1. Clauses and Sentence Structure
Language Network
Clauses and
Sentence Structure

2. Clauses and Sentence Structure
Kinds of Clauses
Here’s the Idea
Independent Clauses
Subordinate Clauses
Why It Matters
Practice and Apply

3. Here’s the Idea
Clause
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb.

4. Your genes carry your family’s genetic history.
Here’s the Idea
SUBJECT
VERB
Your genes carry your family’s genetic history.
CLAUSE

5. Clauses show relationships between ideas.
Here’s the Idea
Clauses add details.
Clauses show relationships between ideas.

6. Here’s the Idea
Independent Clause
An independent (or main) clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

7. Genes contain the code for your physical appearance.
Here’s the Idea
Genes contain the code for your physical appearance.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

8. Here’s the Idea
Subordinate Clause
A subordinate (or dependent) clause contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.

9. because inherited genes often skip a generation
Here’s the Idea
Subordinate clauses are introduced by words like if, because, that, when, and since.
because inherited genes often skip a generation
because inherited genes often skip a generation
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

10. By itself, a subordinate clause is a sentence fragment.
Here’s the Idea
By itself, a subordinate clause is a sentence fragment.
that determines your height
that determines your height
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

11. that determines your height. Genes contain the code
Here’s the Idea
For a complete thought to be expressed, a subordinate clause must be part of a sentence that contains an independent clause.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
Genes contain the code
that determines your height.
Genes contain the code
that determines your height.
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

12. a subordinate clause accidentally written as a sentence.
Why It Matters
Recognizing independent and subordinate clauses will help you avoid a kind of fragment:
a subordinate clause accidentally written as a sentence.

13. Identify the subordinate clauses that act as fragments.
Why It Matters
Identify the subordinate clauses that act as fragments.
STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT
Clasp your hands together. As the picture shows. Which thumb is on top? If you clasp your hands to position the other thumb on top. This little trait is inherited.

14. To fix these fragments, join them with independent clauses.
Why It Matters
To fix these fragments, join them
with independent clauses.
STUDENT MODEL
Clasp your hands together. As the picture shows. Which thumb is on top? If you clasp your hands to position the other thumb on top. This little trait is inherited.
DRAFT
Clasp your hands together as the picture shows. Which thumb is on top? If you clasp your hands to position the other thumb on top, it feels wrong. This little trait is inherited.
REVISON

15. Join this subordinate clause with an independent clause.
Practice and Apply
Join this subordinate clause with an independent clause.
because my father is tall 1.

16. Join this subordinate clause with an independent clause.
Practice and Apply
Join this subordinate clause with an independent clause.
even though his twin sisters look alike 2.

17. Join this subordinate clause with an independent clause.
Practice and Apply
Join this subordinate clause with an independent clause.
that shows her family tree 3.

18. Join this subordinate clause with an independent clause.
Practice and Apply
Join this subordinate clause with an independent clause.
when my ancestors arrived in this country 4.

19. Clauses and Sentence Structure
Adjective Clauses
Here’s the Idea
Adjective Clauses
Essential Adjective Clauses Nonessential Adjective Clauses
Why It Matters
Practice and Apply

20. Subordinate clauses can be adjective clauses.
Here’s the Idea
Subordinate clauses can be adjective clauses.

21. Here’s the Idea
Adjective Clause
An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that is used as an adjective to modify a noun or a pronoun.

22. What does each adjective clause modify?
Here’s the Idea
What does each adjective clause modify?
A family is more than a group of people who are related.
NOUN
It was she who started our family tree.
PRONOUN

23. that, who, whom, whose, which where, when, why
Here’s the Idea
An adjective clause is introduced by a relative pronoun or by a relative adverb.
that, who, whom, whose, which
where, when, why

24. Essential Adjective Clause
Here’s the Idea
Essential Adjective Clause
An essential (or restrictive) adjective clause provides information that is necessary to identify the preceding noun or pronoun.

25. ESSENTIAL ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
Here’s the Idea
ESSENTIAL ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
Someone who is your first cousin is the child of your uncle or aunt.

26. Nonessential Adjective Clause
Here’s the Idea
Nonessential Adjective Clause
A nonessential (or nonrestrictive) adjective clause adds additional information about a noun or pronoun whose meaning is already clear.

27. NONESSENTIAL ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
Here’s the Idea
NONESSENTIAL ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
Irene, who is your first cousin, was married last fall.

28. Here’s the Idea
Use commas to set off a nonessential clause. The commas separate nonessential information from the main idea of the sentence.

29. Why It Matters
Adjective clauses can supply details necessary to explain, support, and connect your ideas.

30. Adjective clauses help to avoid repetition.
Why It Matters
Adjective clauses help to avoid repetition.
STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT
The reception was held at an old hotel. The hotel looks like a castle.

31. Join these sentences with independent clauses.
Why It Matters
Join these sentences with independent clauses.
STUDENT MODEL
The reception was held at an old hotel. The hotel looks like a castle.
DRAFT
The reception was held at an old hotel that looks like a castle.
REVISON

32. Write the adjective clause, along with the word or words it modifies.
Practice and Apply
Write the adjective clause, along with the word or words it modifies.
Aunt Ming, who is known for her funny jokes, entertains the family. 5.

33. Write the adjective clause, along with the word or words it modifies.
Practice and Apply
Write the adjective clause, along with the word or words it modifies.
Spaghetti, which is Uncle Anthony’s specialty, is everyone’s favorite dish. 6.

34. Combine these sentences by changing one into an adjective clause.
Practice and Apply
Combine these sentences by changing one into an adjective clause.
Emily’s ancestors arrived on Ellis Island in Emily’s ancestors sailed to America. 7.

35. Combine these sentences by changing one into an adjective clause.
Practice and Apply
Combine these sentences by changing one into an adjective clause.
Her ancestors established a business in New York City. Many immigrants settled in New York City. 8.