SENTENCE STRUCTURE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE—This is a clause that can stand by itself. It features at the very least a subject and a verb with perhaps a modifying phrase or an object. It is a complete thought.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE Ex 1: The coach forgot the balls. Ex 2: The coach forgot the balls, and his helper forgot his sack of snacks. Ex 3: The coach forgot the balls; his helper forgot his sack of snacks.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE SUBORDINATE CLAUSE—This clause begins with either a relative pronoun or an adverbial conjunction. It is not a complete thought. If you said a subordinate clause out loud, it would not make sense. ADJECTIVE, NOUN, and ADVERB clauses are all subordinate.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE Ex 1: My aunt whom we visited yesterday told us about life during the Depression. Ex 2: Some models are still available because our supplier manufactured too many. Ex 3: The ex-professor decided that work the lecture circuit.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE ADJECTIVE CLAUSE These clauses begin with Relative Pronouns. They are adjective clauses because they modify nouns (these clauses perform the same function that common adjectives do) You CANNOT replace these clauses with the word something.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE Adjective Clauses: Ex. 1: I am now buying an old car, which is an investment opportunity. Ex. 2: The issue about which he is talking is meaningless.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE NOUN CLAUSE These clauses begin with Relative Pronouns. A noun clause can be distinguished from an adjective clause because a noun clause can be replaced with the word SOMETHING or SOMEONE and the sentence will sound sensible. These also begin with relative pronouns, how, and why.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE Noun Clauses Ex. 1: I don’t know how you could wreck that many cars. I don’t know something. Ex 2: That you make quilts is amazing. Something is amazing. Ex 3: We will give whoever qualifies a trip to Scandinavia. We will give someone a trip to Scand.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE ADVERB CLAUSE These clauses begin with ADVERBIAL CONJUNCTIONS (28—see page 15) and they modify the verb action. These clauses perform the function that common adverbs perform.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE Adverb Clauses: Ex. 1: Jenny sounds as if she caught a bird in her throat. Ex. 2: Before we arrived, we bought some wine. Ex. 3: Andre can speak faster than anyone else on his block.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE SIMPLE SENTENCE—Features one independent clause. Ex. 1: Nina bought graduation cards. Single subject and single verb. Ex. 2: Nina and Simone bought graduation cards. Compound subject Ex. 3: Frank bought and sold farm supplies. Compound verb
SENTENCE STRUCTURE COMPOUND SENTENCE These sentences feature two independent clauses joined by: A coordinating conjunction and a comma (, and) A semi-colon. Both clauses must be independent and make sense by themselves.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE COMPOUND SENTENCE Ex. 1: Jenny placed the furniture, and Carlo hung the pictures. Ex. 2: Jenny placed the furniture; Carlo hung the pictures. Ex. 3: They agreed not to buy anymore pictures, but otherwise they would buy a new couch.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE COMPLEX SENTENCE—These sentences feature one independent clause and one or more subordinate clause. Ex. 1: When they had finished their meal, they praised each other on the cooking. Ex. 2: They both took a break before they continued their trip.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE These sentences feature Two independent clauses and One or more subordinate clauses. Ex. 1: Fred set the table as he awaited his children, and Alice removed the potatoes from the stove.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE TO MASTER THIS MATERIAL YOU MUST KNOW: The eight relative pronouns—See page ________ The seven coordinating conjunctions—See page _______ The twenty-eight adverbial conjunctions—See page_____