Clauses and Phrases The keys for unlocking compound / complex sentences
A phrase is a group of words WITHOUT a subject/verb pair. It cannot be a simple sentence. (wrong) AJ and her sister (wrong) on a sunny day. It cannot be one half of a compound sentence. (wrong) AJ and her sister, and they lived in Japan. (wrong) on a sunny day, but it is not warm. It cannot be one part of a complex sentence. (wrong) AJ and her sister when they were younger. (wrong) Although on a sunny day, it is not warm.
The most common phrase is a prepositional phrase (prep + noun object) of location in my country on the desk at the store between the houses of direction from my house to the library into the soup Of time in an hour after two weeks for ten minutes during the day A prepositional phrase CANNOT be the subject
Another common phrase is a noun phrase Adjective + noun clever students the highest score the hot soup Gerund + object learning to ski listening to music memorizing grammar rules Compound nouns Stephanie and AJ coffee or tea poor but happy
A clause is a group of words with a subject AND verb. It can be a simple sentence. (AJ and her sister lived in Spain.) (It is sunny). It can be one half of a compound sentence. (AJ lived in Spain), and (she lived in Japan). (It is sunny), but (it is not warm). It can be one part of a complex sentence. (AJ lived in Spain) (when she was 25). (Although it is sunny), (it is not warm.)
There are two kinds of clauses: Clause #1 = independent or main clause Can be a simple sentence AJ and her sister lived in Spain. Can be one clause of a compound sentence AJ lived in Spain, so she speaks Spanish. Can be the main clause of a complex sentence AJ lived in Spain when she was 25.
Clause #2 = dependent clause Also, dependent clauses ALWAYS begin with a subordinating conjunction if when although as soon as unless because MORE on pp in your writing textbook
Cannot be a simple sentence When AJ and her sister lived in Spain. Cannot be one clause of a compound sentence When AJ lived in Spain, so she speaks Spanish. Can be with a independent clause in a complex sentence AJ lived in Spain when she was 25. Wrong!!! Correct!!!
Writing rule to remember about dependent clauses: They are never a full sentence. They must also have an independent (main) clause Because I am hungry. I am eating because I am hungry. If I study a lot. My English will improve if I study a lot. Frag Correct!!!
Practice – say clause or phrase In the capital of my country. Between you and me. I was a child. If I can. My sister and her husband Since I was a child. phrase clause phrase clause
Practice – say dependent or independent Before I came to the U.S. I came to the U.S. When I was a child. I was a child. My sister and I stayed home. If my sister and I stayed home. D I D I I D
Comma rules for compound sentences Always write a comma before the conjunction I live in Portland, and I work in Beaverton. He is sleeping right now, but he’ll call you later. I lost my purse, so I called the police. Do not write a comma between two words or phrases I like ice cream and candy. The ball went behind the sofa and under the desk. She is the top student and my best friend.
Comma rules for complex sentences YES! write a comma if the dependent clause is 1 st. Although I live in Portland, I work in Beaverton. Because he is sleeping right now, he’ll call you later. Since I lost my purse, I called the police. NO! do not write a comma if the dependent clause is 2 nd. I work in Beaverton although I work in Portland. He’ll call you later because he is sleeping right now. I called the police since I lost my purse.
Practice Write a DC in front of the dependent clauses, an IC in front of the independent clauses, and a P in front of the phrases. The student next to Abdul. The car stopped. When he was a small boy. We went to see a movie. In the morning or in the afternoon. The cats were lying in the sun. Since the dawn of time. From the easily missed corner. As soon as the alarm went off. The music from the southern part of my country. P P P P P P P P P P IC DC IC