NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

Which clause can be described as dependent and modifies elements in another clause?

1. Noun clause

2. Adverb clause

3. Independent clause

4. Relative clause

The correct answer is: Adverb clause

The dependent clause that modifies elements in another clause is most accurately described as an adverb clause. Adverb clauses provide additional information about the circumstances of an action, such as when, where, why, how, to what extent, or under what condition something happens. They are dependent because they cannot stand alone as complete sentences and rely on an independent clause to give them meaning. For instance, in the sentence "She sings beautifully because she practices regularly," the phrase "because she practices regularly" is an adverb clause that modifies the verb "sings" by explaining why she sings beautifully. This illustrates how an adverb clause enhances the understanding of the action in the main clause. Other types of clauses serve different functions: a noun clause acts as a noun within a sentence, an independent clause stands alone as a complete thought, and a relative clause modifies nouns specifically by providing more information about them. Each of these clauses has its own unique role in sentence structure, but it is the adverb clause that specifically modifies elements in another clause.