Clauses-C5

Week 1-3-Clauses: Main and Subordinate Clauses

I. Clauses and Phrases

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

A clause is group of words which contain a subject and a verb. A phrase may not contain them but may have a noun or

verbal.

A. Definition of a **clause**

A **clause** is a collection of words that has a subject that is actively doing a verbof a **clause**:

1. Examples: (Clauses are bold-faced)

a.Since she laughs at diffident men

b.I despise individuals of low character

c.Obediah Simpson is uglier than a rabid racoon

B. Definition of a **phrase**:

A **phrase** is a collection of words that may have nouns or verbals, but it does not have a subject doing a verb.

1. Examples: (Phrases are bold-faced)

a.Leaving behind the dog

b.Before the first test

c.After the devastation

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.

b.

c.

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

Answer:

Examples:

a.

b.

c.

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.

b.

c.

III. Subordinate (Dependent) Clause

III. Subordinate (Dependent) Clause

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

Definition: n : A subordinate clause--sometimes called a **//dependent clause//**--will begin with a subordinate conjunction or a relative pronoun and will contain both a subject and a verb. This combination of words will **//not//** form a complete sentence. It will instead make a reader want additional information to finish the thought.

Examples: (subordinate clauses are bold-faced)

a. I'll clean the bathroom **if you clean the lounge**

b. Tanya did poorly on her history exam **because her best friend Giselle insisted on gossping during their study session the night before.**

c. **Even though the broccoli was covered in cheddar cheese,** Emily refused to eat it.

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

Definition: n 1: the subordination that occurs when a conjunction makes one linguistic unit a constituent of another 2: a conjunction (like `since' or `that' or `who') that introduces a dependent clause

Examples: (subordinating conjunctions are bold-faced)

a. The child felt a chill go through his body, **like** when he had an ice chai tea latte on a summer’s day.

b. The crowd of people left **since** there was nothing left for them to see

c. Anakin Skywalker called for Obe One Canobe **who** he has always relied on.

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

Definition: A relative pronoun "relates" a subordinate clause to the rest of the sentence. It may be found in adjective and noun clauses. A relative pronoun is only found in sentences with more than one clause. In modern English there are five relative pronouns: that, which, who, whom, and whose.

Examples:

a. He **who** laughs last laughs best

b. I cannot believe **that** he said it

c. She is **who** you want, not me!

IV. Noun Clauses, Adjective Clauses, Adverb Clauses

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

Definition:

Examples: (noun clauses are bold-faced)

a.

b.

c.

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

Definition: First, it will contain a subject and verb. Next, it will begin with a relative pronoun [//**who**//, //**whom**//, //**whose**//, //**that**//, or //**which**//] or a relative adverb [//**when**//, //**where**//, or //**why**//]. Finally, it will function as an adjective, answering the questions //**What kind?**// //**How many?**// or //**Which one?**//

Examples: (adjective clauses are bold-faced)

a.**Whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie**

b.**Why Fred cannot stand sitting across from his sister Melanie**

c.**That bounced onto the kitchen floor**

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

Definition:the adverb clause has a subject ("I") and a full verb ("left").

Examples: (adverb clauses are bold-faced)

a. I saw the movie before i left for Washington.

b. Where ever there are computers, there is Microsoft software.

c.If you save your money, you will be able to go to college.

borrowed from http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/gram_clauses_n_phrases.html

and from http://www.chompchomp.com