Sentences, Clauses, and Punctuation

Clauses Clause: Group of words with a subject and a verb Two Types of Clauses: 1) Independent Clause : A clause that conveys a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence 2) Subordinate Clause: Does not convey a complete thought and cannot stand alone, or it would be a fragment

Independent Clause An independent clause is sort of like a train’s engine car. The wheels are like the verb/ predicate because they provide movement or action to the group of words. The car is like the subject because it’s what is taking the action of the verb. The engine is like the complete thought because it can move on its own!

Subordinate Clause A subordinate clause is sort of like a train’s freight car. The wheels are like the verb/ predicate because they provide movement or action to the group of words. The car is like the subject because it’s what is taking the action of the verb. Since there is no engine, the train cannot move on its own!

Independent or Subordinate? though he comes to school regularly subordinate: doesn’t go anywhere on its own! she will go to the party tomorrow independent: can go on its own! but he didn’t do his homework subordinate: doesn’t go anywhere on its own! and Matthew can shoot half court shots subordinate: doesn’t go anywhere on its own! Tamara can do gymnastics independent: can go on its own!

How do I use clauses? Both independent and subordinate clauses are like the building blocks of complete sentences.

The “Complete Sentence” To be a complete sentence, a group of words must have three things: 1) A subject (noun or pronoun) 2) A predicate (verb) 3) Must be a complete thought If a group of words does not have the above things, it commits a sentence structure error.

Sentence Structure Errors 1) Fragment: A part of a complete sentence that is punctuated as if it were complete (with a capital letter and a period) -Is missing either: 1) A subject 2) A verb/predicate 3) A complete thought -Think of it like a partial train car. Without all the parts, it won’t be able to run!

Identifying Fragments Examine the following fragments to find which of the three components is missing! Though Bernard likes school. Missing: complete thought No engine, so it can’t go anywhere

Identifying Fragments Examine the following fragments to find which of the three components is missing! Because of Sarah’s witty sense of humor. Missing: verb No wheels, so it has no movement or action.

Identifying Fragments Examine the following fragments to find which of the three components is missing! Moves to Cleveland tomorrow morning. Missing: subject No car, so there is nothing taking the action of the verb/wheels.

Fixing Fragments Since fragments are only a part of a sentence, you have to add the missing piece(s) to make it a complete sentence. Though Bernard likes school. (needs a complete thought) Though Bernard likes school, he rarely does his homework. Because of Sarah’s witty sense of humor. (needs verb and complete thought) Because of Sarah’s witty sense of humor, she was invited to the comedy convention. Moves to Cleveland tomorrow morning. (needs subject and a complete thought) Sam moves to Cleveland tomorrow morning.

Sentence Structure Errors 2) Run-on: More than one sentence punctuated as a single sentence -They keep running on and on without stopping. -This makes the ideas run together, which can be quite confusing for the reader. -Think of it like two train engines smushed together. With that many ideas (engines), you’ll get a runaway train!

Fixing a Run-On To fix a runaway train sentence structure error, often times we have to insert punctuation marks that serve as a stoplight between trains. 1) Inserting a period and a capital letter between trains makes the train STOP! Period (.) and a capital letter

Fixing a Run-On 2) Inserting a semi-colon and a lower case letter makes the train STOP! Semi-colon (;) and a lower case letter *Think of a semi- colon as a period in heels!.

Fixing a Run-On 3) Make the second train slow down/pause (yellow light) by inserting a comma. Then hook the trains together (chain) with a conjunction. Comma to pause Conjunction to hold trains together

Fixing Run-Ons There are therefore three ways to stop a runaway train (run-on): 1) Insert a period and capital letter (red light) 2) Insert a semi-colon and lower case letter (red light) 3) Insert a comma (yellow light) to slow down the second train and a conjunction (chain link) to keep the trains together! and or but because although

Fixing Run-Ons Darcy can’t stand Theodore she thinks he smells like cheese. What are the three ways we can stop this runaway train? Red light: Darcy can’t stand Theodore. She thinks he smells like cheese. Red light: Darcy can’t stand Theodore; she thinks he smells like cheese. (What’s the difference here?) No capital letter after a semi-colon! Yellow light and chain link: Darcy can’t stand Theodore, and she thinks he smells like cheese.

Sentence Structure Errors 3) Comma Splices: Splitting two independent clauses with only a comma -A comma slows it down, but you need to STOP between the thoughts or you’ll still get a runaway train. Comma to pause

Fixing Comma Splices As with run-ons, there are three ways to stop a runaway train created by a comma splice: 1) Insert a period and capital letter (red light) 2) Insert a semi-colon and lower case letter (red light) 3) Insert a comma (yellow light) to slow down the second train and a conjunction (chain link) to keep the trains together! and or but

Fixing Comma Splices Theodore loves Darcy, he thinks she smells like cookies. What are the three ways we can stop this runaway train? Red light: Theodore loves Darcy. He thinks she smells like cookies. Red light: Theodore loves Darcy; he thinks she smells like cookies. No capital letter after a semi-colon! Yellow light and chain link: Theodore loves Darcy, and he thinks she smells like cookies.

Identify the Error…and Fix It! Decide if the following are examples of fragments, run-ons, or comma splices. Then fix the error using the ways we’ve learned. Because Herald forgot his book. Error? Fragment What’s missing? Complete thought! (no engine; can’t go anywhere) How can we fix it? Herald lost a preparedness point because he forgot his book. Because he forgot his book, Herald lost a preparedness point.

Identify the Error…and Fix It! Herald is not a very good student, he refuses to do his homework. Error? Comma Splice How can we stop the runaway train using a RED LIGHT? Herald is not a very good student. He refuses to do his homework. Or… Herald is not a very good student; he refuses to do his homework. How can we fix it using a yellow light and a chain link? Herald is not a very good student, and he refuses to do his homework.

Identify the Error…and Fix It! Won’t arrive to class on time. Error? Fragment What’s missing? Subject (no car; nothing for the wheels to carry) How can we fix it? Herald won’t arrive to class on time.

Identify the Error…and Fix It! Herald is a complete goofball he left his shoe with Ms. Leuschel. Error? Run-On How can we fix this runaway train using a red light? Herald is a complete goofball. He left his shoe with Ms. Leuschel. Or… Herald is a complete goofball; he left his shoe with Ms. Leuschel. How can we fix it using a yellow light and chain link? Herald is a complete goofball, and he left his shoe with Ms. Leuschel.

Identify the Error…and Fix It! Amy went home, she needed to feed her dog, Ralph. Error? Comma Splice How can we fix this runaway train using a red light? Amy went home. She needed to feed her dog, Ralph. Or… Amy went home; she needed to feed her dog, Ralph. How can we fix it using a yellow light and chain link? Amy went home, because she needed to feed her dog, Ralph.

Identify the Error…and Fix It! Though Sam came home early. Error? Fragment What’s missing? Complete thought (no engine; can’t go anywhere) How do we fix it? Though Sam came home early, he was still in trouble. Sam came home early. Emily was late even though Sam came home early.

Why does it matter that I know what a dag gone clause is? WRITING WRITING WRITING! Understanding clauses prevents you from making some of the most common sentence structure errors (fragments, run-ons, and comma splices). Clause knowledge allows you to combine simple sentences to make more complex, sophisticated sentences, which makes you a more refined writer. –Ex: Amy left the house on time. She forgot her socks. She had to go back. –Although Amy left the house on time, she forgot her socks and had to go back. Punctuation and sentence structure errors are TURBO popular on the ACT!

The End! …or is it?