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The Clause
Courtesy of Joanne Anderson, A.H.S.
I. TYPES OF CLAUSES
l All clauses have a subject and a verb
l All clauses do not express a complete thought.
l There are two types of clauses:
– Independent Clause: express a complete thought and can stand by itself.
– Subordinate Clause: does not express a complete thought and can not stand by itself.
A. Independent Clauses
l Expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself.
l For Example:
– The students were missing easy questions. [ind.]
– The teacher tried to help them. [ind.]
– The students were missing easy questions, and the teacher tried to help them. [compound sentence]
l May also be joined with other conjunctions: but or nor, for, and yet, or a (semicolon);
B. Subordinate Clause
l Does not express a complete thought and cannot stand by itself.
l They leave you expecting more to be said.
l Words like if, when, although, since, and because make the clauses they introduce sound unfinished.
l Be careful when you use these words; make sure you attach an independent clause.
B. Subordinate Clause (cont’d.)
l Examples of Subordinate Clauses:
– who spoke out loud just now
– that you did not feed the dog
l The famous author who spoke out loud just now writes children’s fiction.
l Fred’s brother told him that you did not feed the dog while he was on vacation.
l Because you read, you will excel in school.
Complements and Modifiers
Subordinate clauses may contain complements and modifiers:
l Here is the portrait that he painted. [d.o.]
l We couldn’t tell who they were [p.n.-they were who]
l Since she told us the truth . . . [i.o.]
l When I am busy . . .[p.a.]
l After he had cooked for us . . . [adverb phrase]
C. Types of Subordinate Clauses
1. Adjective Clause: subordinate clause is used as an adjective to modify a noun or pronoun.
2. Adverb Clause: subordinate clause is used as an adverb to modify a verb, adverb, or adjective.
3. Noun Clause: subordinate clause is used as a noun.
1. Adjective Clause (subordinate)
l Always follows the noun or pronoun that it describes.
l Sometimes, it is set off by commas, sometimes not.
l If the clause is needed to identify the word it modifies, no commas are used.
l Adjective Clauses are usually introduced by relative pronouns.
1. Adjective Clause (subordinate)
l Relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, and that.
l For example:
– The President is a person who leads the nation.
– He or she should be the person whom you trust most.
– The platform which each person runs on is controversial.
1. Adjective Clause (subordinate)
l Sometimes the relative pronoun is omitted. The pronoun is understood to be within the clause.
– President Bush is a man [that] many people like.
l Some adverbs introduce adjective clauses:
– This is the season when it rains most every day.
– Here is the spot where we will have lunch.
2. Adverb Clauses (subordinate)
Tell how, when, where or under what condition.
l Gertrude sounds as if she is sick. [how]
l Before we left, we turned out the lights. [when]
l You will see the haunted mansion where the road turns right. [where]
l As long as he starts early, he will arrive on time. [under what conditions]
2. Adverb Clauses (subordinate)
l They are introduced with subordinating conjunctions:
– After, before, unless, as long as, so that, whenever
– Although, if, until, as, in order that, when, as if, since
– Because, though, while, etc.
3. Noun Clauses
l Introduced by:
– that, whether, what, who, whoever, whose, where, and why.
– That the bridge combines strength with beauty remains a tribute to its builder.
– Whoever kicks the can first is the winner.
l Sometimes the introductory word is left off:
– He told us [that] the dog’s performance improved.
II. SENTENCE CLASSIFICATIONS
l Four types of sentence structures:
– Simple
– Compound
– Complex
– Compound-Complex
1. Simple Sentence
l One independent clause
l No subordinate clause
l May have phrases attached.
– In the stands during the game, the crowd cheered on the defensive line.
– Without a doubt, winter is the best season.
2. Compound Sentence
l Two or more independent clauses
l No subordinate clause
l A comma and coordinating conjunction (and, but, or) are used to connect the two independent clauses,
l Or a semicolon (;) alone, or with the following conjunctive adverbs: consequently, therefore, nevertheless, however, moreover, otherwise.
2. Compound Sentences
S V S V
l A strange dog chased us, but the owner came to our rescue.
S V S V
l The film is long, but it is suspenseful.
l Don’t confuse compound verbs or predicates:
– She played basketball and won a scholarship.
3. Complex Sentence
l One Independent Clause
l At least one Subordinate Clause
Subordinate Independent
– As night fell, the storm reached its climax.
Independent Subordinate
– He read instructions to Jill, who was his secretary.
4. Compound-Complex
l Two or more Independent Clauses
l At least one Subordinate Clause
– The Roeblings lived in a house that was in the vicinity of the construction site, and Washington supervised it by observing progress through a telescope.
Last Modified on December 21, 2008
