Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences :Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences What is a clause? A clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a verb. It is different from a phrase in that a phrase does not include a subject and a verb relationship.


Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences :Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences 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 are sometimes called essential or restrictive clauses.


Slide 3:2. 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, nonessential, or nonrestrictive clauses.


Slide 4:And here are some examples of 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. Kettle holes result when a large block of ice is left behind the glacier and then melts away, leaving a large depression. This last sentence deserves further attention . . . .


Slide 5:Notice that this sentence consists of a very brief independent clause followed by a long and complex dependent clause. Kettle holes result when a large block of ice is left behind the glacier and then melts away, leaving a large depression. The dependent clause begins with what is called a subordinating conjunction. This causes the clause to be dependent upon the rest of the sentence for its meaning; it cannot stand by itself.


Slide 6:Independent clauses can be connected in a variety of ways: 1. By a comma and little conjunction (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, and sometimes so). 2. By a semicolon, by itself. 3. By a semicolon accompanied by a conjunctive adverb (such as however, moreover, nevertheless, as a result, consequently, etc.).


Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences :Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences Dependent clauses can be identified and classified according to their role in the sentence. ADVERB CLAUSES tend to tell us something about the sentence’s main verb: when, why, under what conditions. 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. Notice how the dependent clauses begin with “dependent words,” words that subordinate what follows to the rest of the sentence. These words are also called subordinating conjunctions.


Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences :Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences Clauses =all beginning with “which,” “that,” or a form of “who” — are also known as RELATIVE CLAUSES. The relative pronoun serves as the subject of the dependent clause and relates to some word or idea in the independent clause.


Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences :Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences Understanding CLAUSES and how they are connected within the larger structure of your sentence will help you avoid Sentence Fragments Run-on Sentences and make it possible for you to punctuate your sentences properly and write confidently with a variety of sentence structures. and