Clauses-E5

Week 1-3-Clauses: Main and Subordinate Clauses

I. Clauses and Phrases

1.What is the difference between a **clause** and a **phrase**?

A. Definition of a **clause**: A group of words containing a subject and a verb.

1. Examples: (Clauses are bold-faced)

a. **Bill won.**

b. **I ate.**

c. **You ran.**

B. Definition of a **phrase**: Two or more words in sequence that form a syntactic unit that is less than a complete sentence.

1. Examples: (Phrases are bold-faced)

a. **Before the rising of the sun**, I was sound asleep.

b. My duel with the enemy would begin **at dawn**.

c. The villain made one final attack **after his untimely death**.

II. Main (Independent) Clause

1. What is a **main** **clause**?

Definition: A clause in a complex sentence that contains at least a subject and a verb and can stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence.

Examples: (main clauses are bold-faced)

a. **I am the hero** **of the day**.

b. **School can be really hard** **on Tuesdays**.

c. **Since my computer blew up on Sunday, I repaired my computer on Monday.**

2. How many **main clauses** do I need in each sentence?

Answer: 1

Examples:

a. **I am** the one who finishes all of his assignments.

b. **I finish** everything before going to bed.

c. **I run** one mile before beginning the race.

3. What is a **sentence fragment**?

Definition: A phrase or clause that is punctuated and capitalized as a sentence but does not constitute a complete grammatical sentence.

Examples:

a. **A coke, like this.**

b. **Though you won’t find me.**

c. **Slim chance that you can fly.**

III. Subordinate (Dependent) Clause

1. What is a **subordinate clause**?

Definition: A grammatical construction related to and dependent on another construction or embedded within it. English subordinate clauses are introduced by conjunctions (eg if, when, until, for, because, although).

Examples: (subordinate clauses are bold-faced)

a. The chief will be happy **if his people live peacefully with each other**.

b. **When Serena was threatened by the bandits**, a spark of courage was kindled within her.

c. I loved school **before I realized that I had to wake up at 7:00 in the morning**.

2. What is a **subordinating conjunction**?

Definition: A conjunction (like `since' or `that' or `who') that introduces a dependent clause.

Examples: (subordinating conjunctions are bold-faced)

a. **Since** I bought a lottery ticket, I have a chance of winning one million dollars.

b. The machine **that** starts a car is called the engine.

c. **If** I eat twenty sandwiches in ten minutes, I shall be very sick of eating sandwiches.

3. What is a **relative pronoun**?

Definition: A pronoun (as `that' or `which' or `who') that introduces a relative clause referring to some antecedent.

Examples: (relative pronouns are bold-faced)

a. I am the man **who** invented the car.

b. You should never go to places **that** are dangerous.

c. I know one million tricks, **which** classifies me as a master magician.

IV. Noun Clauses, Adjective Clauses, Adverb Clauses

1. What is a **noun clause**?

Definition: A subordinate clause that functions as a subject or direct object within the main clause.

Examples: (noun clauses are bold-faced)

a. I know **what you did last summer**.

b. **Where the chocolate** is made is a company secret.

c. **When you hold a knife** do not hurt yourself.

2. What is an **a**djective clause?

Definition: A dependant clause, which modifies a noun by describing, identifying, or giving further information about a noun.

Examples: (adjective clauses are bold-faced)

a. I bought a cake, **which tasted really good**.

b. I knew a man **who had a very intelligent mind.**

c. The computer **that works** will be moved to the office.

3. What is an adverb clause?

Definition: An adverb clause is a [|subordinate clause] that modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb. It answers one of four questions: how, when, where, and why. An adverb clause always begins with a subordinating conjunction.

Examples: (adverb clauses are bold-faced)

a. The chief will be happy **if his people live peacefully with each other**.

b. **When Serena was threatened by the bandits**, a spark of courage was kindled within her.

c. I loved school **before I realized that I have to wake up at 7:00 in the morning**.

http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000317.htm http://www.google.com http://www.dictionary.com Understand and Using English Grammar by Betty Schrampfer Azar