Transcript File

Coordinate and
Subordinate Clauses
Traditional Grammar and
Standard Usage
Objectives of This Unit
• Understand different ways to connect
clauses.
• Learn proper ways to coordinate and
subordinate clauses and to use
punctuation accordingly.
• Identify instances of fragments, comma
splices, and run-on sentences and then
correct them properly.
What is a clause?
• A group of words containing a subject
and a predicate
• Subject = NP or Pronoun
• Predicate = VP including a tensed/finite
verb
How many clauses does each sentence have?
(Identify all the subjects and verbs)
1. The cat ran away.
2. I wonder if it will rain tomorrow.
3. This is the box that he made yesterday.
4. I have painted the house, but I still need to sand
the floors.
5. The small fluffy kitten with a ribbon around its
neck did enormous damage to the sofa in our
living room.
6. During a surprise campaign stop at a field office
in Chicago, President Obama congratulated Mitt
Romney on a hard-fought campaign.
How many clauses does each sentence have?
(Identify all the subjects and verbs)
1. The cat ran away.
2. I wonder if it will rain tomorrow.
3. This is the box that he made yesterday.
4. I have painted the house, but I still need to sand
the floors.
5. The cute kitten with a ribbon around its neck did
enormous damage to the sofa in our living room.
6. During a surprise campaign stop at a field office
in Chicago, President Obama congratulated Mitt
Romney on a hard-fought campaign.
Types of Clauses and Sentences
1. Clauses:
-independent (=main) clause (IC)
-dependent (=subordinate) clause (DC) – includes
subordinating conjunction
2. Sentences: (cc – coordinating conjunction)
-simple – IC
-compound – IC + CC + IC (+…)
-complex – IC + DC (+…)
-compound-complex – IC + cc + IC (+…) + DC (+…)
Schematic Organization of Sentences
IC
, CC
IC
,
DC
IC
IC
IC
DC
IC
DC
IC
DC
Simple Sentences
(1 IC)
1. The singer sang songs by the Beatles.
2. The singer and her band performed
songs by the Beatles.
3. The singer and her band performed
songs by the Beatles and other groups.
A simple sentence contains one
independent clause
(i.e. one subject-predicate combination)
Punctuation in Simple Sentences

Capitalize first letter.
 Period at end of sentence.
 Commas in lists
Generally speaking, commas can be used in four
different ways: introducers, coordinators, inserters, and
tags.

Semicolons in lists – between items in a series
if the items already contain commas
Suncom Corporation has subsidiaries in four cities:
New York, New York; Wilmington, Ohio; Houston,
Texas; and San Francisco, California.
Punctuation in
Simple Sentences

Commas to separate introductory
elements
1. In the morning, I’ll be sober.
2. Carefully and silently, the burglar
climbed up to the open window.
Compound Sentences
(2 or more ICs connected by CCs)
S
S
NP
S
VP
CC
The cat pounced, but
det N
V
NP
det
VP
N
V
the rat escaped.
Compound Sentences
1. New York didn’t get to the World Series
in 2004, but they got there in 2003.
2. I love sushi, and my wife does too.
3. It was Halloween, so we dressed up.
Compound Sentences
(2 or more ICs connected by CCs)
Compound sentences contain two or more
independent clauses but no dependent clauses
Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)
for (offers reason)
and (links two facts)
nor (and not)
but (shows contrast)
or (creates disjunction)
yet (shows contrast)
so (offers result)
Punctuation in Compound
Sentences

Capitalize first letter.
 Period at end of sentence.
 Comma between clauses
1. They hated each other, but they met
anyway.
2. They hated each other, but they met
anyway, and they didn’t argue.
Other Ways of Joining Independent Clauses
(=Other Types of Compound Sentences)
1. Use a colon (IC: IC)
where the second independent clause
summarizes or explains the first.
a) My teacher was right: grammar is fun.
2. Use a semi-colon (IC; IC)
where the independent clauses are related
a) Grammar is relatively easy to understand; the
problem is remembering all the terms.
Note: A comma alone cannot join independent
clauses.
Other Ways of Joining Independent Clauses
(=Other Types of Compound Sentences)
3. Use a semi-colon (IC; adverb/phrase, IC)
between independent clauses with a sentence
adverb or a transitional phrase
a) Fall is a particularly beautiful time of the year;
however, raking up leaves can seem like an
endless task.
b) A good lawn takes a long time to grow; in
fact, some of the best lawns in the world have
been carefully tended for centuries.
1. Fall is a particularly beautiful time of
the year. However, raking up leaves
can seem like an endless task.
2. A good lawn takes a long time to grow.
In fact, some of the best lawns in the
world have been carefully tended for
centuries.
Fragments
• A group of words used with a period
– With no subject and verb
– With no subject
– With no verb (including a tensed/finite verb)
– Dependent clause only
(This will be reviewed again later.)
Comma Splices
• A comma splice occurs when two independent
clauses are connected with only a comma.
Incorrect: I am tired, I will take a nap later.
Correct: I am tired. I will take a nap later.
I am tired, so I will take a nap later.
Since I am tired, I will take a nap later.
I am tired; I will take a nap later.
Run-on Sentences
• a sentence containing two or more clauses not
connected by the correct conjunction or
punctuation
Incorrect: We should get moving there’s no time to waste.
Correct: We should get moving. There’s no time to waste.
We should get moving; there’s no time to waste.
We should get moving since there’s no time to waste.
There’s no time to waste, so we should get moving.
Complex Sentences
= 1 IC + 1 DC (more DCs)
S
NP
VP
DC
VP
NP
V
Pro V det N
SC
The cat pounced when it saw the rat.
det
N
Complex Sentences
(connected by subordinating conjunctions)
Complex sentences contain one independent
clause and at least one subordinate
(=dependent) clause.
Subordinate/Dependent clause = clause that
contains a subordinating conjunction
Types of
Subordinate Clause
1. Relative clause (Adjective clause)
The doctors helped the man who the maniac
punched.
2. Noun clause
Sue thinks that she has learned enough for
one day.
3. Adverbial clause
The burglar broke into the house while Joe
was sleeping.
Adverbial Clauses
a) Before you leave town, you should
see the governator’s mansion.
b) Because he loves action movies,
Bob is a big fan of the governator.
c) Although I have never seen an alien,
I am sure they all drip goo.
Why are these clauses like adverbs?
 Give us info about main verb:
time, place, manner, reason, condition
Subordinating Conjunctions
Show contrast
Although
Even though
While
Whereas
Show time relations
After
Before
While When
As
Show cause & effect
Because
Since
If
Punctuation with Adverbial
Clauses

Depends on the position of the
adverbial clause:
1. When the bell rings, the class will
end.
Adv CL, IC (comma separates
clauses)
2. The class will end when the bell
rings.
IC AdvCL (no comma)