Post on 27-Dec-2015
Definition of a Clause:a group of words that contains a subject and a verb
Example: Santa “Clause” brings gifts.
So, in order to get gifts, we need the SANTA and the BRINGS right?
Remember: We need the SANTA and the BRINGS to make a clause!
Why? Because a clause must have a subject and a verb.
Clause…not Santa
A. Independent Clause (IC)
and
B. Dependent (Subordinate) Clause (DC)
There are two kinds of clauses:
*he memorized a poem last night
*Mary will read her poem
*many people enjoy poetry
Examples of Independent Clauses:
When an independent clause (IC) starts with a capital letter and ends with a
period or question mark, it is a SENTENCE.
*He memorized a poem.
*Mary will read her poem at school.
*Many people enjoy poetry.
It does not express a complete thought
and
It cannot stand by itself as a sentence
Dependent (or subordinate ) clause (DC)
*because he memorized a poem
*when Mary reads her poem at school
*since many people enjoy poetry
Examples of Dependent (Subordinate Clauses)
A dependent/subordinate clause (DC) will be a FRAGMENT when the clause begins with a capital letter and ends with a period or question mark.
This is a grammatical ERROR!.
...because he memorized a poem…
He memorized a poem.
What makes one clause independent and another
dependent?
• A clause is dependent/subordinate (DC) when it begins with a subordinate word.
…a few examples…
Who When While Which That Since Because Unless
etc. etc. etc.
• Sometimes the subordinate word is understood to be present.
What makes a clause dependent/subordinate?
Examples:
April, which is my favorite month, is going to be cold this year.
Subject of DC is “which.” Verb of DC is “is.”
The flower that grew in my yard was a rose.
Subject of DC is “that.” Verb of DC is “grew.”
Sometimes the subject of the dependent/subordinate clause (DC) is a pronoun.
Because he memorized a poem, Mike will receive extra credit.
Mike will receive extra credit because he memorized a poem.
We will applaud when Mary reads her poem at school.
When Mary reads her poem at school, we will applaud.
When the rain stops, the game will begin.
Punctuation: When the dependent clause (DC) comes first, it is usually followed by a comma.
The game will begin when the rain stops.
Punctuation: When the dependent clause (DC)
comes last, there is generally no comma.