The Clause

What is a clause? A word group that contains a verb and its subject and that is used as a sentence or as part of a sentence. May or may not contain a complete thought. A sitar is a stringed instrument that resembles a lute.

The Independent Clause Expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a sentence. AKA the main clause The Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada opposed the dictatorship of Profirio Diaz. In his paintings, Posada attacked the Diaz regime, and he made thousands of inexpensive prints of his work. Posada’s art helped to stir the social unrest that led to the overthrow of Diaz in the revolution of 1910.

The Subordinate Clause Does not express a complete thought and cannot stand by itself in a sentence. AKA the dependent clause Becomes clear only when combined with an independent clause We will read Fahrenheit 451, which is one of my favorites. As the students entered the classroom, the teacher wrote their homework on the board.

The Adjective Clause A subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun. Usually introduced by a relative pronoun = a word that relates the clause to the word/words that the clause modifies (that, which, who, whom, whose etc). May be introduced by a relative adverb to modify a time or place (when, where) * Note: Sometimes the relative pronoun/adverb may be implied! The report that he wrote was on the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Have you practiced the speech that you will give on Friday? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of the day when freedom and justice would reign in the US. The vase my family brought from the Philippines was made by my great-grandmother.

Btw… Essential clause – provides information that is necessary to the meaning of a sentence. Nonessential clause – provides additional information that can be omitted without changing the meaning of a sentence. Students who are auditioning for the school play should meet in the auditorium at 4:15 P.M. Liza Minnelli, whose mother, Judy Garland, was best known for starring in The Wizard of Oz, earned her own fame as a singer and actress.

The Noun Clause A subordinate clause that is used as a noun. Common introductory words: how, if, that, what, whatever, when, whenever, where, wherever, whether, which, whichever, who, whoever, whom, whomever, whose, why. May be implied May be used as a subject, predicate nominative, a direct object, an indirect object, an object of a preposition, or an appositive. How students can apply for college loans was the speaker’s topic. My suggestion is that we all meet again tomorrow. I wonder whether Columbus was truly the first European to explore the Americas. Mrs. Romero offers whoever completes additional assignments extra credit. Write your research paper about whomever you admire most. Copernicus’s theory that the sun, not the earth, is the center of our solar system was rejected at the time. Did you know the actor James Earl Jones was once a pre-med student?

The Adverb Clause A subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. Tells how, how much, when, where, why, to what extent, or under what conditions. An adverb clause that begins a sentence is followed by a comma. Introduced by a subordinating conjunction = a word or word group that shows the relationship between the adverb clause and the word or words that the clause modifies; be careful not to confuse a subordinating conjunction with a preposition. The mouse ran as if it were being chased by a cat. Julie likes punk rock more than she likes reggae. If you want to gain an understanding of British society in the Victorian era, read The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde. You must clean before you go to play basketball. You must clean before dinner.

The Elliptical Clause Part of a clause may be left out when its meaning can be clearly understood in the context of the sentence. Such a clause is called an elliptical clause. Most are adverb clauses. Often the meaning of an elliptical clause will depend on the form of the pronoun in it. Australia is smaller than the other continents. When taking notes, use your own words. I like Anne as much as she. I like Anne as much as her.

Sentences Classified According to Structure Depending on its structure, a sentence can be classified as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.

Simple Sentence Contains one independent clause and no subordinate clauses. May contain a compound subject, a compound verb, or both, and any number of phrases. Great literature stirs the imagination. Located on an island in Lake Texcoco, Tenochtitlan was the capital of the Aztec empire and may have had more than 100,000 inhabitants in the 1500s.

Compound Sentence Contains two or more independent clauses and no subordinate clauses. May be joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet), by a semicolon, or by a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb or transitional expression. Do not confuse a simple sentence that has a compound subject/verb with a compound sentence. We could drive to Boston on the freeway, or we could take back roads to get there. The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo destroyed many homes and led to the closing of the Clark Air Base. The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo destroyed many homes, and it led to the closing of Clark Air Base.

Complex Sentence Contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause. Yiddish, which is a Germanic language, is now spoken by millions of people all over the world. After Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated at Waterloo, he was exiled to Saint Helena, where he died.

Compound-Complex Sentence Contains two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause. The interest that you pay on a car loan will increase the cost of the car, so be sure to shop for the lowest interest rate. Hong Kong had been a crown colony of Britain since 1898; however, as my teacher explained, it reverted to China when the treaty expired in 1997.

Sentences Classified According to Purpose Depending on its purpose a sentence can be classified as… Declarative = makes a statement and ends with a period. Imperative = gives a command or makes a request; most end with a period but a strong command ends with an exclamation point. Interrogative = asks a question and ends with a question mark. Exclamatory = shows excitement or expresses strong feelings and ends with an exclamation point. Many homes are being made more accessible for people who have disabilities. What a surprise it is to see you here! Please pay attention. Have you seen her at all today? Listen to the guest speaker. This test is hard.