In this case, the clause cannot stand alone as a sentence since the conjunction when suggests that the clause is providing an explanation for something. As this dependent clause answers the question when? just like an adverb does, it is called a dependent adverb clause (or simply an adverb clause as adverb clauses are always dependent clauses). Note that this clause can replace the adverb tomorrow in the following example:
A noun clause takes the place of a noun in another clause or phrase. A noun clause may act as the subject or object of a verb, or as the object of a preposition, answering the questions who(m)? or what? Consider the following examples:
In the first example, the noun Latin acts as the direct object of the verb know. In the second example, the entire clause that Latin . . . is the direct object.
Noun clauses may function as indirect questions:
The question where are they going? with a slight change in word order becomes a noun clause and acts as the subject of the verb is.
|about what you bought at the mall||This noun clause is the object of the preposition about and answers the question about what?|
|Whoever broke the vase will have to pay for it.||This noun clause is the subject of the compound verb will have to pay and answers the question who will have to pay?|
|The Toronto fans hope that the Blue Jays will win again.||This noun clause is the object of the verb hope and answers the question what do the fans hope?|
An adjective clause is a dependent clause that takes the place of an adjective in another clause or phrase. Like an adjective, an adjective clause modifies a noun or pronoun, answering questions such as which? or what kind of? Consider the following examples:
Both the adjective red (in the first example) and the dependent clause that I bought yesterday (in the second example) modify the noun coat. Note that an adjective clause generally follows the noun or pronoun it modifies, while an adjective usually precedes it.
In formal writing, adjective clauses begin with the relative pronouns who(m), that or which. In informal writing or speech, you may omit the relative pronoun when it is not the subject of the adjective clause.
|the meat that they ate was tainted||This adjective clause modifies the noun meat and answers the question which meat?|
|about the movie that made him cry||This adjective clause modifies the noun meat and answers the question which meat?|
|they are searching for the one who borrowed the book||This adjective clause modifies the pronoun one and answers the question which one?|
|Did I tell you about the author whom I met?||This adjective clause modifies the noun author and answers the question which author?|
An adverb clause is a dependent clause that takes the place of an adverb in another clause or phrase. An adverb clause answers questions such as when?, where?, why?, with what goal/result? and under what conditions?
Note that an adverb clause may replace an adverb, as in the following example:
Subordinating conjunctions such as because, when(ever), where(ever), since, after and so that introduce adverb clauses. Note that a dependent adverb clause can never stand alone as a complete sentence:
The first example may stand alone as a sentence, but the second cannot—the reader will ask what happened after they left the locker room? Here are some more examples of adverb clauses expressing the relationships of cause, effect, space, time and condition:
The adverb clause answers the question why?
The adverb clause answers the question with what goal/result?
The adverb clause answers the question when? Note the change in word order—an adverb clause can often appear either before or after the main clause of the sentence.
The adverb clause answers the question where?
The adverb clause answers the question under what conditions?
© Department of English, Faculty of Arts, University of Ottawa, 2016