Independent versus Dependent
Clauses

• A clause is a word group that contains a verb and its subject and that is used as sentence or part of a sentence.
– Key points – all clauses must have
• A subject
• A verb

• An independent (or main) clause expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a sentence.
• Examples:
– The outfielders missed easy fly balls.
– The outfielders missed easy fly balls , and the infielders were throwing wildly.
– The outfielders missed easy fly balls ; the infielders were throwing wildly.
– The outfielders missed easy fly balls ; moreover, the infielders were throwing wildly.

• Comma with a coordinating conjunction
(FANBOYS)
– The outfielders missed easy fly balls , and the infielders were throwing wildly.
• Semicolon
– The outfielders missed easy fly balls ; the infielders were throwing wildly.
• Semicolon with a conjunctive adverb
– The outfielders missed easy fly balls ; moreover, the infielders were throwing wildly.

• also
• anyway
• besides
• consequently
• furthermore
• however
• instead
• likewise
• nevertheless
• otherwise
• still
• then
• therefore

• as a result
• at any rate
• by the way
• for example
• in addition
• in fact
• in other words
• on the contrary
• on the other hand

• A subordinate (or dependent) clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
– Examples:
• whom we spoke to yesterday
• because no students have applied for them

• Subordinate clauses become part of a sentence when combined with an independent clause.
• Examples:
– The woman whom we spoke to yesterday told us about sources of financial aid for college applicants.
– Some scholarships are still available because no students have applied for them.

For each italicized clause, identify as independent or subordinate.
1.
One of the guests who spoke at the ceremony was
Barbara Jordan.
2.
Whenever I think of Barbara Jordan , I imagine her a she looks in a picture taken at my mother's college graduation in 1986.
3.
According to my mother, Jordan spoke eloquently about the importance of values in our society.
4.
Of course, her choice of subject surprised no one since Jordan had long been known as an important and ethical force in American politics.

• Adjective clause
– I am now reading this book, which is a historical novel about the Irish revolt of
1798.
Most adjective clauses begin with a relative pronoun .
Common relative pronouns: who whom whose which that

• Adverb clause
– Donna sounds as if she has caught a cold.
– Your stereo is louder than it should be .
– André can type faster than anyone else in his computer class.
Adverb clauses begin with Subordinating Conjunctions
Common Subordinating Conjunctions: after although as as if as long as as soon as as though as well as because before since so that than even though though if unless in order that until provided that when whenever where wherever whether while why

• Noun clause
– What I need is my own room.
– The happiest time in my life was when we went to Costa Rica for the summer.
– She believes that lost time is never found again .
– We will give whoever wins the contest a prize.
– She has written an article about how she was elected to the Senate .

• Common introductory words for noun clauses
– how
– that
– when where whether
– what which
– whatever whichever who whoever whom whomever whose why

Identify the following italicized clauses as adj , adv or noun
In the painting below, you can see (1) that the color and the hidden location of the Blue Grotto have made it famous .
The grotto is a cavern (2) that can be entered only from the sea . Do you know (3) where the Blue Grotto is located ? It is on the west side of the Italian island of Capri, (4) which lies at the entrance to the Bay of Naples . (5) Since the only opening to the cavern is approximately three feet high, visitors must lie down in a rowboat to enter the grotto. The sapphire blue of the water inside the spacious, oval cavern is created by light (6) that is refracted through the deep pool. (7) Although the calm, blue water looks inviting, the grotto is no longer a swimming hole.

In the painting below, you can see (1) that the color and the hidden location of the Blue Grotto have made it famous .
The grotto is a cavern (2) that can be entered only from the sea . Do you know (3) where the Blue Grotto is located ? It is on the west side of the Italian island of Capri, (4) which lies at the entrance to the Bay of Naples . (5) Since the only opening to the cavern is approximately three feet high , visitors must lie down in a rowboat to enter the grotto. The sapphire blue of the water inside the spacious, oval cavern is created by light (6) that is refracted through the deep pool . (7) Although the calm, blue water looks inviting , the grotto is no longer a swimming hole.

• A simple sentence contains one independent clause and no subordinate clauses.
• A compound sentence contains 2 or more independent clauses and no subordinate clauses.
• A complex sentence contains one independent clause and at least one subordinate clause.
• A compound-complex sentence contains 2 or more independent clauses and at least one subordinate clause.

• Cora and Kareem bought party supplies at the mall. [1 sentence; compound subject]
• Later, they drove to school and decorated the cafeteria for the Ecology Club's annual banquet. [1 sentence; compound verb]

• Cora hung colorful streamers from the ceiling , and Kareem set party favors on the tables. [coordinating conjunction]
• After an hour, they took a short break ; then they went back to work. [semicolon]
• They agreed not to take any more breaks ; otherwise, they would be late getting home. [conjunctive adverb]

they
they

• Cora waited for just the right moment to ask Kareem to the banquet , and he promptly accepted her invitation, adding that he had been planning to ask her .
– Compound sentence joined with comma and coordinating conjunction
– Subordinate clause begins with a transitional phrase, adding that, and is an adverb clause modifying accepted .

• In-class practice - Exercise 7 pages 505 -
506
• Homework - Chapter 15 Review, odd numbered items.