Clause Cheatsheet
Here’s the deal with grammar: sentence variety can add more meaning to your writing [compound]. If you
tend to write short choppy sentences, adding a compound-complex sentence to your essay will place
emphasis on an important idea or theory—it will stand out to your reader [compound-complex]. The same
is true if you have the tendency to write lengthier, complex sentences—a simple sentence will capitalize on
an idea in the mind of the reader [compound-complex]. A lack of understanding in sentence fluency can
strongly affect your reader [simple]. An essay containing only simple or only compound or only complex
or compound-complex sentences will become laborious or monotonous for anyone to read [simple]. So
being able to identify the type of clauses you and other writers commonly use will help you refine your
writing and your analytical skills [simple].
So what is a clause?
~a group of related words that contain both a subject and a predicate.
How is this different than a phrase?
~a phrase is a group of related words that lacks a subject or a predicate or both and that acts as a
single part of speech.
The earth trembled.  clause
In a squeeze between a valuable asset and little income
 phrase
Two types of clauses:
Independent  a group of related words containing both a subject and a predicate AND can stand by
itself as a sentence.
Dependent (subordinate) a group of related words containing both a subject and a predicate BUT
cannot stand by itself as a sentence because it contains a subordinating word (i.e. subordinating
conjunction—it needs to be paired with an independent clause; dependent clauses function as
adjectives, adverbs, or nouns.
Even though I made dinner, my husband still refused to do the dishes.
DEPENDENT
INDEPENDENT
**Elliptical clauses
A dependent clause that is grammatically incomplete but clear in meaning is an elliptical clause
(ellipsis means “omission”). The meaning of the clause is clear because the missing element can be
supplied from the context. Most often the elements omitted are the pronouns that, which, and whom or
the predicate from the second part of a comparison.
Skepticism and fear were among the feelings [that] the parents voiced.
The parents knew their children could read better than they [could read].
Four types of sentence constructions:
Simple  one independent clause  one complete subject with one complete predicate
The summer made many farmers leave the area for good or reduced them to bare existence.
Compound  at least two independent clauses  a minimum of two pairs of one complete subject
with one complete predicate
Last July was hot, but August was even hotter.
Complex  at least one dependent clause and only one independent clause  one complete subject
with one complete predicate AND a minimum of one complete subject with one complete predicate
and a subordinating word
Rain finally came, although many had left the area by then.
Compound-Complex  a minimum of two pairs of one complete subject with one complete predicate
AND a minimum of one complete subject with one complete predicate and a subordinating word
Even though the government aid finally came, many people had already been reduced to poverty, and others had
been forced to move.
Coordinating conjuction  and, or, for, nor, so, but, yet  connect words or word groups of the same
importance; coordinating conjunctions do not subordinate. However, in addtion to connecting two
independent clauses (with the help of the comma), they can be used to create compound subjects or
compound predicates which is not the same as a compound sentence.
Subordinating conjuction  after, although, as, as if, as long as, as though, because, before, even if, even
though, if, if only, in order that, now that, once, provided, rather than, since, so that, till, than, that, though,
unless, until, when, whenever, whether, where, wherever, whereas, while  connect words or word groups
of unequal importance; thus, creating complex or compound-complex sentences.
Conjunctive adverbs  also, accordingly, as a result, besides, certainly, consequently, finally, further,
furthermore, hence, however, in addition, in comparison, in contrast, incidentally, in fact, instead,
likewise, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, next, nonetheless, now, otherwise, similarly, still, then,
thereafter, therfore, thus, undoubtedly  relates only main clauses, not words, phrases, or subordinate
clauses.
Conjunctive adverbs describe the relation of ideas in two clauses, and, like most adverbs, they can move
around in their clause. In contrast, conjunctions bind two clauses into a single grammatical unit, and they
cannot be moved.
Exercise
Mark the independent clauses and dependent clauses in the following sentences. Identify each sentence as
simple, compound, complex, or compound-complex.
1. Joseph Pulitzer endowed the Pulitzer Prizes.
2. Pulitzer, incidentally, was the publisher of the New York newspaper The World.
3. Although the first prizes were for journalism and letters only, Pulitzers are now awarded in music
and other areas.
4. For example, Berke Breathed won for his Bloom County comic strip, and Roger Reynolds won for his
musical composition Whispers Out of Time.