Question

In the following sentence, what word does the underlined clause modify?

Because the game was about to start, we ran as fast as we could toward the field.
A) we
B) ran
C) fast
D) toward

Answer 1

The underlined clause 'Because the game was about to start' acts as an adverbial clause modifying the verb 'ran' in the sentence, explaining the reason for running.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked which word the underlined clause 'Because the game was about to start' modifies in the sentence provided. To answer that, it's crucial to understand that clauses like this one act as adverbial clauses, meaning they modify verbs, adverbs, or adjectives by giving more information about why, when, where, or how something happens. In this case, the underlined clause gives a reason for why the action of the main clause is taking place.

With that understanding, we can identify the word that the underlined clause modifies. It tells us why 'we ran' toward the field. Thus, the correct answer is B) ran, which is the main verb of the sentence's main clause. The clause does not modify how fast we ran (C), where we ran to (D), or who was running (A); rather, it explains the reason for running.