Transcript Clauses: Building Blocks for Sentences

Clauses: Building Blocks
for Sentences
http://www.slideshare.net/caloughman/clauses-power-point
TAKE NOTES!
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We speak with clauses and phrases, but why do we forget to
write with them?
Just like most of the sentences writers construct (build),
phrases and clauses may not pop in your mind automatically;
it takes thought!
Therefore, writers use a variety of sentence structures so both
readers and the writers themselves don’t get
WAKE UP!
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A clause is a group of
related words containing
a subject and a verb.
** It is different from a phrase because a phrase
does NOT include a subject AND a verb.
Words and phrases in this color are hyperlinks to the Guide to Grammar & Writing.
Clause or not a clause?
Hint: Clause has BOTH a subject and a verb.
I run
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writing in purple ink
during the birthday party
when I am angry or confused
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I run = clause
writing in purple ink = NC
during the birthday party = NC
When I am angry or confused = clause
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1. Independent: A clause that expresses a complete thought and can
stand by itself as a sentence. Some grammar teachers call these
“main clauses.”
2. Dependent: A clause that does not express a complete thought
and cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence. Dependent
clauses are sometimes called “subordinate clauses.” Subordinate
means lesser in rank or importance.
Independent clauses have a subject and a verb and can stand
alone independently.
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1. Independent clause examples:
• Glaciers often leave holes in the ground.
• These holes are called kettles.
http://doducluyen.blogspot.com/2009/08/
classification-of-subordinate-clauses.html
•We learned about glaciers in Earth Science.
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Can I have more than one independent clause?
You can put 2 independent clauses together as GOOD
WRITERS OFTEN do!
EX: Glaciers often leave holes in the ground, and these holes
are called kettles.
Independent clauses can be
connected in a variety of ways:
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1. By a comma and a conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet,
and so). Glaciers often leave holes in the ground, and these
holes are called kettles.
2. By a semicolon alone. Glaciers often leave holes in the
ground; these holes are called kettles.
3. And, of course, independent clauses may not be connected
by punctuation at all but are separated by a period.
Glaciers often leave holes in the ground. These holes
are called kettles.
Dependent clauses have a subject and a verb but cannot
stand alone as a sentence.
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2. Dependent clause examples:
• After Rome expanded its empire to its largest size
•which the vet recommended
**Notice how the dependent clauses begin with “dependent
words,” words that subordinate what follows or precedes the
sentence. These words are called “subordinating conjunctions.”
What does the dependent clause need so it’s
not a fragment?
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... an independent clause
After Rome expanded its empire to its largest size, Hadrian
removed troops and set boundaries.
• The Internet, which started out as a means for military and
academic types to share documents, has become a household
necessity.
Which clause is the independent clause and which is the
dependent?
Did you guess or did you know? Then explain why…
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•The Internet, which started out as a means for military and
academic types to share documents, has become a household
necessity.
Does this help?
•The Internet has become a household necessity.
which started out as a means for military and academic
types to share documents,
Clauses: Building Blocks
for Sentences
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Understanding CLAUSES and how they are connected within
the larger structure of your sentence will help you avoid
Sentence Fragments
Run-on Sentences
and make it possible for you to punctuate your sentences
properly AND write confidently with a variety of sentence
structures.