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Advanced English Grammar: Multi-Clause Sentences (Embedded Clauses)
It’s time to take your English to the next level! Complex writing makes use of multiple clauses in its sentences, which means that a sentence can place clauses inside other clauses. We call theseembedded clauses. This shouldn’t be confusing once you understand the function of each part of the sentence. In this advanced English grammar lesson, we’ll learn how to break down sentences into their individual clauses and see how each functions to deliver the writer’s message clearly. You’ll learn how to identify and understand the relationships between independent and dependent clauses, including noun clauses, adjective clauses, and adverb clauses. I told you this was going to take you to the next level!
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23 COMMENTS
Good, but a little difficult.
It is quite advanced and really practice, thank you Adam.
Dear Mr. Adam, thank you for this very interesting lesson. Your sentences remember me of my school time when I learnt Latin as a young pupil. I wonder, if these are even good English academic style. In my mother tongue such nested sentences would sound awfully.
Hi Arminius,
These are actually quite commonly used, especially in academic writing.
I think that parsing of such complicated sentences is just a pure theory. When you want to translate sentences like you gave, what you should have is your intuition and a little bit of English grammar (for example about making If-clauses).
Hi GoryanchikMaxim,
You may be right, but it is not so simple for many English learners. If you can do it, that’s great.
The bigger question is can you write these types of sentences yourself? That’s where it gets tricky.
See note below about question 9.
Isn’t there in the quiz a mistake? In the sentence “Athletes who are the best in their respective sports get not only a high salary but also sponsorships that can earn them millions more.”, Athelets get not only a high salary but also sponsorships is the independent clause. That’s why get is verb of the independent clause (not are; are is the verb of the adjective-clause ” who are tge best in their..”).
I think the same.The correct answer should be:athletes + get.
See note below about question 9.
In the ninth question, I think that the independent clause is “Athletes get not only…”
Are is the verb of “who are the best…”, and this clause is an adjectival clause.
See note below about question 9.
I enjoyed reading and understanding the sentences even though I don’t have the ability to analyze the nested relationships in the sentences. Your classes are always a pleasure. Thanks Adam.
I think the answer to question nine is athletes + get. “Are” is the verb of “who are the best in their respective sports,” which is an adjective clause.
I think the same.the correct answer should be:athletes + get.
See note below about question 9.
OMG 😳 4 correct out of 10. I need more practice.
Thank you Mr.Adam.
100% Appreciation to you Adam.
#9 The independent clause subject and verb are “Athletes get.” “Are” is the verb in the adjective clause. The correct answer would be the first choice.
See note below about question 9.
Question: should there be a comma between “If a major snowfall covers the roads” and “the car will not be able to…”?
Hi muhs1nbekkkk,
That’s a good question.
In longer sentences when the relationships between clauses are clear, there is no need for a comma. A comma might slow down the reading or be confused with the first comma.
I’ll make a video about comma use.
Hi Everyone,
Some of you made a good note. In question 9 of the quiz, the correct answer is athletes + get. This might have been a typographical error when inputting the quiz. I apologize for that.