“Meet the Clauses” - Grammar Topic
- Mr. McGowan – English 3
Phrases vs. Clauses - across the river (prepositional phrase)
- studying math (verbal phrase)
- the vice-president of the bank (appositive phrase)
- to play in the NFL (infinitive phrase)
- Rudy proofread his essay
- when I answered the phone
- that we collected
- as soon as we reached the house
DEFINITIONS - CLAUSE
- A group of words
- Contains a verb and its subject
- Used as part of a sentence
- How does this differ from a PHRASE?
- PHRASE: group of related words that functions as one part of speech
Mini-quiz: Phrase or Clause? - 1. riding in the car
- 2. when we got to the party
- 3. while she was talking to me
- 4. to say something like that
- 5. rodents are small mammals
Answers - riding in the car
- 2. when we got to the party
- 3. while she was talking to me
- 4. to say something like that
- 5. rodents are small mammals
Independent vs. Subordinate Clauses - INDEPENDENT CLAUSE (or main clause)
- Contains a subject and its verb
- Expresses a complete thought
- CAN stand by itself as a full sentence
- Ex:
- Ms. Reilly doesn’t know how to teach math.
- Ashley is a fun person; she loves to go out and have fun.
- SUBORDINATE CLAUSE (or dependent)
- Has a subject and verb
- Does NOT express a complete thought
- CANNOT stand on its own as a full sentence
- Ex:
- what Jill named her new dog
- when Jose read his essay
- which is used to measure temperature
How do we make a subordinate clause into a full sentence? - Ex: what Jill named her new dog
- Do you know what Jill named her new dog?
- Answer: Add an independent clause to it somehow.
- PRACTICE EXERCISE: Using these subordinate clauses, write a full and complete sentence.
- when Jose read his essay
- which is used to measure temperature
Sample Answers - when Jose read his essay
- When Jose read his essay, he found lots of errors.
- When Jose read his essay, he realized he needed to fix it.
- Do you know when Jose read his essay?
- that is used to measure temperature
- A thermometer is an instrument that is used to measure temperature.
- What is the name of that thing that is used to measure temperature?
Independent or Subordinate? - Mr. Smith took the aluminum cans that we collected to the recycling center.
- After a hen lays an egg, it gently rolls along the slanted floor of the cage.
- The eggs pass through an inspection area, where bad eggs can be removed.
- What is truly amazing is that no human hands ever touch the eggs.
Answers - Mr. Smith took the aluminum cans that we collected to the recycling center.
- 2. After a hen lays an egg, it gently rolls along the slanted floor of the cage.
- 3. The eggs pass through an inspection area, where bad eggs can be removed.
- 4. What is truly amazing is that no human hands ever touch the eggs.
- SUBORDINATE
- How could it be independent??
- What is truly amazing?
ADJECTIVE CLAUSES - Subordinate clause
- Modifies a noun or pronoun
- Usually begins with a RELATIVE PRONOUN or RELATIVE ADVERB
- WHO WHOM WHOSE WHICH THAT WHEN WHERE
- I have read every novel that John Irving has written.
- I have read every novel that John Irving has written.
- Grandma Moses, who began painting at the age of 76, became famous for her primitive style of art.
- Grandma Moses, who began painting at the age of 76, became famous for her primitive style of art.
- My uncle told me about the time when he traveled across the country.
- when he traveled across the country.
- Modifies “time”
- From 1996-2000, Bill lived in Spain, where he went to school.
- where he went to school
- Modifies “Spain”
- The book I am reading is a biography of John F. Kennedy.
- I am reading
- Modifies “book” (tells which one)
- Where is the relative pronoun? (That) is understood
- We’ll never forget that summer we stayed in San Diego.
- we stayed in San Diego.
- Modifies “summer” (tells which one)
- (When) is understood
NOUN CLAUSES - Subordinate clause
- Used as a noun
- Subject
- Direct Object
- Indirect Object
- Object of preposition
- Predicate nominative
How do I know this is a noun clause? - Some common intro words:
-
- WHAT WHICH THAT HOW
- WHICHEVER WHOEVER
- WHATEVER WHOMEVER WHY
- WHETHER WHOM WHO
- Dr. Rodriguez, a scientist, will explain what the greenhouse effect is.
- what the greenhouse effect is.
- DIRECT OBJECT (answers the question “what?”)
- She said that she would be late.
- that she would be late.
- DIRECT OBJECT (answers the question “what?”)
- Do you know who painted The Mona Lisa?
- who painted The Mona Lisa
- Looks like it could be independent
- But not in this case: needs the first part
Mini-quiz: Identify the noun clause - Can you tell me what the past tense of “swing” is?
- I will listen carefully to whatever you say.
- Give whoever wants one a free pass.
- Do you know why Ricardo missed the party?
- A remote island was where Napoleon was exiled.
Answers - 1. Can you tell me what the past tense of “swing” is?
- what the past tense of “swing” is
- 2. I will listen carefully to whatever you say.
- 3. Give whoever wants one a free pass.
- 4. Do you know why Ricardo missed the party?
- why Ricardo missed the party?
- 5. A remote island was where Napoleon was exiled.
- - where Napoleon was exiled.
ADVERB CLAUSES - Subordinate clause
- Modifies verb, adjective, or another adverb
- Answers the questions:
- How? When? Where? Why? To what extent? Under what condition?
- The pitcher felt as though all eyes were on him.
- The pitcher felt as though all eyes were on him. (modifies verb “felt”)
- Alex Rodriguez made his major debut when he was only 18.
- Alex Rodriguez made his major debut when he was only 18. (modifies verb “made”)
- WHEN did he make his debut?
- Introduced by SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
- Partial list:
- AS LONG AS AS SOON AS
- AS WELL AS UNLESS SINCE
- IN ORDER THAT WHILE UNTIL
- BECAUSE IF AS IF
- He played as if he were a kid again.
- He played as if he were a kid again.
- (HOW did he “play?”)
Mini-quiz: Identify the adverb clause - When our school has a fire drill, everyone must go outside.
- She walked until she was too tired to take another step.
- As soon as you’re ready, we’ll leave.
- I visited the museum because I wanted to see the exhibit.
- You should return your gift if you are not satisfied.
Answers - When our school has a fire drill, everyone must go outside.
- When our school has a fire drill
- Modifies “must go” (WHEN?)
- 2. She walked until she was too tired to take another step.
- until she was too tired to take another step.
- Modifies “walked” (TO WHAT EXTENT?)
- 3. As soon as you’re ready, we’ll leave.
- As soon as you’re ready
- Modifies “will leave” (WHEN?)
- 4. I visited the museum because I wanted to see the exhibit.
- because I wanted to see the exhibit.
- Modifies “visited” (WHY?)
- 5. You should return your gift if you are not satisfied.
- if you are not satisfied.
- Modifies “should return” (UNDER WHAT CONDITION?)
Sentences Classified According to Structure - SIMPLE (S)
- COMPOUND (CD)
- COMPLEX (CX)
- COMPOUND-COMPLEX (CC)
- SIMPLE Sentences
- 1 Independent clause
- 0 Subordinate clauses
- My uncle taught me how to play the guitar.
- The polar bear is an endangered species.
- Covered with dust, the old bike looked dirty but worked well.
- COMPOUND Sentences
- 2 or more independent clauses
- 0 subordinate clauses
- Clauses are connected by:
Examples of Compound Sentences - Leonardo’s story sounded incredible, but it was true.
- Leonardo’s story sounded incredible, but it was true.
- Agatha Christie was a prolific writer; she wrote 80 books in 60 years.
- Agatha Christie was a prolific writer; she wrote 80 books in 60 years.
- The defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo was a victory for England; however, it brought to an end an era of French grandeur.
- The defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo was a victory for England; however, it brought to an end an era of French grandeur.
Transitional Expressions to Use - HOWEVER THEREFORE
- MEANWHILE FOR EXAMPLE
- IN ADDITION IN FACT STILL
- BY THE WAY ON THE OTHER HAND
- The discovery was made in the fall; meanwhile, it was held secret until spring.
- COMPLEX sentences
- 1 independent clause
- 1+ subordinate clause
- Gerald Ford, who served as the U.S. President from 1974-1977, died in 2006.
- Gerald Ford, who served as the U.S. President from 1974-1977, died in 2006.
- While we were on vacation in Puerto Rico, we went to the beach every day.
- While we were on vacation in Puerto Rico, we went to the beach every day.
- COMPOUND-COMPLEX
- 2+ independent clauses
- 1+ subordinate clause
- The two witnesses told the police what they saw, but their accounts were quite different.
- The two witnesses told the police what they saw, but their accounts were quite different.
Mini-quiz: Classify these sentences - Charles Drew did research on blood plasma and helped develop blood banks.
- If the month of March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb.
- When World War I ended in 1918, many thought it was the last war; however, WWI began in 1939.
- You should leave now; therefore, your guests should follow you, too.
Answers - Charles Drew did research on blood plasma and helped develop blood banks.
- SIMPLE
- Only one subject (compound verb)
- 2. If the month of March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb.
- COMPLEX
- If the month of March comes in like a lion, it goes out like a lamb.
- 3. When World War I ended in 1918, many thought it was the last war; however, WWI began in 1939.
- COMPOUND-COMPLEX
- When World War I ended in 1918, many thought it was the last war; however, WWI began in 1939.
- 4. You should leave now; therefore, your guests will follow you, too.
- COMPOUND
- Two independents joined by transitional expression therefore
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