Sentences Unit Part Two

Independent Clauses Independent Clause: A group of words containing a subject and predicate that can act as a simple sentence. Example: Some pollution affects our homes and schools. If their neighbors cooperate, young people and adults can clean up their neighborhoods.

Dependent Clauses A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and predicate, but does NOT express a complete thought and it CANNOT stand alone. Remember: A dependent clause is different from a fragment because a fragment is only a PIECE of a sentence, either a subject OR a predicate. Example of a dependent clause: People become more sensitive to pollution problems after they learned about toxic waste.

Dependent Clauses and Commas A dependent clause that comes at the beginning of a sentence is usually followed by a comma. Example: Because someone had been careless with matches, a fire started at the Johnson’s home. A dependent clause that comes at the end of a sentence is usually not preceded by a comma. Example: The smoke filled the house as the firefighters arrived. When a dependent clause comes in the middle of a sentence, it is usually set off by commas. Example: The fire, which we saw spreading rapidly, shot sparks into the sky.

Practice Which part of sentence is in red? Which part of the sentence is in black? What are the two parts of the first sentences in the first box? Which part of the sentence is the independent clause? Which part of the sentence is the dependent clause?

Compound Sentence Review A compound sentence consists of two simple sentences that can be joined by a comma and conjunctions such as and, or or but, or by a semicolon. A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses. Example: Fires are dangerous, and they cause great damage. Fires are dangerous. Independent Clause They cause great damage.

Complex Sentences A complex sentence consists of an independent clause and AT LEAST one dependent clause. Example: People became more sensitive to pollution problems, after they learned about toxic waste. People became more sensitive to pollution problems. Independent Clause After they learned about toxic waste Dependent clause

Review Terri came home from school, and she started her homework. Compound or complex? When the alarm went off, Tom automatically hit the snooze button. She played with her brother until he started crying. If you go to the store, please pick up some milk.