Label each of the following as a sentence or not a sentence. He ran to the store. Until I went home. After your mother returns. Jeremy wants to send a post card to his mother. When Jeremy wants to send a post card to his mother.

How can we determine when something is or is not a sentence? Starting with the basics.

Today’s Basic Question: What is a clause?

These are not clauses

These are clauses He ran to the store. Until I went home… After your mother returns… Jeremy wants to send a post card to his mother.

What makes a clause? A clause must have: A subject A verb There can be more pieces: objects, prepositional phrases, subject complements. All of the pieces that attach to a subject and a verb pairing become a part of the clause.

There are multiple ways to classify clauses. We will look at 1 method today.

Types of clauses Independent – a clause that can be a sentence without another clause. Subordinate – a clause that needs to be attached to an independent clause, but is not part of that independent clause. If it is not attached to an independent clause it is a sentence fragment and WRONG! Relative – a clause within a clause

Examples I like to sleep. The school year is almost over. I hope the NFL lockout ends soon. After I went to sleep… When I was a young boy… Although he likes chocolate chip cookies… If you don’t know… Independent Subordinate

What makes a clause subordinate?

Relative clauses: The shirt that I love is falling apart. The Grand Canyon, which is enormous, is amazing. The woman to whom you spoke yesterday is here.

Not a clause: Why are each of the following not clauses? After the game Into the woods Running through the woods None of these have subjects or verbs.

You try: Determine if it is subordinate or independent. I ran all the way home. While I was at the store. Where did he go? Although you seem nice. If you don’t go home. The Hornets are going to win tomorrow. Despite everything he said.