CLAUSES. A clause is a part of a sentence that contains a complete subject and a complete predicate. There are two types of clauses:

Transcription

1 CLAUSES A clause is a part of a sentence that contains a complete subject and a complete predicate. There are two types of clauses: 1. ndependent clause (or main clause) 2. ependent clause (or subordinate clause) A. The independent clause expresses a complete thought and has a subject and a verb. t is the main thought of the sentence and can stand alone correctly as a sentence without anything attached to it. e.g., He went to the races She was a blue-eyed bombshell. We heard him clearly. B. The dependent clause (or subordinate clause) is dependent for its understanding upon the independent (or main) clause. A dependent clause when standing alone is not a complete sentence. e.g., while she went shopping when she was younger although he spoke softly Exercise 1 Read the following clauses carefully and decide which are independent and which are dependent. n the space provided, write the letter if the clause is independent, or if the clause is dependent. 1. the moon is blue 2. when the sun shone brightly 3. from her vantage point she realized 4. although the bluebirds have returned 5. from a distant hill he approached 6. after the train arrived 7. Andy Panda sat on a veranda

2 8. What is new? 9. from Edmonton we returned to Calgary 10. inasmuch as Susan asked your permission 11. the woman with the hat was smiling 12. when we were young 13. while you cried 14. whose life is a bowl of cherries 15. within the pages of this book are serious thoughts C. ndependent clauses may be joined using a comma, plus a co-ordinate conjunction. e.g., He tried his best, but he could not understand. clause conj. clause Here is a list of common co-ordinate conjunctions: and or for yet but nor so Exercise 2 Underline the independent clauses in the following sentences. Use a double underline to show the co-ordinate conjunction where applicable. 1. Tom went to the movies, but Janice went to the circus. 2. He was ordered to go to his room without supper, for he had been a bad boy. 3. The sky was crystal blue. 4. From Atlantic to Pacific, Canada is a changing land. 5. The work was hard, but she enjoyed it. 6. Success was dependent on one thing, and Charlie knew what it was.

3 7. He moved quickly out of the way, for he noticed the snake slithering toward him. 8. She is young and sweet, yet she seems so mature.. ependent clauses are introduced by subordinate conjunctions or related pronouns. Hint: sometimes dependent clauses may appear in the middle of an independent clause. e.g., (When) Terry drives, traffic scatters. subj. conj. sub. clause independent clause The elephant, (which) had a long ivory tusk, thundered toward us. main clause rel. pro. sub. clause main clause Here is a list of common subordinate conjunctions: as though when where while as soon as although whenever wherever if as if even though since before after as though why because unless until E. ependent clauses which are used as adverbs are introduced by subordinating conjunctions. They modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs by answering the questions "how," "when," or "where". f the adverb clause appears at the beginning of the sentence, it is followed by a comma. e.g., (Because) we had a reservation, we were seated immediately. sub. conj. dependent clause independent clause They will go to the beach (if) the weather is warm enough. main clause subj. conj. subordinate clause

4 F. ependent clauses which are used as adjectives are introduced by relative pronouns. They describe nouns or pronouns. Use commas to set off adjective clauses that are not necessary to the meaning of the sentence. e.g., John McKay, (who) lives across the street, is the local pharmicist. indep. cl. rel.pro. dependent clause; independent clause f the adjective clause contains information necessary to the meaning of the sentence, no commas are needed. e.g., The man (who) lives across the street, is the local pharmicist. indep.cl. rel.pro. dependent clause independent clause These are the common relative pronouns: that who whoever whom whomever which whichever G. ependent clauses which are used as nouns (subjects, objectives, appositives, complements) are noun clauses. Most noun clauses are introduced by that, how, why, what, whatever, whoever, or whether, and are followed by a group of words with a subject and a verb used as a single noun. Hint: The noun clauses can usually be replaced by the word "it" or "what". "t" e.g., (What the coach says) is important to the team. dep. cl (subject of verb is) "what" The teacher was asked (how the students were graded). dep. cl. (object of verb asked) The prize goes to whoever comes first. dep. cl. (obj. of prep. to) Review Exercises

5 A. Underline the independent clauses once and the dependent clauses twice in the following sentences. n the answer column to the right, tell whether the dependent clauses are adjective (adj.) or adverbial () clauses. (dependent clause is in bold) e.g., When you finish this exercise, you will know everything about clauses that act as adjectives and adverbs. adj. clause modifies noun "clauses" 1. f you enjoy apples, you should read about the Mcntoshes. 2. Many people who have always lived in the city know very little about farming. 3. An entire year s crop may be lost when the weather is bad. 4. When he heard about grafting, he decided to experiment. 5. The equipment that has been used for many years is now obsolete. 6. My father, who has farmed for many years, has seen many changes. 7. He is very proud when he looks across the golden fields. 8. As technology advances, new methods and machinery are developed. 9. Many thousands of Mcntosh apple trees descended from that first tree which bore fruit until Whenever you eat a Mcntosh Red, think of John and Allan Mcntosh. B. Underline the noun clauses in the following sentences. n the answer column at the right, tell whether they are used as subject, object, or objects of prepositions. 1. That Shakespeare s plays are numerous is an accepted fact.

6 2. am uncertain of what that expression means. 3. Why Shakespeare s works are still popular is no mystery. 4. The teacher explained why Hamlet is a famous play. 5. We learned how Shakespeare s plays should be read. C. ndicate the kind of dependent clause underlined in each of these sentences. List the function of each. The first one is done for you. 1. The Smith family goes to the beach whenever it is possible, cl. mod. v. goes 2. Competing with a person who is a better player will help your tennis. 3. Because hate pizza, ordered a filet mignon. 4, The children play in the streets whenever there is no traffic, 5. id avid tell Santa Claus what he wanted for Christmas? 6. Sergeant Clancy is the police officer who protected the demonstrators. 7. We shall keep the puppies until the owners come to take them away. 8. You should decide when you should return the used books to Miriam.

7 9. This garden, which was ravaged by the hurricane, will grow back. 10. Although the accident was a minor one, was badly shaken. ANSWER KEY Exercise 1 Exercise or 1. Tom went to the movies, but Janice went to the circus. 2. He was ordered to go to his room without supper, for he had been a bad boy. 3. The sky was crystal blue. 4. From Atlantic to Pacific, Canada is a changing land. 5. The work was hard, but she enjoyed it. 6. Success was dependent on one thing, and Charlie knew what it was. 7. He moved quickly out of the way, for he noticed the snake slithering toward him. 8. She is young and sweet, yet she seems so mature. Review Exercises - dependent clauses are in bold A. 1. f you enjoy apples, you should read about the Mcntoshes. 2. Many people who have always lived in the city know very little about farming. 3. An entire year s crop may be lost when the weather is bad. 4. When he heard about grafting, he decided to experiment. 5. The equipment that has been used for many years is now obsolete. adj. adj.

8 6. My father, who has farmed for many years, has seen many changes. 7. He is very proud when he looks across the golden fields. 8. As technology advances, new methods and machinery are developed. 9. Many thousands of Mcntosh apple trees descended from that first tree which bore fruit until Whenever you eat a Mcntosh red, think of John and Allan Mcntosh. B. 1. That Shakespeare s plays are numerous is an accepted fact. adj. adj. subj. 2. am uncertain of what that expression means. obj. of prep 3. Why Shakespeare s works are still popular is no mystery. subj. 4. The teacher explained why Hamlet is a famous play. obj. 5. We learned how Shakespeare s plays should be read. obj. C. 1. cl. mod.v. goes 2. adj. cl. mod. n. person 3. cl. mod. v. ordered 4. cl. mod. v. play 5. noun cl. obj. of v. did tell 6. adj. cl. mod. n. officer 7. cl. mod. v. shall keep 8. noun cl. obj. of v. should decide 9. adj. cl. mod. n. garden 10. cl. mod. v. was shaken Sources:Elliot, Schachter, Clark, English the Easy Way, Gage, Shaw, Handbook of English, McGraw-Hill, 1979.