CLAUSE STRUCTURE

1. CLAUSE STRUCTURE A REVIEW OF INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES AND HOW TO CONNECT THEM

2. What is a Clause? • A clause is a group of related words that contains both a subject and a verb. • Two Types of Clauses: • Independent Clause • Dependent Clause

3. Independent Clause • Contains a subject and a verb • Makes a complete statement • Can stand alone as a complete sentence

4. Examples of Independent Clauses 1. Del Mar is a community college. • “Del Mar” is the subject • “is” is the verb • “a community college” completes the thought 2. The Writing Center offers a variety of services. • “The Writing Center” is the subject • “offers” is the verb • “a variety of services” completes the thought

5. Independent Clauses: How to Connect Them • ICs can be connected using coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS): for and nor but or yet so • When the second independent clause begins with a c.c., a comma is necessary before the conjunction: • Example: Jim suffers from ADHD,and he often has difficulty concentrating during lectures.

6. Independent Clauses: How to Connect Them, 2 • ICs can be connected using independent clause connectors (sometimes called conjunctive adverbs), which include: (;) however, (;) nevertheless, (;) moreover, (;) consequently, (;) therefore, • When the second independent clause begins with an independent clause connector, it must be preceded by a semi-colon and followed by a comma: Example: Jim suffers from ADHD; therefore, he often has difficulty concentrating during lectures.

7. Dependent Clause • Contains a subject and a verb • Does NOT make a complete statement • Cannot stand alone as a complete sentence; a DC is a fragment.

8. Examples of Dependent Clauses 1.Because the student prepared for the exam, she answered all of the questions correctly. • “because” is the subordinating conjunction • “the student” is the subject • “prepared” is the verb • “for the exam” completes the dependent clause, but the DC is not a complete sentence. 2. The uniform that I am required to wear is green and brown. • “that” is the relative pronoun • “I” is the subject • “am” is the verb • “required to wear” completes the dependent clause, but the DC is not a complete sentence.

9. Dependent Clauses: How to introduce them • DC’s can be introduced with a subordinating conjunctionor a relative pronoun: after who although whom as that relative pronouns because which before subordinating whose if conjunctions since until when

10. Dependent Clauses: Punctuation Issues • A DC must be combined with at least one IC in order to create a complete sentence. • If the DC comes first, there must be a comma after the DC and before the IC. Example: [Although I dislike playing sports]DC,[I enjoy watching them on TV]IC. • If the IC comes first, no comma is necessary before the DC. Example: [I enjoy watching sports on T.V.]IC [even though I do not enjoy playing them]DC.

11. Combining Clauses: Punctuation “Formulas” • IC, and IC. (two ICs combined with a coordinating conjunction) • IC; however, IC. (two ICs combined with an independent clause connector/conjunctive adverb) • DC, IC. (comma after DC iff IC comes second) • IC DC.

12. Examples of Punctuation “Formulas” • UHS students are bright, but sometimes they procrastinate. (IC, c.c. IC) • UHS students are bright; however, sometimes they procrastinate. (IC; i.c.c., IC) • Although UHS students are bright, sometimes they procrastinate. (DC, IC) • UHS students procrastinate although they are bright. (IC DC)

13. Common Problems When Combining Clauses • Comma Splices: arise when two ICs are incorrectly spliced together using a comma but no conjunction. • Examples of Comma Splices: The Sonoran Desert is relatively lush, it hosts a great diversity of plant life. Angela speaks Italian fluently, however, her mother does not.

14. How to Correct a Comma Splice • 1. Separate the two ICs with a period. The Sonoran Desert is relatively lush. It hosts a great diversity of plant life. • 2. Use a semi-colon between the two ICs. The Sonoran Desert is relatively lush; it hosts a great diversity of plant life. Angela speaks Italian fluently; however, her mother does not.

15. How to Correct a Comma Splice, Continued • 3. Add a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) after the comma. Angela speaks Italian fluently, but her mother does not. The Sonoran Desert is relatively lush, for it hosts a great diversity of plant life.

16. How to Correct a Comma Splice, Continued • 4. Revise the sentence so that one of the original ICs is now a DC, and punctuate the sentence accordingly. Although Angela speaks Italian fluently, her mother does not. The Sonoran Desert is relatively lush because it hosts a great diversity of plant life.

17. Common Problems When Combining Clauses, 2 • Fragments: arise when a “sentence” contains no IC. Remember that a DC cannot stand alone as a sentence. • Examples of Fragments: Because she is interested in Italian culture. Whereas her father speaks only French.

18. How to Correct Fragments • 1. Add an IC to the sentence. Angela has mastered Italian because she is interested in Italian culture. • 2. Combine what may seem to be separate sentences into a single, complete sentence. Be on the lookout for capitalized subordinating conjunctions like “while,” “whereas,” and “although”. Angela speaks fluent Italian whereas her father speaks only French.

19. Identify the Type of Clause, 1 Independent (IC)or Dependent (DC)? • I walk my dog every day. • Because he is a teacher. • As the soccer player scored the winning goal. • Zeke hit his thumb with a hammer.

20. Identify the Type of Clause, 2 Focus on the underlined portion. Independent (IC)or Dependent (DC)? • Martina is an excellent tennis player; she has competed at numerous prestigious tournaments. • Although Carlos likes lasagna, he prefers pizza. • Although Carlos likes lasagna, he prefers pizza.

21. Identify the Type of Clause, 3 Focus on the underlined portion. Independent (IC)or Dependent (DC)? 4. The boy who lives next door is very friendly. 5. Leda is a gifted singer whereas her brother is a talented engineer. 6. Andrea and Tim are best friends; nevertheless, they recently had a terrible argument.

22. Correct Any Errors, 1 1) Western Civilization is my favorite class. Although it is very challenging. a) as is b) Western Civilization is my favorite class. Although, it is very challenging. c) Western Civilization is my favorite class although it is very challenging.

23. Correct Any Errors, 2 2) The Percy Jackson series familiarizes readers with Greek gods, many characters in these novels come from Greek mythology. a) as is b) The Percy Jackson series familiarizes readers with Greek gods; many characters in these novels come from Greek mythology. c) The Percy Jackson series familiarizes readers with Greek gods; and, many characters in these novels come from Greek mythology.

24. Correct Any Errors, 3 3) Tucson is hot and dry. While Portland is cool and rainy. a) as is b) Tucson is hot and dry while Portland is cool and rainy. c) Tucson is hot and dry; while Portland is cool and rainy.

25. Correct Any Errors, 4 4) The Harry Potter novels have suspenseful plots and well-developed characters, so do the Hunger Games novels. a) as is b) The Harry Potter novels have suspenseful plots and well-developed characters. And so do the Hunger Games novels. c) The Harry Potter novels have suspenseful plots and well-developed characters, and so do the Hunger Games novels.

26. Correct Any Errors, 5 4) Brodsky’s Odysseus longs to see his son. Although he never mentions his loyal wife Penelope. a) as is b) Brodsky’s Odysseus longs to see his son; however, he never mentions his loyal wife Penelope. c) Brodsky’s Odysseus longs to see his son; but, he never mentions his loyal wife Penelope.