1. Clause and Sentence Types
Grammar Lessons – Week 6
Clause and Sentence Types

2. Day 1 – Types of Clauses
To be a clause, a group of words must have a subject and a verb.
Independent clauses have a subject, a verb, and can stand alone.
Dependent clauses have a subject, a verb, and cannot stand alone.

3. Day 1 – Examples Independent Clauses vs. Dependent Clauses
I like cheese vs
While I like cheese
Gilbert ran down the street vs
Although Gilbert ran down the street
The show was on vs
Unless the show was on
No cheese was on the sandwich vs
Because no cheese was on the sandwich

4. Day 1 – Practice Identifying
Which types of clauses are these?
Joe-Bob built a fence.
While Gilbert complained
Unless Floober misunderstood him
There are two types of clauses in each sentence, here. Which one is which?
While Bobbi-Jo likes plaid, Floober prefers plain colors.
I like weekends because I can sleep in.

5. Day 2 – Recapping
Yesterday, we talked about clauses – independent and dependent.
Independent clauses can stand alone.
Dependent clauses can’t.
Now let’s talk about what we do with them.

6. Day 2 – Clauses to Sentences
Each sentence needs, bare minimum, one independent clause.
There are four types of sentences, dependent on what clauses are in them:
Simple – One independent clause.
Compound – Two independent clauses (or more).
Complex – One independent (only) and one (or more) dependent clauses.
Compound-Complex – Two independent clauses (or more) and one dependent clause (or more).
If you want the simple version:
Simple – One ind.
Compound – Two ind.
Complex – One ind, one dep.
Compound-Complex – Two ind, one dep.

7. Day 2 – Identifying Sentence Types
Let’s identify the clauses, then the sentence type, in each of these:
Floober is a stupid name.
When he heard me call his name stupid, Floober was offended.
Floober is an imaginary person, so I don’t care.
Joe-Bob cares, and he consoles Floober.
Joe-Bob and Floober are now friends because I insulted Floober’s name.

8. Day 3 – Recap This week, we’ve discussed the following:
Independent Clauses – Subject, verb, stand alone
Dependent Clauses – Subject, verb, can’t stand alone
Simple Sentence – One ind cl
Compound Sentence – Two ind cl
Complex Sentence – One ind cl, one dep cl
Compound-Complex Sentence – Two ind cl, one dep cl
Today, let’s discuss how to properly join two clauses.

9. Day 3 – Joining Two Clauses
Joining a dependent clause to an independent clause can happen various ways; here’s two options:
Start with the dependent clause:
Because I wanted beef, I ordered the twelve ounce steak.
Notice the comma between the dep cl and ind cl.
End with the dependent clause:
I ordered the twelve ounce steak because I wanted beef.
Notice there’s no comma now, since we ended with the dep cl.

10. Day 3 – Joining Two Clauses
Joining two independent clauses has many more options to choose from:
A comma plus a coordinating conjunction:
(CCs include For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
I ordered the steak, and she also ordered the steak.
I ordered the steak, but she ordered the salad.
I could order the steak, or I could order the potato skins as an entrée.
OR you could join two ind cl with a semi-colon by itself;
I like cheese; I eat it often.
OR with a semi-colon, conjunctive adverb or transitional phrase, and comma
I like cheese; consequently, I eat it often.
OR even with a colon, if the latter defines or expands upon the former
I like cheese: today, I devoured some very delicious provolone.

11. Day 4 – Recapping Clauses vs Phrases Subjects – Implied and not Verbs
Verbals
Direct and Indirect Objects
Now, we’re going to bring back something we went over a while ago and add it to the mix: predicate adjectives and predicate nominatives.

12. Day 4 – DO, IO, PA, PN
Action verbs take direct objects and, sometimes, indirect objects.
A subject performs an action, and the object receives the action.
I want cheese.
Wumpus bites toy burgers.
Linking verbs, however, take predicate adjectives or predicate nominatives.
Here, the subject equals the predicate. We’re equating the subject with a state of being.

13. Day 4 - Practice Let’s try finding them, together:
When Gilbert sat in his comfy chair, he wanted both a book and a cup of coffee.
Whether you use Italian dressing or balsamic vinaigrette, the salad will still be tasty.
Neither the pig nor the sheep knew what to say.
When you get to the castle, you’ll either have to open the draw-bridge or scale the walls.