The Clause DECS Languages & Multicultural Education Portfolio Group Professional Development and Resource Materials for ESL

The clause is the basic unit of meaning in English conveys a message can provide information about what is happening (verb group) who, what is taking part (participant – usually a noun group) when, where, how, why surrounding the activity (circumstance) can be identified by the presence of a single verb or verb group.

Examples of clauses Help! Help me! The woman was able to help me. Yesterday the young woman was able to help me. Yesterday the young woman who was passing was able to help me at the scene of the accident. Yesterday the young German woman who was passing was able to help me immediately at the scene of the accident. Yesterday, because of her first aid experience, the young German woman who was passing was able to immediately help me at the scene of the accident.

Parts of a Clause Generally each clause must have a verb to be classed as a clause Help! Help me! The woman was able to help me. Yesterday the young woman was able to help me. Yesterday the young woman who was passing was able to help me at the scene of the accident. Yesterday the young German woman who was passing was able to help me immediately at the scene of the accident. Yesterday, because of her first aid experience, the young German woman who was passing was able to immediately help me at the scene of the accident.

Parts of a Clause Participant - who or what is taking part (usually a noun group) Help! Help me! The woman was able to help me. Yesterday the young woman was able to help me. Yesterday the young woman who was passing was able to help me at the scene of the accident. Yesterday the young German woman who was passing was able to help me immediately at the scene of the accident. Yesterday, because of her first aid experience, the young German woman who was passing was able to immediately help me at the scene of the accident.

Parts of a Clause Circumstances (when, where, how, why – giving more information about the verb) Help! Help me! The woman was able to help me. Yesterday the young woman was able to help me. (When) Yesterday the young woman who was passing was able to help me at the scene of the accident. (Where) Yesterday the young German woman who was passing was able to help me immediately at the scene of the accident. (How) Yesterday, because of her first aid experience, the young German woman who was passing was able to immediately help me at the scene of the accident. (Why)

Parts of a Clause Identify the verb group, the participant and circumstances in the following - some examples comprise two clauses. You must give some money to charity. All my life I have supported the environment. Cook the biscuits in the oven for twenty minutes. Have you played tennis recently? In each hole, the dog found one or two bones. He ran down the stairs very quickly. All my life I have supported the environment but now I want to give up. I played tennis recently and I enjoyed it immensely. After working hard during the term, I’m looking forward to the holidays. He said that he needed a holiday.

Independent and Dependent Clauses Can stand on its own and convey a message Is always finite – ie has a Subject (unless in the imperative form) You must give some money to charity. (Independent) You must give some money to charity (Independent) because you are very rich (Dependent) You must give some money to charity (Independent) and you should give some to me as well. (Independent)

Independent and Dependent Clauses Cannot stand on its own – is bound to an independent clause, eg with a binding conjunction such as “if” to make meaning. Usually provides more circumstantial information eg ‘how’, ‘when’, ‘where’ and ‘why’ or projects mental or verbal processes When I get home (Dependent) I am going to bed He thought that he should go home (Dependent) Can be moved with the binding conjunction in front of or after the independent clause and the meaning remains the same. If I am going to be late (Dependent), I will ring you (Independent). OR I will ring you (Independent) if I am going to be late. (Dependent)

Independent and Dependent Clauses Non - finite Dependent Clauses Some sentences include dependent clauses which have non-finite verbs i.e. verbs with no Subject To make a cake you usually need eggs. (Dependent clause using the infinitive “to make”) You can book a holiday by going to the internet. (Dependent clause using the present participle “going”) After eating dinner, she watched TV. (Dependent clause using the present participle “eating”)

Dependent or Independent? Activity Identify the dependent and independent clauses When the tap is turned on, be sure it is not too hot. After five minutes place the mixture in the oven. By dialling an emergency number, I quickly got help. Because I wasn’t really sure of myself, I decided not to go. People are destroying the environment by logging forests. Do you like opera? Even though she disagrees with me, she will listen to me They knew that I would go. To make a great pizza, you need a good base. I went to Broome, which is a really interesting place.

Activity Answers When the tap is turned on, (Dependent) be sure it is not too hot. After five minutes, place the mixture in the oven (Independent) By dialling an emergency number (Dependent, non-finite), I quickly got help. Because I wasn’t really sure of myself, (Dependent) I decided not to go. People are destroying the environment (Independent) by logging forests Do you like opera? (Independent) Even though she disagrees with me, (Dependent) she will listen to me They knew (Independent) that I would go. To make a great pizza, (Dependent, non-finite) you need a good base. I went to Broome, which is a really interesting place.(Dependent)

Interrupting Clause Joins another clause by interrupting it. Uses commas to signal its function. My brother, who lives in Canberra, is a public servant. (Interrupting Clause) As opposed to: My brother who lives in Canberra is a public servant (Embedded clause is part of the nominal group “My brother who lives in Canberra”….) see Embedded Clause Broome, which is a really interesting place, is becoming a popular tourist location.

Projected Clause A dependent clause that comes after saying and some mental verbs to project thoughts, ideas and feelings. I said that my brother lives in Canberra They thought that my brother lived in Canberra

Embedded Clause Functions inside another clause , ,usually as a part of the noun group or as participant. Use ‘who’ or ‘that’ when referring to people Use ‘which’ or ‘that’ when referring to things. The woman who is over there is my mother’s best friend. Attachment 8 (continued) The dog that barks all night belongs to the man who lives across the road. What I really needed was a long holiday Note that interrupting and projected clauses are dependent, whereas embedded clauses are simply seen as part of another clause.

Using conjunctions to combine clauses Linking – Independent Clauses (Adjacent clauses that are not structurally dependent on the other) We went to the cinema and we enjoyed the movie very much. Monica walked home but her friends got the bus. (These sentences are sometimes called compound sentences) Binding - Dependent and Independent Clauses (One clause is structurally dependent on another. A dependent clause can be moved with the conjunction attached) I will get very angry if you kick the ball inside. OR If you kick the ball inside, I will get very angry. (These sentences can be called complex sentences)

Relative clauses as dependent clauses Relative clauses are dependent clauses which with ‘who, which, that’. Relative clauses can be used to form more complex sentences We travelled to Broome, which is a really interesting place. (Relative clause added to the main independent clause) Broome, which is a really interesting place, is becoming a popular tourist location. (Interrupting clause) Some people felt that it was the only solution. (Projecting clause)

Activity With a partner, analyse the shaded sections of the text in Attachment 11B and then try to find the following language features: Note that there may not be examples of all of these features in the text you choose. An independent clause and then identify its different parts. Two independent clauses joined by a linking conjunction eg and, but, and then A dependent clause joined to an independent clause A projected clause A relative clause added to an independent clause A relative clause in an embedded clause.