© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences A clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a verb. There are many different kinds of clauses. It would be helpful to review some of the grammar vocabulary we use to talk about clauses.

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences Clauses go by many names. Here are some definitions: 1. Independent: A clause that can stand by itself and still make sense. An independent clause could be its own sentence, but is often part of a larger structure, combined with other independent clauses and with dependent clauses. Independent clauses that are not separated by the appropriate punctuation are call run-on sentences. 2. Dependent: A clause that cannot stand by itself. It depends on something else, an independent clause, for its meaning. A dependent clause trying to stand by itself would be a sentence fragment. Dependent clauses are sometimes called subordinate, relative, and introductory clauses. We will review the different kinds of dependent clauses within the next week.sentence fragment

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences And here are some examples of independent clauses Independent clauses: Glaciers often leave behind holes in the ground. These holes are called kettles, and they look just like scooped-out pots. Glaciers also leave behind enormous deposits of glacial “garbage”; these deposits are called morains.

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences -cannot be fully understood without an independent clause called the main clause attached to it. -Usually begin with a subordinate clause or a relative pronoun After Jubal Early invaded the outskirts of Washington, Congressional leaders took the southern threat more seriously. Lincoln insisted on attending the theater that night because it was important to demonstrate domestic tranquility. 2. Dependent clauses: The country was shocked and dismayed that Lincoln was killed.

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences Common Subordinate clauses and relative pronouns: after although as because before even if even though if in order that once provided that since so [that implied] so that than while though unless until when whenever where whereas wherever whether that which whichever who whoever whosoever whom whomever whose

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences A phrase is a group of related words that is missing a subject or a verb or both. There are many different kinds of phrases. Some of the most common are listed in the handout you will receive next week when we discuss fragments.

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences -also dependent, so cannot be fully understood without an independent clause called the main clause attached to it. -a phrase standing by itself is a fragment. -Eating all those Chicken McNuggets was a bad idea. 3. Phrases: -With a great deal of stomach pain, I rested on the couch. -I also took some Pepto Bismol to make my stomach feel better.

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences A sentence is a group of related words that express an idea. It has a subject and a verb and can be understood by itself. It also begins with a capital letter and ends with a form of punctuation. There are two different ways to classify sentences.

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences 1. Purpose: Sentence typePurposeExample DeclarativeTo make a statement Allan Ginsberg wrote Howl. InterrogativeTo ask a questionWho’s that girl? ImperativeTo give a command Just do it. ExclamatoryTo express strong feeling The Red Sox won!

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences 2. Structure: Sentence typePurposeExample Simple sentenceOne independent clauseI have never been to Spain. Compound sentenceTwo or more independent clausesI have never been to Spain, but I have been to Portugal. ComplexOne independent clause + one or more dependent clauses and/or phrases. Although I have never been to Spain, I have been to Portugal. (sub. clause + main clause) Having been to Portugal, I can appreciate their fishing communities. (phrase + main clause) Compound-complexTwo or more independent clauses + one or more dependent clauses and/or phrases. Although I have never been to Spain, I have been to Portugal, and I have been to Venezuela. (sub. clause + main clause + main clause) Although I have never been to Spain, I have been to Portugal, a favorite of mine, and I have been to Venezuela. (sub. clause + main clause + phrase + main clause.)

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences A run-on sentence occurs when two independent clauses are put together without the appropriate punctuation and/or conjunction between them. Fused sentences and comma splices are the two types of run-on sentences. The fact that a sentence is long does not make it a run-on sentence.

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences Bob went to the store, he bought some apples. Grandma still rides her Harley motorcycle her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars. COMMA SPLICE FUSED SENTENCE

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences Bob went to the store, he bought some apples. Grandma still rides her Harley motorcycle her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars. MAIN STRATEGY 1: MAKE TWO COMPLETE SENTENCES.

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences Bob went to the store, he bought some apples. Grandma still rides her Harley motorcycle her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars. Strategy 2a: comma and coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) MAIN STRATEGY 2: MAKE A COMPOUND SENTENCE.

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences Bob went to the store, he bought some apples. Grandma still rides her Harley motorcycle her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars. Strategy 2b: Semicolon MAIN STRATEGY 2: MAKE A COMPOUND SENTENCE.

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences Bob went to the store, he bought some apples. Grandma still rides her Harley motorcycle her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars. Strategy 2c: Comma and conjunctive adverb MAIN STRATEGY 2: MAKE A COMPOUND SENTENCE.

© Capital Community College Clauses and Phrases: Building Blocks for Sentences Bob went to the store, he bought some apples. Grandma still rides her Harley motorcycle her toy poodle balances in a basket between the handlebars. Strategy 3a: Add a subordinate conjunction. MAIN STRATEGY 3: MAKE A COMPLEX SENTENCE.