Transcript Clauses - Mrs. Cottrill

Clauses and Sentence Structures
(Not the Santa type…ha!)
What is a clause?
 A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a
verb.
 Your genes carry your family’s genetic history.
 Subject: genes
 Verb: carry
Independent Clauses
 Express a complete thought and can stand alone as a
sentence.
 Genes contain the code for your physical appearance.
Dependent (Subordinate) Clauses
 Contain a subject and a verb but do not express a complete
thought. They cannot stand alone.
 Often begin with if, because, even though, how, what, why, that,
while, when, and since.
 that determines your height
 because inherited traits often skip a generation
Subordinate Clauses need
Independent Clauses!
 To express a complete thought, a subordinate clause must be
joined with, or be a part of, an independent clause.
 Because Britney Spears can’t sing, many people refuse to buy
her latest record.
 Kevin Federline has the paperwork that says he gets the kids full
time.
What’s the difference between a
clause and a phrase?
 Don’t confuse a subordinate clause with a phrase. Unlike a
clause, a phrase has no subject and/or verb!!!
 Driving over the bridge, she sneezed. (participial phrase
modifying “she”)
 As she was driving over the bridge, she sneezed. (dependent
clause)
Adjective Clauses
 Subordinate clauses that function as adjectives to modify
nouns or pronouns.
 They usually follow the word(s) they modify.
 Like adjectives, they answer the questions




Which one
What kind
How many
How much
Adjective Clause Examples
 Britney Spears is more than a singer who has a drug problem.
 It was she who began the teen pop tart revolution.
Relative Pronouns/Adverbs
 Introduce adjective clauses.
 Called relative because they RELATE adjective clauses to the
words they modify.
 Relative Pronouns: who, whom, whose, that, which
 Relative Adverbs: when, where, why
Essential Adjective Clauses
 Provide necessary information to identify the preceding noun
or pronoun.
 Someone who is your first cousin is the child of your aunt or
uncle.
 THAT is used to introduce an essential clause
Nonessential Adjective Clauses
 Add information to a noun or pronoun in a sentence in which
the meaning is already clear.
 Set off by commas.
 Irene, who is your first cousin, was married last fall.
 WHICH is used to introduce a nonessential clause
Adverb Clauses
 Subordinate clauses that modify verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.
 Like adverbs, the clauses tell
 Where
 Why
 How
 When
 To what extent
Adverb Clause Examples
 Most children leave home when the time is right.
 Many are marrying later in life than their parents did.
Subordinating Conjunctions
 Adverb clauses are often introduced by a subordinating
conjunction
 These are the most common subordinating conjunctions:
after
before
till
although
even though
unless
as
if
until
as if
in order that
when
as long as
since
whenever
as soon as
so that
where
as though
than
wherever
because
though
while
When do I need a comma?
 An adverb clause that comes before the independent clause is
set off by commas.
 An adverb clause that comes after the independent clause
does NOT need commas.
Noun Clauses
 Subordinate Clauses used as nouns
 Can be S, PN, OP, DO, or IO
Noun Clause Examples
 That my brothers and sisters influence me is obvious.
 They know exactly what drives me crazy.
 My parents tell whoever is loudest to quiet down.
 My sister’s or brother’s praise is also what inspires me.
 We encourage each other in whatever ways we can.
Noun Clause Hint!
 If you can substitute the word someone or something for a
clause in a sentence, it is a noun clause.
Noun Clauses
 Introduced by a subordinating conjunction or by a pronoun.
 How much brothers and sisters argue depends on their ages.
 You usually argue with whoever is closest to your age.
Sentence Structure
 Simple Sentence: 1 Independent Clause and NO
Subordinating Clause
 Mrs. Cottrill is cool.
 Compound Sentence: 2 or more Independent Clauses
 Mrs.Cottrill is my English teacher, and Mr. Belcher is my
history teacher.
Sentence Structure, cont.
 Complex Sentence: 1 Independent Clause and 1 or more
Subordinate Clauses
 Although she is not as popular as my sister, I still really like hanging
out with my best friend.
 Compound-Complex Sentence: 2 or more Independent Clauses
and 1 or more Subordinate Clauses
 On November 20, 1980, Mrs. Cottrill was born, and the world
finally got to see someone that would eventually make English fun
and love Freshmen.