons with Alex (engVid AlexESLvid) The Video really helps me out) Alex I personally wait for some vocab vids from you) Thanks for your work!

[@garamjahad8947]

'getting good at these kind of structures', is this a noun phrase or verb phrase?

[@muratdinc3300]

Well congrats, you must be a genius, not "genus" . :P Smashh! I am making sarcastic jokes and everything. I feel like I know the language but still it dosen't change the fact that I kicked in the butt by IELTS academic.

[@zarimohajeri-ez9yq]

Nobody can teach English grammar as well as you. You're the best English teacher I've ever seen in my life. Thanks for your amazing videos.❤

[@ismailkhan887]

Please, make more Videos about this topic, and thanks for these videos,which you made.

[@alfonsohdez5092]

One of the best teachers on the net. I am an ESL teacher and I truly respect your work.

[@pauloe.deoliveira721]

Thank you so much for your lessons! Cheers from Brazil.

[@terezaaraujo9869]

Adan you are an amazing teacher. Thank you so much for all your videos it that helps a lot.

[@Fantasylau]

Thank you, very useful. Thanks for give us your time, I really appreciate your youtube classes.

[@fixpontt]

+Lau Lala always use gerund after preopositions, thanks for _giving_ us {...} :)

[@Fantasylau]

thanks!

[@vijipauly6107]

Thank you

[@bfedkjwerfegregfrerg]

Adam, who is always able to make English lessons seem so easy to be learnt, is the very skilled teacher who has been increasing my passion for English day by day. I hope this sentence is correct because it costed me over than 50% of my cerebral capacities and a permanent damage was about to occur :). Ciao from Italy

[@ayakaikemoto9134]

Hi Adam. Thanks for nice lessons always. I got a question about last sentence; " I met the right person" It seems like a kind of noun clause( object of verb ; believe) Please give me the way to understand the difference between them!

[@maiseelor8879]

Hi Adam, you are a great grammar professor! I learned a lot from your lessons. Thanks

[@goravsuthar6803]

+池本綾加 ⏰⏰⏰⏰⏰⏰

[@douglastrazzare3298]

@Ninters i think maybe after 'easy' we can use the infinitive, maybe just "these lessons seem so easy to learn." i'm not sure we need the *be* verb there...

[@darthrevan7576]

Hey! What's up with your English, It's been 4 years, could you improve it so well?

[@michaelofminsk8951]

Love this topic, thanks! If you will get bored playing this and have no mistakes anymore, go and learn Russian and its syntax, it is more complicated!:P

[@aymanalsorabi4115]

A Great explanation, but you have a little mistake 😊, which is 《prepatory》 the correct spelling is 《preparatory》 and thanks 😊

[@bkkushwaha5881]

Very useful lesson . It cleared all my doubt. Thank Adam

[@KarlaRodriguez-mx2od]

I decided to study clauses, because in the TOEFL test reading section I've noticed I can't identify when a sentence has too much stuff. I thought this lesson was going to be somenthing complementary but I've wrote 6 pages with examples and watched 3 videos so far. Hopefully this will be helpfull and I can read correctly and write better. Thanks a lot!

[@tasnimsarker4024]

thanks for your feedback, i am taking toefl too

[@XXX-sz5lt]

Hi, Adam. "I knew she was really happy" is an independent clause, you said, but it has 2 nouns and 2 verbs. In conclusion, is not the independent clause "I knew" and"she was really happy" a noun clause, object to the verb "to know", which answers the question "what did I know"?

[@amalelshafey9322]

Thanks a lot , at the beginning of my watching ur videos i felt as u are so quickly in spreading and don't have good characteristics of being good teacher ,but nowadays I witness that u have the ability to change wrong images about ur sincere methods of teaching . regards from an English teacher from Egypt .

[@roygamer8285]

Thank you for the Dependent Clause

[@meghabhaskar1754]

Sir, you elucidate very well all complicated grammar points. it is really worth full for me watching video.

[@ТатьянаКаркач-о4р]

thanks a lot for your work! the most understandable and pleasant teacher

[@oppaarif3975]

Some of your videos have helped me to write structurally correct sentence. Im still learning though cause sometimes my writing turns out to be awkward to read.

[@Mary81680]

Adam you are the best teacher in the whole world!!!!!!!!!! I love the way you explain the lessons. Thank you.

[@alexandrearaujodecarvalho]

Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

[@mahdiirani2872]

Being aware of non-native speaker's common mistakes, Adam has always been perfect

[@AnthonyDozi]

Studying this 6 hours before the test

[@Rublez24]

Thanks Adam you're the best!

[@bhartipatel496]

Thank you very much your explanation is very simple you are the best tutor from last many yrs I am looking for proper explanation and at last I found

[@ginko9212]

i really need it, because when i was highschool this lesson never been teached, we spend 12 years just studying about? yes.. TENSES!!!

[@advaitramesh164]

Actually, I am going to have to disagree with you about “that” not being a conjunction for an adverb clause. It can be, and here is an example: “I am so hungry (that) I could eat a horse.” In this case, the clause “that I could eat a horse” is an adverb clause that modifies the adjective “hungry”. The question would be, “How hungry are you?”, and the answer could be, “I am so hungry (that) I could eat a horse.” This does show a relationship too: a cause and effect relationship. The cause of being so hungry results in the possibility to be able to eat a horse. I just wanted to share what I thought.

[@erd113]

the perfect course, you've helped a lot to improve my English. thank you so much Adam..............

[@yasserelgabry]

Thank you Adam for your extremely magnificent lecture. It the most remarkably crucial lecture I have ever had since very long time. Kind regards and all the best. 🇪🇬 😍🙏

[@runmawi6332]

Hi adam. Your videos are wonderful for a students like us whose 1st language is not an English. I cant do much for u, so heres my wishes of fortune in your life.. good luck and continue your works . Love from mizoram

[@KarlaRodriguez-mx2od]

This is the third time I review compound sentences. Although I always get a terrible score on your quizzes , I undertand a little bit better every time.

[@chantholmao3383]

Hi

[@prashantmishra1994]

Hi! Adam.I must say that I've come across one of the best English teachers.I'd say rather unique than one of the best because you teach and leave no scope of doubt for students.However, one last sentence which has all clauses -noun,adjective and adverb,"that" is included to understand "that" clause.We can use "because" instead of" that" because it gives reason for being happy. Thanks & Regards Prashant Mishra.

[@marcelicastrimbei7917]

Thanks a lot Adam! Your way of explain it very interesting and useful!

[@carxos7141]

If this video helps me pass the test tomorrow, I'll buy you lunch.

[@carxos7141]

@Teacher bear well... on september I'm becoming a lawyer.... I guess it did 🤷‍♂️😂

[@sophiziayi7599]

Okey how did it go😂

[@countryball7921]

A subordinate clause, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “a group of words that is not a sentence but adds information to the main part of a sentence.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines a subordinate clause as “a clause that cannot form a sentence on its own but can be joined to a main clause to form a sentence.” A subordinate clause is defined as “a clause that does not form a simple sentence by itself and that is connected to the main clause of a sentence”, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. “A subordinate clause is a clause in a sentence which adds to or completes the information given in the main clause. It cannot usually stand alone as a sentence”, according to the Collins Dictionary.

[@narindersandhu8072]

Hi Adam Sir, your english grammer lessons make the ways of learning easy to me

[@user_joy86]

Thank you, my second year of university was full of this difficult nonsense😢

[@jassbrar9487]

Really, sir you are the best English teacher.Thank you.

[@hassanxariirwarsame6729]

I appreciate your teaching. Thanks a lot our teacher Adam.

[@jaquelinemanuel5716]

Thank you sir Adam for a very clear explanation of the different clauses.

[@vildaneraslan]

Thank you very much Adam for your beneficial lessons. I had to need that grammer informations. I'm happy to discover this channel. :) Greetings from Turkey.

[@frankzhang4941]

You are a great teacher! I am also an English teacher in China, of course, English is not my native language, so I learnt a lot from you.

[@chaudo6731]

Absolutely stunning lecture from a wonderful teacher!

[@nardjesboumaza4176]

I'm an English student and your lectures are helping me a lot 🥀♥️ thank you soo much sir

[@huutronghoang8566]

This is such a very high-quality lesson in terms of knowledge. Thank you so much!

[@AthenaLalita]

Hi, Thank you so much, Adam. I'm so glad to learn from your video, you are a great grammar professor, that's a good explanation and also a very good quiz! it's helpful.

[@marcusstarr2000]

From Letty Cha 23 in the Philippines your very easy to understand. I could hardly speak or understand English now I can thanks to you. God Bless Always Letty Philippines

[@ReadAloudZone07]

You are a great teacher Adam, the way you explained the clause is best. I really respect your work. :)

[@alexandrefelipe1601]

Hi Adam. I am Alex. First, I'd like to congratulate you on all your videos. You are great. This one for example was excellent, just like others as "the sentence", and "types of clauses". I have a doubt though. I wonder if you could explain it. I've been watching your video lessons and trying to follow your tips, so I always find the verb and the subject before anything else... Well in the last example, which by the way was kind of complex to me at first, there's this part: "...I knew she was happy. " wouldn't it be a noun clause because of the implied 'that' between the two clauses instead of being an independent clause? Thanks for your attention. Alex.

[@akunbaru2657]

I get a lot of English knowledge here. Thanks for sharing.

[@learnerlearner2189]

YOU ARE amazing. So clear teaching style. Many thanks.

[@flower24__]

Thank you so much for this easy explanation, i have a writing test tommorow and this video made things easier to me. Greetings from Algeria ✨

[@svetlanazuyeva5185]

This is a very helpful information! You've made it very clear for me! Thank you very much!

[@MohsenEshraghi]

Thanks you Adam for this informative and simple master class for clauses.

[@veronicacarabajal5220]

THANK YOU TEACHER ADAM, VERY CLEAR EXPLANATION! REGARDS FROM SAN LUIS, ARGENTINE.

[@pauloe.deoliveira721]

You´re the best! I wish I had a teacher like you when I started learning English.

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Respected Adam you always explain everything in a much easy way.... Thank you so much 💝💝💝

[@melissasitumorang6594]

Thank you Adam. You are a Great Teacher. I Love to watch all your Video.

[@camiladelgaudio4719]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! IM AN ARGENTINIAN STUDENT OF ENGLISH AND THIS VIDEO REALLY HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND VERY WELL THIS TYPES OF CLAUSES!! THAN U! :)

[@jen-honluo9246]

Wonderful teacher conducted in an stunning and very high quality lecture.

[@tinabhedke2181]

Thank you... Helped a lot... 😊😊

[@ShahinMahmudhtw]

Thank you very much for your excellent lecturer because my concept on the dependent clause got clear after watching your tutorial. Thank you once again, from Berlin!

[@sameralrefaai4532]

I appreciate your effort. thank you

[@s.a.m.utoledo5172]

it's always a pleasure watching this videos! Adam, you're exceptional!!!!!

[@azainaldeen9834]

Thanks a lot, sir. I do appreciate the level of proficiency you have. This lesson is absolutely helpful. Have a nice day ahead🌺

[@rayhan876]

Adam, who teaches advanced english grammar on KZbin helped me understand some complex concepts, which will be effective in the academic writing skills required for my University courses.

[@winni223]

Adam, you're doing great, one of the best English teachers I've seen, I love your lessons. Best wishes from Russia. Andrew, CAE.

[@mohammadazkar1749]

At 5:41 She said (that) she was angry. Can anyone tell me please how "(that) she was angry' is an object of verb "said" instead of it should be subject complemnt?

[@leekudo62372]

Mohammed Azkar because it answers the question ‘WHAT did she say?’ or ‘She said WHAT?’

[@นาถจารีย์]

I found many lessons useful here. All of the teachers are excellent. I understood grammartical English more. Thank you very much. I really appreciated your help.

[@backpackneel]

HEY ADAM, WHAT YOU ARE DOING THAT IS TEACHING IS GREAT FOR US TO LEARN ENGLISH. YOU COULD HAVE LAUNCH A APP WHICH GOING TO BE A LARGE HELP FOR FINDING YOUR VIDEOS AT A TIME WHENEVER ONE WANTS TO 😛❤ THANKS REALLY❤❤❤

[@TW18725]

Your grammar knowledge is unbelievably well,it is a good opportunity for me to refresh and strengthen my grammar,thanks.

[@joserobertocanonigenda209]

it is amazing how you explained it, I found it really helpful for my reading section in the TOEFL. thank you so much.

[@JD-ef4ii]

Adam, you're the best teacher that I have ever known, Thank u so much!.

[@LinhNhu]

Hi Adam, thank for your making this video. It's very helpful. Can you make a video to talk more about adjective clause: how to use which, who, that, in which, ... Which is more common in IELTS writing? Thank you so much !

[@niesson9456]

Sir, you are a godsend... I've had to learn English since I was 3 and has been more a mother tongue to me than Filipino living abroad. I even think and dream in English. I've always loved it and languages. But due to how people in this country seemingly try to cope with their insecurities.... speaking it out on the streets earned me awful treatment... They feel as if it is necessary to put someone down, just because they thought I was showing off, even though English is taught as a second language in our country. ... Constantly being put down... and just wanting to not be hurt... I ended up clamming up and and lost all my grammar and vocabulary over the years... It still makes me cry losing what I loved... I can still speak it... but I probably only pass English exams in jobs due to it "sounding right." Thank you for helping me understand again... I'm truly grateful..

[@bj-th7ul]

I am trying to learn Spanish and understanding Spanish grammar is part of the challenge. I'm realizing that my understanding of English grammar is vague and am watching some of your presentations thinking they may be helpful for a better understanding of both English and Spanish grammar. thanks for sharing, gracias

[@anarahlves1719]

Thank you Adam! What you teach us is always very helpful :)

[@gregorioespinola1564]

Gracias, Adam, por tu explicación tan clara y amena. Me ayuda mucho. Un abrazo desde Argentina.

[@sherdilhiraofficial2978]

Good teaching Adam👌🏻👍🏻

[@ОльгаГабдрафикова]

I am very glad I've come across this video. So far, it;s the best explanations I got about dependent clauses.

[@greyceellen5145]

Good afternoon, Professor Adam. How are you?? Firstly, I want to thank you for helping me to understand English better, and for that excellent class you prepared. But, I got a little confused on the part of Adjetctive Clause. In the 3rd example you made you said "I bought myself a motorcycle" is the reason for the wife being angry, Is it also an "noun clause"? Might I call it "Noun clause" ou just "situational adjetive clause"? Thank you for all ^^ and good lucky from Brazil :)

[@garamjahad8947]

This is great vid for english lesson. To all who also studying english out there, I totally recommend to study 'word order' to fully appreciate and understand this lesson:)

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Thanks, Adam. I feel clear when listening to your explanations which makes me calm.

[@jillburke9637]

Hi Adam, I'm trying to improve my English writing and speaking.. I learn a lot from your channel. Thank you so much.

[@Ramusacol]

Thanks Adam. this video explain very clear about dependent clauses, which it helps me out not only in writing but also in reading.

[@Naubar]

great lesson advenced english grammar

[@ladahealer]

It's a really good lesson! But I think in the last example "that clause" expresses a relation of reason and that makes it an adverb clause in a way.

[@FirstLast-mf1og]

Thank you so much for this video! I am struggling in my online grammar class; this video is very helpful.

[@МихаилВанюшин-ю9п]

English becomes of importance nowadays, which makes me learn it really hard. Thanks to Adam's lesson we are able to find useful guidelines on how to study advanced grammar easily and efficiently.

[@amazonove798]

very helpful thanks adam !

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Hi sIr Adam thank you so much .It really helps gaining my knowledge to improve my native english.

[@joseviniciusvicente1730]

I had doubts about when I could use ''that'' in sentences because in my native language the most part of sentences we must put ''that'' after a verb to construct a sentence properly. As you said it's not necessary to place ''that'' in some cases it became easier to me. I would like if you have posted a video specially about that subject to clear any doubts of mine. Thank you very much for explaining that subject!

[@rakeshkumarmadella7955]

Thank u so much

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Adam you're a very nice person. Thank you very much for your lessons.

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Excellent teacher ever good luck we need more lessons Thank you soooooo much

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YES, TEACHER! COULD YOU CONTINUE UPLOADING VIDEOS WITH THIS TOPIC, PLEASE!!??

[@cityofthemist-funchannel7265]

Another great lesson, given by an excellent teacher. Thanks!

[@BartSimpson23Feb]

So easy to understand, I just love the way you explain complex things.

[@md.salimrezareza4373]

What you had taught an amount of the most inspiring technique to achieve a number of difficult clauses , which are noun, adjective, adverb,and that clauses , has given me to learn it repitiously to learn how ,what and where I use all the clauses.

[@nadegelaradi3293]

thank you.