Independent and Dependent Clauses
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Transcript Independent and Dependent Clauses
Initiating Question
Think to yourself… what are
the three necessary
components of independent
clauses?
**If you’re struggling, think about
ANYTHING you know about
independent clauses.
Independent and
Dependent Clauses
Independent Clauses— SENTENCES!
• Contain:
• Subject (example: The boy)
• Verb (example: hits)
• Complete thought (example: The boy hits
the ball).
• Examples:
• Stefan carried the ball to his sister.
• Elisabeth cried.
• They smiled.
Dependent Clauses—NOT
COMPLETE SENTENCES!
• Are…
• Groups of words that contain subjects
and verbs but DO NOT express complete
thoughts—begin with subordinating
conjunctions
• Examples:
• When I am sixteen
• Although it is warm outside
• Because Joseph lied
Why Are Clauses Important?
They express information in
different ways.
They can be combined into
various types of sentences!
Types of Sentences
Simple, Compound, Complex, Compound-Complex
Simple Sentences
• Contain…
• 1 Independent Clause
• 0 Dependent Clauses
• Examples:
• My sister enjoys singing with you.
• They behaved like monsters.
• I looked for Henry and Agatha at the
cafeteria.
Compound Sentences
• Contain…
• 2 (or more) Independent Clauses
• Comma + Coordinating Conjunction (or
semicolon)
• 0 Dependent Clauses
• Examples:
• I like babysitting, but those kids are terrible!
• George likes to sing, and I like to dance.
• I was locked out of the house, so I cried.
Complex Sentences
• Contain…
• 1 Independent Clause
• 1 (or more) Dependent Clause (before or after
IC)
• If DC is first, use a comma
• If IC is first, don’t use a comma
• Examples:
• When the bell rang, the students ran to their seats.
• The students ran to their seats when the bell rang.
Compound-Complex Sentences
• Contain…
• 2 (or more) Independent Clauses
• 1 (or more) Dependent Clause
• Examples:
• When the bell rang, the students ran to their
seats, and the teacher began the lesson.
• Although I like to go camping, I haven't
had the time to go lately, and I haven't
found anyone to go with me.
How Can Knowing the Types of
Sentences Help Our Writing?
We can vary our syntax (sentence
structure) by using different types of
sentences.
Varying sentence structures (and
lengths) can make our writing more
engaging.
Colons (:)
Colons
1. Use the colon after a complete sentence to introduce a list
• We learned many writing fundamentals: grammar,
punctuation, style, and voice.
2. Use the colon to introduce a quotation.
• Shakespeare urged others to be original and authentic: “To
thine own self be true.”
3. Use the colon to follow the salutation of a business letter
(but use a comma with personal communication)
• Dear Mr. Robinson:
4. Time
• 4:30
5. Subtitles
• Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Semicolons (;)
Source
Semicolons
1. Use a semicolon to connect two
independent clauses that are related to
each other…can be used with a conjunctive
adverb (i.e. however, therefore,
nonetheless, subsequently, thus, etc.)
I am a student at Greer Middle College; my
school is the best!
My brother is a student at Greer Middle
College; however, I attend Wade Hampton.
Semicolons Continued
2. Use a semicolon as a “super comma”
with a list of items separated by
commas
Johnny has been to several big cities: Las
Vegas, Nevada; Atlanta, Georgia; New York
City, New York; and Los Angeles, California.
Semicolon Practice
1. Write a sentence using a semicolon to
combine two independent clauses.
2. Write a sentence using a semicolon to
combine two independent clauses with a
conjunctive adverb.
3. Write a sentence using a semicolon to
separate items (with commas) in a list.
ERRORS IN COMBINING
INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
Run-on Sentences
• Run-on sentences occur when writers
combine independent clauses WITH
NOTHING BETWEEN THEM.
• Example:
• I love writing papers I would write one every
day if I could.
• Give me the manual it can tell us what to do.
• It is a beautiful day let’s go outside!
Run-on Sentence Corrections
4 Ways to Correct Run-on Sentences
1. Use a period
It’s a beautiful day. Let’s go outside!
2. Use a semicolon
It’s a beautiful day; let’s go outside!
3. Use a comma + coordinating conjunction
It’s a beautiful day, so let’s go outside!
4. Use a subordinating conjunction (to make an
independent clause dependent)
Because it’s a beautiful day, let’s go outside!
Run-On Correction Practice
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Correct the following run-on sentences.
This isn’t a great playground however, the kids
still love it.
The baseball team lost Saturday they just
couldn’t hit!
I’m not a good babysitter kids really annoy
me.
The best part of life is the people in it that’s
what my mom always says.
I cooked last night it was a monumental event!
Run-On Correction Answers
Correct the following run-on sentences.
1. This isn’t a great playground; however, the kids
still love it.
2. The baseball team lost Saturday because they
just couldn’t hit!
3. I’m not a good babysitter; kids really annoy me.
4. The best part of life is the people in it; that’s
what my mom always says.
5. I cooked last night. It was a monumental event!
Comma Splices
• Comma splices occur when writers combine
independent clauses with ONLY A COMMA.
• Example:
• Pizza is the best, I would eat one every day if I
could.
• I like to drive, hopefully I will have a motorcycle
soon.
• Fall is coming soon, the leaves look great when
they change colors.
Comma Splice Corrections
4 Ways to Correct Comma Splices
1. Use a period instead of a comma
Pizza is the best. I would eat it every day if I could!
2. Use a semicolon instead of a comma
Pizza is the best; I would eat it every day if I could!
3. Add a coordinating conjunction to the comma
Pizza is the best, so I would eat it every day if I could!
4. Use a subordinating conjunction (to make an
independent clause dependent)
Because pizza is the best, I would eat it every day if I
could.
Commas Splice Correction Practice
Correct the following comma splices in two different
ways.
1. I didn’t like the movie, it was way too long.
2. She and Jerry are getting married in the fall,
they didn’t want a summer wedding.
3. My favorite bands are all really loud, playing
loud music is good for stress relief.
Source
Sentence Fragments
• A fragment fails to be a sentence because it cannot stand
by itself—does not contain an independent clause.
• Does not have subject + verb + complete thought
• Fragments include:
• Dependent clauses by themselves
• When the boy got home from school.
• Descriptive phrases that don’t have subjects and/or
verbs
• Working hard to make good grades in the class.
• Clauses with only part of a verb phrase
• Some of the athletes playing on the court.
Correcting Sentence Fragments
• To correct sentence fragments, simply insert the missing
parts of the sentence (subject, verb, and/or complete
thought).
• Examples:
• When the boy got home from school. When the boy
got home from school, he lay down on his bed.
• Working hard to make good grades in the class.
Working hard to make good grades in the class,
Johnny learned that hard work pays off.
• Some of the athletes playing on the court. Some of
the athletes were playing on the court.
Practice: Correcting Fragments
Add to these fragments to make them
complete sentences.
1. Even though the bus was late.
2. Running and ducking for cover.
3. Tiffany’s project, which she completed in
three hours.
Practice: Possible Answers
Add to these fragments to make them
complete sentences.
1. Even though the bus was late, Jeremy still
made it to school on time.
2. The soldiers were running and ducking for
cover.
3. Tiffany’s project, which she completed in
three hours, lacked some details.
Review
CS, R-O, SF Practice
Identify the following as either COMMA SPLICE, RUN-ON
SENTENCE, SENTENCE FRAGMENT, or NO ERROR.
1. Mrs. Jones is a new teacher in our school she is not a
principal.
2. The student works very hard, however, the tests are
difficult.
3. Although his efforts in the class were not rewarded.
4. John and Marcy like to eat.
5. Alex and Joanna went to the concert, it was awesome!
6. Running behind on their way to school.
7. Scout likes to beat up boys Jem is quiet and courageous.
8. Because the book is so good, I couldn’t put it down!
CS, R-O, SF Practice Answers
Identify the following as either COMMA SPLICE, RUN-ON
SENTENCE, SENTENCE FRAGMENT, or NO ERROR.
1. Mrs. Jones is a new teacher in our school she is not a
principal. Run-On
2. The student works very hard, however, the tests are
difficult. Comma Splice
3. Although his efforts in the class were not rewarded. Frag.
4. John and Marcy like to eat. No error
5. Alex and Joanna went to the concert, it was awesome!
Comma Splice
6. Running behind on their way to school. Fragment
7. Scout likes to beat up boys Jem is quiet and courageous.
Run-on
8. Because the book is so good, I couldn’t put it down! None
Apostrophes
How are apostrophes used?
1. With contractions—place the apostrophe
where the letter(s) has been removed
• Don’t, isn’t, hasn’t, you’re, etc.
2. To show possession (singular and plural)
• One boy’s hat
Two boys’ hats
• An actress’s hat The actresses’ hats
• Texas’ weather OR Texas’s weather
(either is accepted)
Apostrophe Practice: Insert Them!
Insert an apostrophe into the correct place(s).
1. The boys wallet was in the car.
2. You can stop by Ms. Schonhars classroom after school.
3. Its always a great day to be at GMC!
4. Three girls watches have been found.
5. The womens dresses are in the back left of the store.
6. I didnt hear the directions, so I couldnt do the work.
7. I told Mark that he wouldnt win the game, so he kicked Toms shin.
8. Whos going to the dance tonight?
9. Why cant the kid behave? Its a mystery to me.
10. The four bears cave was hidden from view.
Common Apostrophe Errors
•Its versus It’s
Its is possessive (its coat is white) while it’s is a contraction
meaning “it is” or “it has”
•Their, There, They’re
Their is possessive (their game is tonight); there tells you where
something is; and they’re is a contraction meaning “they are”
•Who’s versus Whose
Who’s is a contraction meaning “who is” or “who has” while
whose is possessive (whose coat is this?)