Which correctly identifies the bolded phrase in this sentence?
My mother knew who spilt the chocolate milk on the sofa.
A: adverb clause
B: adjective clause
C: noun clause
D: prepositional phrase
C
: noun clause
The correct answer is B: adjective clause.
The bolded phrase "who spilt the chocolate milk on the sofa" is an adjective clause that modifies the noun "mother." It provides additional information about the mother by identifying who she knew.
To correctly identify the bolded phrase in the sentence, we need to determine its grammatical role in the sentence.
The bolded phrase in the sentence is "who spilt the chocolate milk on the sofa." Let's analyze the sentence to determine its function.
In this case, the phrase is providing additional information about someone who spilt the chocolate milk on the sofa. It is modifying the noun "who" and expressing an action.
Now, let's consider the choices:
A: Adverb clause - An adverb clause typically answers questions such as when, where, why, how, or to what extent. Since the bolded phrase is describing the person who spilt the chocolate milk, it is not an adverb clause.
B: Adjective clause - An adjective clause modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, the bolded phrase is modifying the pronoun "who" and providing additional information about it. Therefore, the bolded phrase is an adjective clause.
C: Noun clause - A noun clause acts as a noun in a sentence and can function as a subject, object, or complement. The bolded phrase, while providing additional information, is not acting as a noun in this sentence. Therefore, it is not a noun clause.
D: Prepositional phrase - A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and includes an object and any modifiers. The bolded phrase does not follow the pattern of a prepositional phrase, as it does not include a preposition and an object.
Based on this analysis, the correct answer is B: adjective clause.