Clauses
Composition
A clause is a group of words that
contains a verb and its subject and is
used as part of a sentence.
 Do not confuse phrases with clauses:

◦ Clauses have subjects and verbs.
◦ Phrases only have verbs, no subjects.
 Phrase: walking to the store
 Clause: while I walked to the store
Clauses

An independent or main clause expresses a
complete thought and can be written as a separate
sentence.
Example
◦ Ms. Santana works in one of the law offices in
downtown Concord.
Independent Clauses

A subordinate clause, or dependent
clause, does contain a subject and a verb,
but it does not express a complete thought
and cannot stand alone.
Examples
◦ The pain will be gone before you know it.
(subordinate)
◦ We must go because it is time.
(subordinate)
Subordinate Clause
Verbal phrases and subordinate clauses
both contain verbs, but clauses contain
subjects while phrases do not.
 Tip: Look for two sentences.

◦ Verbal phrase: Walking to the store, I tripped.
◦ Clause: When I walked to the store, I tripped.
Clause or Phrase?

An adjective clause is a subordinate
clause used as an adjective to modify a
noun or pronoun.
◦ Needs to follow the word it modifies.
◦ Ex: Some psychologists rely on tests that
determine specific personality types.
◦ Relative pronouns/adverbs used:
 that, which, who, whom, whose
 when, where, why
Adjective Clause
Often, the relative pronoun in the clause
is omitted. The pronoun is understood
and still has a function in the clause.
Example

◦ Here is the cheeseburger you ordered.
(relative pronoun that is understood).
Omitted Pronouns

An adverb clause is a subordinate clause
that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an
adverb.
◦ Tells: how, when, where, why, or to what
extent/degree.
◦ Can be moved to front or end of sentence.
 Ex: Al panics whenever he takes a test.
◦ Subordinating Conjunctions used:
 after, before, unless, although, until, in order that, when,
as, if, since, whenever, as long as, so, that, whereas,
soon, than, wherever, because, though, while
◦ Remember that after, before, since, until, and as may
also be used as prepositions.
 Preposition: after the game
 Clause: after we go to the game
Adverb Clauses
An adverb clause is set off by commas
when it comes before the independent
clause, but not if it comes after it.
Examples

◦ Even though I wanted to go, I said I
wouldn’t.
◦ Shannon is not happy even though he has
his check.
Comma Usage

A noun clause is a subordinate clause
used as a noun.
◦ Conjunctions/pronouns used: how, that, when,
where, whether, why, what(ever), which(ever),
who(ever), whom(ever), whose
Noun Clauses
If no introductory word is used, you can
still recognize a noun clause if the clause
can be replaced in the sentence by
someone or something.
Example

◦ His mother said he could go. (that is omitted,
or understood)
◦ His mother said something.
Hint
Can be
moved in the
sentence
Adjective Clause
Adverb Clause
x
Noun Clause
Review Chart
Uses
punctuation
Can be
removed from
the sentence
Sometimes
x
If used at the
beginning
x

Experts disagree about what the role of birth
order is in personality.

Some assert that specific inherited genes
influence many personality traits.

This leads to the question of whether a child’s
birth order affects his or her personality.

According to Sulloway, whoever is born first in a
family identifies as an established authority.
Practice: Find the sub. clause
Sentence Structure
Composition

Improve your writing by using varied
sentence structures.
Goal

A simple sentence consists of one
independent clause and no subordinate
clauses.
◦ TIP: Look for only one subject and very (ignoring
phrases).
◦ Most TV family shows idealize family life.

A simple sentence may contain a compound
subject, a compound verb, and one or more
phrases.
◦ Leave It To Beaver and Father Knows Best were
examples of the “ideal” American family.
Simple Sentences

A compound sentence consists of two or
more independent clauses joined together.
◦ Clauses can be joined using a comma, a
conjunction, a semicolon, or a semicolon with a
conjunctive adverb.
 Conjunctive adverbs are transitional words such as
however, therefore, consequently, furthermore, evidently,
etc.
◦ Ignore the conjunction – it is not part of either
clause.
 TV families often owned dogs, but viewers rarely
saw a cat.
 Housekeepers were family too; they often gave wise
advice.
Compound Sentences


A complex sentence consists of one
independent clause and one or more
subordinate clauses.
Tip: Look for the conjunctions.
◦ A 1970s sitcom called The Brady Bunch featured a
blended family that consisted of two of the original
parents, three girls, and three boys.
◦ Although it was not as popular as other programs
at the time, the show went on to become an
enduring classic.
Complex Sentences


A compound-complex sentence consists of
two or more independent clauses and one or
more subordinate clauses.
Tip: Look for comma/conjunctions or
semicolons.
◦ On January 12, 1971, All in the Family appeared on
TV, and audiences saw a show that changed the
course of TV comedy.
◦ Each week the show broke new ground, and as the
actors tackled one sensitive subject after another,
the show quickly became the number one program
on television.
Compound-Complex Sentences
FANBOYS or
Semicolon
Subordinating
Conjunction
Simple
No
No
Compound
Yes
No
Complex
No
Yes
Compound-complex
Yes
Yes
Review Chart

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Identify each of the following sentences: (S)
simple, (CD) compound, (CX) complex, or (CC)
compound-complex.
We need to cut the grass, but we need to get gas
for the mower first.
Although it rained today, the temperature is still
very high.
This is the teacher who won an award; she
inspires her students.
On the first of the month, I get paid.
We can’t fix the problem until we know the
source of it.
Practice & Apply