Mastering Embedded Clauses: A Comprehensive Guide for Writers

Embedded clauses, also known as subordinate or dependent clauses, are fundamental building blocks of sophisticated and nuanced writing. They allow you to pack more information into a single sentence, create complex relationships between ideas, and add depth and clarity to your prose. While they might seem intimidating at first, understanding how to use embedded clauses effectively can significantly elevate your writing skills. This comprehensive guide will break down the concept of embedded clauses, provide detailed instructions on how to identify and use them, and offer practical examples to illustrate their application.

What are Embedded Clauses?

At its core, an embedded clause is a clause that is incorporated into another clause, typically the main clause. A clause, in grammatical terms, is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. The key distinction between an independent clause (main clause) and a dependent clause (embedded clause) is that a main clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, while a dependent clause cannot. It relies on the main clause for its meaning and grammatical completeness.

Think of it this way: a main clause is like a complete thought, and the embedded clause adds more detail or context to that thought, like an add-on or a modifier. Without the main clause, the embedded clause would be grammatically incomplete and wouldn’t make sense on its own.

Types of Embedded Clauses

Embedded clauses can be categorized into three main types, each serving a distinct grammatical function:

1. Noun Clauses

Noun clauses function as nouns within a sentence. This means they can act as subjects, objects, or complements. They are often introduced by words like ‘that,’ ‘what,’ ‘who,’ ‘whom,’ ‘when,’ ‘where,’ ‘why,’ ‘whether,’ and ‘how’.

Examples:

• Subject: What she said surprised everyone. (The entire underlined clause is the subject of the verb ‘surprised’.)
• Object: I don’t know where he went. (The underlined clause is the object of the verb ‘know’.)
• Complement: The question is whether we should go. (The underlined clause completes the meaning of the verb ‘is’.)

Key Features of Noun Clauses:

• They can be replaced by a pronoun (e.g., ‘What she said’ could be replaced by ‘it’).
• They often begin with a question word or ‘that’.

2. Adjective Clauses (Relative Clauses)

Adjective clauses, also known as relative clauses, function as adjectives, modifying nouns or pronouns. They provide additional information about the noun or pronoun they follow. They are usually introduced by relative pronouns such as ‘who,’ ‘whom,’ ‘whose,’ ‘which,’ or ‘that’ or by relative adverbs such as ‘when,’ ‘where,’ or ‘why’.

Examples:

• The book that I borrowed from the library is overdue. (The underlined clause modifies ‘book’.)
• The woman who is wearing the red dress is my sister. (The underlined clause modifies ‘woman’.)
• This is the place where we met. (The underlined clause modifies ‘place’.)

Key Features of Adjective Clauses:

• They immediately follow the noun or pronoun they modify.
• They are introduced by relative pronouns or adverbs.
• They can be either restrictive (essential to the meaning) or nonrestrictive (providing extra, non-essential information, set off by commas).

3. Adverb Clauses

Adverb clauses function as adverbs, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They tell us when, where, why, how, or under what condition an action takes place. These clauses are typically introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as ‘after,’ ‘although,’ ‘as,’ ‘because,’ ‘before,’ ‘if,’ ‘since,’ ‘so that,’ ‘though,’ ‘unless,’ ‘until,’ ‘when,’ ‘where,’ or ‘while’.

Examples:

• I will go to the party if it stops raining. (The underlined clause modifies the verb ‘go’, telling the condition.)
• He studied hard because he wanted to pass the exam. (The underlined clause modifies the verb ‘studied’, telling the reason.)
• She sang while she was cooking. (The underlined clause modifies the verb ‘sang’, telling when.)

Key Features of Adverb Clauses:

• They can move around in the sentence without drastically changing the main clause’s meaning.
• They are introduced by subordinating conjunctions.

Detailed Steps and Instructions on How to Use Embedded Clauses

Now that we’ve defined the different types of embedded clauses, let’s break down the steps for how to use them effectively in your writing.

Step 1: Identify the Core Idea

Before adding an embedded clause, determine the main idea you want to convey. What is the core message of the sentence? This forms your main clause, and the embedded clause will then modify or add to that main idea. This core idea will be your independent clause, and all supporting information or specific details will become the embedded clause.

Example:
Core Idea: The car is broken down.
Now we can start considering embedded clauses to elaborate or add information.

Step 2: Determine the Relationship

Consider the relationship you want the embedded clause to have with the main clause. Do you want to define or describe a noun (adjective clause), provide more details about the main clause acting as a subject, object or complement (noun clause), or describe time, place, condition, or cause (adverb clause)?

Using our previous example: We could say:

Adjective clause: The car that was parked on the hill is broken down. (describing which car)
Noun clause: What happened to the car is that it broke down. (describing the situation)
Adverb clause: The car is broken down because I forgot to refill the oil. (explaining the reason)

Step 3: Choose the Correct Introductory Word

Select the appropriate introductory word or phrase that signals the start of your embedded clause. This will depend on the type of clause you are constructing:

• Noun Clauses: ‘that,’ ‘what,’ ‘who,’ ‘whom,’ ‘when,’ ‘where,’ ‘why,’ ‘whether,’ ‘how’
• Adjective Clauses: ‘who,’ ‘whom,’ ‘whose,’ ‘which,’ ‘that,’ ‘when,’ ‘where,’ ‘why’
• Adverb Clauses: ‘after,’ ‘although,’ ‘as,’ ‘because,’ ‘before,’ ‘if,’ ‘since,’ ‘so that,’ ‘though,’ ‘unless,’ ‘until,’ ‘when,’ ‘where,’ ‘while’

Example: In our examples above, ‘that’, ‘what’ and ‘because’ were chosen respectively to introduce the embedded clauses.

Step 4: Structure the Embedded Clause

Make sure the embedded clause is grammatically correct, with its own subject and verb, even if it depends on the main clause. Remember, an embedded clause is still a clause, meaning it should contain a subject-verb pairing. In some cases, the subject or the verb may be implied or understood from the context, but generally, both should be present. Also make sure that the word order of your embedded clause adheres to common grammatical standards.

Example:

• Incorrect: The car broken down.
• Correct: The car, which was parked on the hill, is broken down.

Note how the phrase “which was parked on the hill” has it’s own subject and verb “which was” (with “parked” acting as verb in the passive voice.)

Step 5: Place the Embedded Clause

The placement of the embedded clause is crucial for clarity and flow. Generally:

• Adjective Clauses: Should immediately follow the noun or pronoun they modify.
• Noun Clauses: Can appear in various positions, acting as subjects, objects, or complements.
• Adverb Clauses: Can often appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, depending on which position is most clear.

Example:

• Correct: The book that he read was very exciting.
• Incorrect: That he read the book was very exciting.

In the example above, the adjective clause should follow the noun it modifies: ‘book’. When we place the ‘that he read’ in a different position, the sentence no longer describes a particular book, and becomes an indirect noun clause.

Step 6: Use Punctuation Correctly

Pay careful attention to punctuation when using embedded clauses. This is especially crucial for adjective clauses, where you need to distinguish between restrictive (essential) and nonrestrictive (non-essential) clauses.

• Restrictive Adjective Clauses: Do not use commas before or after. They are essential for identifying the noun.
• Nonrestrictive Adjective Clauses: Use commas before and after. They add extra but non-essential information.
• Adverb Clauses: If the adverb clause comes at the beginning of the sentence, use a comma after the clause. Otherwise, a comma might not be necessary.

Examples:

• The student who studied hard passed the exam. (Restrictive – no commas because it specifies which student.)
• The student, who always studies hard, passed the exam. (Nonrestrictive – commas because the clause adds extra but non-essential info.)
• Because it was raining, we stayed home. (Comma required as adverb clause starts the sentence.)
• We stayed home because it was raining. (No comma required as adverb clause finishes the sentence.)

Step 7: Practice and Review

The key to mastering embedded clauses is practice. Write sentences using different types of embedded clauses, and carefully analyze how they are constructed. After completing a piece of writing, review it to make sure that your embedded clauses are correctly used and enhance the flow of your ideas. Read through your work with an eye for run-on sentences that are too complicated, or sentences that could have a more fluid structure using embedded clauses.

Examples of Embedded Clauses in Action

To further solidify your understanding, let’s look at some more examples:

Example 1: The scientist who discovered the cure received a Nobel Prize. (Adjective clause modifying ‘scientist’)

Example 2: I am not sure what time the meeting starts. (Noun clause acting as the object of the verb ‘am sure’)

Example 3: Although he was tired, he continued to work. (Adverb clause modifying the verb ‘continued’.)

Example 4: The painting, which was created by a famous artist, sold for millions of dollars. (Nonrestrictive adjective clause providing extra information about the painting.)

Example 5: The fact that she won the competition was amazing. (Noun clause acting as a complement for ‘fact’.)

Example 6: He left the party after he said goodbye to everyone. (Adverb clause modifying ‘left’ describing when.)

Example 7: I can’t believe how quickly the time has passed. (Noun clause as the object of the verb ‘believe’)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Misidentifying clauses: Make sure you correctly identify the main clause and the embedded clause.
• Incorrect introductory words: Choose the right relative pronouns, subordinating conjunctions or question words.
• Incorrect punctuation: Use commas correctly, especially for nonrestrictive adjective clauses.
• Fragmented embedded clauses: Ensure your embedded clause has a subject and a verb.
• Overuse: Don’t overuse embedded clauses, as this can make your writing overly complex and difficult to read.

Conclusion

Embedded clauses are a powerful tool for writers of all levels. By understanding their various types and how to use them correctly, you can add nuance, complexity, and clarity to your writing. Mastering this skill will significantly improve your ability to express complex ideas and engage your readers. Remember to practice consistently, pay attention to punctuation, and always aim for clarity in your sentences. Now it’s time to take these principles and apply them to your own writing.