1. Chapter 15 Independent and Subordinate Clauses
The Clause
Oooo, the clause!
Chapter 15
Independent and Subordinate Clauses

2. What is a clause?
A clause is a word group that contains a verb and its subject
A clause is used as a sentence or as part of a sentence
Nope, we are talking about neither that jolly Mr. Claus nor those yucky claws

3. Take good notes. Santa Claus is.
Types of Clauses
Independent clause - An independent (or main) clause expresses its own subject and verb and expresses a complete thought
Subordinate clause – A subordinate (or dependent) clause does NOT express a complete thought and CANNOT stand by itself as a sentence
Adjective clause – An adjective clause is a SUBORDINATE clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun
Adverb clause – An adverb clause is a SUBORDINATE clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb
Noun clause – A noun clause is a SUBORDINATE clause that is used as a noun

4. The Independent Clause
An independent clause expresses its own subject and verb and expresses a complete thought
Ex. Mr. Asbury moved the book from under Walker’s sleeping head. Because the class was noisy, Mr. Asbury yelled at the class.

5. The Subordinate Clause
A subordinate (or dependent) clause does NOT express a complete thought and CANNOT stand by itself as a sentence
It does have a subject and a verb
Words such as when, whom, because, which, that, if and until signal that the clauses following them are likely to be subordinate
Ex. Because Walker was sleeping in class, Mr. Asbury pulled the book from under Walker’s head. When Mr. Asbury glared at him, Danny stopped tapping his pen.

6. Stop and do Exercise 1
Identify the clause in italics as independent or subordinate
Then tell me WHY you chose what you did

7. The Adjective Clause
An adjective clause is a SUBORDINATE clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun
An adjective clause usually follows the word or words it modifies and tells what kind or which one
An essential (or restrictive) clause is necessary to the basic meaning of the sentence; it is NOT set off by commas
A nonessential (or nonrestrictive) clause gives only additional information and is not necessary to the meaning of a sentence; it IS set off by commas
Ex. Othello and Hamlet are the two Shakespeare plays that I like best. Tapping pens and pencils, which distracts the class, really chaps my hide.

8. Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns – relate an adjective clause to the word that the clause modifies
Besides introducing an adjective clause and relating it to another word in the sentence, the relative pronoun has a grammatical function within the adjective clause
Common relative pronouns: who, whom, whose, which, that

9. Relative Pronouns con’t
Example – Luís, who enjoys running, has decided to enter the marathon. [The relative pronoun who relates the adjective clause to Luís. Who also functions as the subject of the adjective clause.]
Example – The students questioned the data on which the theory was based. [The relative pronoun which relates the adjective clause to data and functions as the object of the preposition on.]
Example – We met the singer whose new CD was released this week. [The relative pronoun whose relates the adjective clause to singer. Whose functions as a possessive pronoun in the adjective clause.]

10. Relative Pronouns con’t
In many cases, the relative pronoun in the clause may be omitted. The pronoun is understood and still has a function in the clause.
Example – Here is the salad you ordered. [The relative pronoun that is understood. The pronoun relates the adjective clause to salad and functions as the direct object of the verb ordered in the adjective clause.]
Example – He is the one I met yesterday. [The relative pronoun whom or that is understood. The pronoun relates the adjective clause to one and functions as the direct object of the verb met in the adjective clause.]

11. Stop and do Exercise 2
Each of the following sentences contains an adjective clause. Write the adjective clause and underline the relative pronoun or relative adverb that introduces it. If the relative pronoun has been omitted, write it in parentheses and then underline it.
Example - Do you know anyone who is familiar with briffits, swalloops, and waftaroms?
Answer - who is familiar with briffits, swalloops, and waftaroms

12. The Adverb Clause
An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb
An adverb clause generally tells how, when, where, why, how much, to what extent, or under what condition the action of a verb takes place
Ex. After Mr. Asbury yelled at them, the class remained quiet for the duration of class, and peace reigned. Because the class was noisy, Mr. Asbury did not tell them his Final Four. You may turn in assignments at the end of class if you want to do so.

13. Adverb Clause con’t
Like adverbs, adverb clauses may also modify adjectives or adverbs
Example: Have computers made office work easier than it was before? [The adverb clause than it was before modifies the adjective easier, telling to what extent work is easier.]
Example: My cousin Adele reads faster than I do. [The adverb clause than I do modifies the adverb faster, telling how much faster my cousin Adele reads.]

14. Subordinating Conjunctions
Adverb clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions—words that show the relationship between the adverb clause and the word or words that the clause modifies.
Common Subordinating Conjunctions: after, because, since, when, although, before, so that, whenever, as, even though, than, where, as if, if, though, wherever, as long as, in order that, unless, whether, as soon as, once, until, while
***Some subordinating conjunctions can also be used as prepositions, so watch what the words are doing! (Examples: after, before, since, until)

15. Stop and do Exercise 4
Identify each adverb clause in the following sentences. Then, write what the clause tells: when, where, how, why, to what extent, or under what condition. A sentence may have more than one adverb clause.
Example – When you see the humble man on the next page, can you believe that he is considered one of the twentieth century’s greatest leaders?
Answer – When you see the humble man on the next page—when

16. The Noun Clause
A noun clause is a subordinate clause that is used as a noun
A noun clause may be used as a subject, as a complement, or as the object of a preposition
Ex. (subject) What Mr. Asbury did to keep Walker awake in class was necessary. (predicate nominative) The person who has the most points or pins the opponent will be whoever wins the wrestling match. (direct object) Jono figured out what the answer was. (indirect object) Give whomever needs to wake up a prodding. (object of preposition) Mr. Asbury checks the assignments of whomever turns them in.

17. Noun Clause con’t
Noun clauses are usually introduced by: that, when, whether, whom, what, whenever, who, whomever, whatever, where, whoever, why
Sometimes the word that introduces a noun clause is omitted. In such cases, the introductory word is understood.
Example – Didn’t you know the party was canceled? [The introductory word that is understood.]

18. Stop and do Exercise 5
Most of the following sentences contain noun clauses. If a sentence contains a noun clause, identify that clause. Then, tell how the clause is used: as a subject, a predicate nominative, a direct object, an indirect object, or an object of a preposition. If a sentence does not contain a noun clause, write no noun clause.
Example – We moved to Massachusetts and did not know what we would find there.
Answer – what we would find there—direct object

19. Sentences Classified According to Structure
Sentences may be classified according to purpose as declarative, imperative, interrogative, or exclamatory. But we aren’t worried about that kind of classification right now.
Sentences may also be classified according to structure. We must concern ourselves with this classification.
Depending on its structure, a sentence can be classified as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
We aren’t talking about those kinds of sentences. Lucky you.
Structure! Huzzah!

20. Simple Sentences
A simple sentence contains one independent clause and NO subordinate clauses.
It may have a compound subject, a compound verb, and any number of phrases.
Ex. Danny does not like to be called Donny. In all of his classes, Mr. Asbury likes quiet. We read Romeo and Juliet last term.

21. Compound Sentences
A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses and no subordinate clauses
Independent clauses in a compound sentence may be joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction; by a semicolon; or by a semicolon, a conjunctive adverb, and a comma.
Examples: We finished the play, and we took a quiz. Shantelle wanted to sharpen her pencil; Ariel wanted class to end. Mr. Asbury does not like food in his classroom; however, Tyson brought Pringles to class.

22. Complex Sentences
A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause
Examples: Because Hunter kept talking to Cole, Mr. Asbury moved their seats. If Tau and Jason keep hugging, Mr. Asbury will not be happy because there is a no touching rule in his classroom.

23. Compound-Complex Sentences
A compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause
Examples: Jason wanted to go to the bathroom because he did not want to take the test, and Mr. Asbury would not let him go. Because the class was astounded at his astounding dance moves, Mr. Asbury gladly danced again for the class, and the class wept with joy.

24. Stop and Do Exercises 1-4
Exercise 1 – Classify each of the following sentences as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex. Identify all subordinate clauses by underlining them once and independent clauses by underlining them twice.
Exercise 2 – Classify each of the following sentences as simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
Exercise 3 - Identify the subordinate clause or clauses in each of the following sentences. Tell whether each clause is used as an adjective, an adverb, or a noun. If a clause is used as an adjective or an adverb, write the word or words the clause modifies. If a clause is used as a noun, write subj. for subject, d.o. for direct object, i.o. for indirect object, p.n. for predicate nominative, or o.p. for object of a preposition.
Exercise 4 – You will construct your own sentences using each of the four types of sentence structures