Clauses-H5

= Week 1-3-Clauses: Main and Subordinate Clauses =

Ryan Maxwell, Suhaib Abdulhafiz, Sydney Barloon

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 predicate and forming part of a compound or complex sentence. A clause can stand alone as a sentence.

1. Examples: (Clauses are bold-faced)

a. **Gray horses are pretty.**

b. Some **students see** themselves as being very successful in the future.

c. **Although** **Mom spent all day cooking**, the food was still not ready for tomorrow’s party.

B. Definition of a **phrase**: a group of words that has either no subject or no predicate or is lacking both. A phrase cannot stand alone as a sentence.

1. Examples: (Phrases are bold-faced)

a. Ted was seen **opening the gate** of the pasture.

b. **The man at the counter** took my money.

c. We all waded **across the river**.

II. Main (Independent) Clause

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

Definition: A main clause is one which can stand alone. It must contain a subject and a verb. It is also known as an independent clause.

Examples: (main clauses are bold-faced)

a. **Gays are intrinsically evil and depraved** because they are violating God's laws.

b. **My fingers started to hurt** while I was typing this sentence.

c. As the ballots started pouring in after the 2004 presidential election, **John Kerry knew he had been vanquished by his vastly superior opponent**.

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

Answer: You need at least one main clause in each sentence.

Examples:

a. **The UFC is safer than boxing**.

b. To the dismay of many Angels fans, **Bengie Molina applied for free agency**.

c. **Mario Kart DS will be shipped on November 14** in order to award the patience of its buyers.

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

Definition: A fragment is a piece of a sentece that has become disconnected from the main clause.

Examples:

a. Lost the game.

b. After the fight.

c. Read the book.

III. Subordinate (Dependent) Clause

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

Definition: It is a clause that is dependent on the main clause, which it often modifies.

Examples: (subordinate clauses are bold-faced)

a. Gays are intrinsically evil and depraved **because they are violating God's laws**.

b. My fingers started to hurt **while I was typing this sentence**.

c. **As the ballots started pouring in after the 2004 presidential election**, John Kerry knew he had been vanquished by his vastly superior opponent.

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

Definition: The subordinating conjunction is used to show the relationship between two clauses.

Examples: (subordinating conjunctions are bold-faced)

a. A.J. Pyrzinski ran to first base **even though** he struck out.

b. I am listening to music **while** i am typing this.

c. L.A. defeated San Jose by aggregate goals **because** they were the better team.

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

Definition: A relative pronoun relates a subordinate clause to the rest of the sentence.

Examples: (relative pronouns are bold-faced)

a. **Who** is over there?

b. It is good **that** Bush nominated a fully qualified judge to the Supreme Court.

c. The Devil preys on everyone, especially **whomever** he thinks he can take to hell.

IV. Noun Clauses, Adjective Clauses, Adverb Clauses

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

Definition: A noun clause is an entire clause which takes the place of a noun in another clause or phrase.

Examples: (noun clauses are bold-faced)

a. I know **Russian**.

b. I know **that** **Russian was never spoken in China**.

c. I was going to replace the **tv with bad color**.

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

Definition: An adjective clause is a dependent clause which takes the place of an adjective in another clause or phrase.

Examples: (adjective clauses are bold-faced)

a. The hat, **which i bought last week**, was already dirty.

b. The meat, **which they ate**, was contaminated.

c. The baseball, **which was slight heavier because the morning dew**, was hard to throw long distances.

3. What is an **adverb clause**?

Definition: An adverb clause is a dependent clause which takes the place of an adverb in another clause or phrase.

Examples: (adverb clauses are bold-faced)

a. He walked to the store **extremely slowly**.

b. I saw the movie **before I left for Rome**.

c. Wherever there are computers, **there is Microsoft software**.

Phrases and Clauses from: http://marksesl.com/grammar/Phrases_and_Clauses.htm and http://dante.ilt.columbia.edu/bios/johnb/PhrasesClauses.html