Subordinate clause 1: who was an experienced mountaineer
Adjectival clause qualifying the noun George in main clause 1
Conjunction: before
Subordinate clause 2: he set out towards the summit
Adverbial clause modifying the verbs ‘checked’ in main clause 1
and ‘counted’ in main clause 2
Compound–complex sentence
Format 2 – clause analysis table
With this kind of analysis, the number of columns may be varied
according to the degree of difficulty being practised.
Beginner 1
Sentence: The zoo was closed because a large lion had escaped.
Finite verbs Main clause Link Subordinate clause
was closed The zoo was
closed
because a large lion had escaped
Adverbial clause of reason
modifying the verb ‘was closed’
in the main clause
Complex sentence
Beginner 2
Sentence: The zoo was closed for three days, because a large lion,
which had been flown from Africa, had escaped.
179
c lA u s e A nA lY s i s
180
G r A M M A r f o r e V e rY o n e
Finite verbs Main clause Link Subordinate clause Phrase
was closed
had
escaped

his challenging climb towards the summit.
Finite verb Main clause Link Subordinate clause Phrase
was
checked
counted
set out
A. George
checked his
protective
clothing
B. counted his
supplies
who
and
1. who was an
experienced climber
Adjectival clause 1
qualifying the noun
‘George’ in main
clause A
before 2. he set out on his
challenging climb
Adverbial clause of
time
Modifying the verbs
‘checked’
in main clause A and
‘counted’
in main clause B
towards the

2. the ground was less steep
Adverbial clause of place modifying the verb
‘paused’ in Subordinate clause 1
3. which the previous climber
had planted
Adjectival clause qualifying the noun ‘marker’
in main clause A
4. he was on the right track
noun clause object of the verb ‘knew’ in main
clause B
I. for a brief rest
Adverbial phrase of reason
modifying the verb ‘paused’ in Sub clause 1
II. beside a large boulder
Adverbial phrase of place modifying the verb
‘planted’ in Sub clause 3
III. without a doubt
Adverbial phrase of manner
modifying the verb ‘knew’ in main clause B
Compound–complex sentence
181
clAuse AnAlYsis
182
G r A M M A r f o r e V e rY o n e
Format 3 – clause analysis tree
Beginner
Sentence: The zoo was closed for three days, because a large lion
from Africa had escaped.
Complex sentence
The zoo

A
Main
clause
B
George
noticed
a marker
he knewand
without doubt
when he paused
that
he was
on the
right
track
which the
previous
climber had
planted
for a
brief
rest
where
the
ground
was
less
steep
Adverbial clause of
place modifying the