CLAUSES.
There are two kinds of clauses.
Independent clause or the main clause Example: my student works hard
1. SIMPLE SENTENCE = An independent clause IF the independent clause begins with a capital letter and ends with a punctuation mark.
Example: My student works hard. THIS SENTENCE has a subject and a predicate.
MY STUDENT is the subject, and WORK HARD is the predicate.
A simple sentence can also have a compound predicate. A COMPOUND PREDICATE has one subject and two or more verbs.
Example: My student works hard and comes to school everyday.
2. COMPOUND SENTENCE = Two or more independent clauses.
Example: My student works hard, and he comes to school everyday.
What is the difference between a simple sentence with a compound predicate and a compound sentence:
THE SIMPLE SENTENCE WITH a compound predicate HAS ONE SUBJECT and A COMPOUND SENTENCE HAS TWO SUBJECT.
Dependent clause or the subordinate clause. These words or phrases signal dependent clauses:
COMMON SUBURDINATING CONJUNCTIONS
(These conjunctions introduce dependent clauses)
After, although, as, as if, as long as, as though, because, before, if, in order that, since, so, so that, though, unless, until, when, where, whereas, while, even though
RELATIVE PRONOUNS
(These conjunctions introduce dependent clauses)
Who, whose, which, what, that, whoever, whatever, whichever
INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS
(These conjunctions introduce dependent clauses)
Who, whose, whom, which, what, how
Example: When I give more time to my student.
NB. An independent clause or the main clause has a subject and a verb, and it makes sense. It can be used as a complete sentence. Example: Maria likes reading.
Everybody is happy in my class.
A dependent clause or the subordinate clause has a subject and a verb, but does not make sense by itself. It can’t be used as a complete sentence. You have to add an independent clause before it makes sense.
Example: when you come
Relative Clauses. There are some kinds of dependent (subordinate) clauses that have relative pronouns (that, which or who). These clauses are called “Relative clauses”. Example: Who came yesterday is my father (doesn’t have meaning).
COMPLEX SENTENCE= one independent clause + one or more dependent clauses.
Example: a) You come to school because you love your parents.
b) Because you love you parents, you come to school.
1. Sentence (a) begins with an independent clause. Therefore, there is no comma between the independent clause and the dependent clause.
2. Sentence (b) begins with a dependent clause. Therefore, there is comma between the dependent clause and the independent clause.
3. A dependent clause often begins with a subordinating conjunction. These are some examples of subordinating conjunctions: Even though, if, when, because, as, who, since, as soon as, that, where, what
COMPOUND COMPLEX SENTENCE= two or more independent clauses + one or more dependent clauses.
Example: You come to school, and you like reading because you love your parents.
Because you love your parents, you come to school, and you like reading.
The man who came yesterday is my father. (has meaning) In this sentence, the relative pronoun WHO links the dependent clause to the subject of the sentence THE MAN.
Phrase. A phrase does not have a subject and a verb.
Example: In the afternoon; far from my house, etc..
EXERCISE. Now, please identify the following. Are they:
a) independent clauses?
b) dependent clauses?
c) phrases?
In my father’s house
That you gave me last night
My sister likes cooking and traveling
Which you ate yesterday
Take your books
You don’t have to do it
At first
If you like
Later on
Who sent it
above the house
TYPES OF SENTENCES.
There are four types of sentences:
1. SIMPLE SENTENCE. An independent clause is a sentence.
It begins with a capital letter and ends with a period, a questions mark or an exclamatory mark.
Example: My students love reading. (ends with a period) Did you do your homework? What a wonderful student he is!
2. COMPOUND SENTENCE. When you combine two or more independent clauses with:
Coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
Example: My sister likes reading, but she doesn’t like running.
When we use a coordinating conjunction between two independent clauses, there must be a COMMA (,) before the conjunction.
When we use conjunctive adverbs (however, otherwise, therefore, similarly, hence, on the other hand, then, consequently, also, thus) between two independent clauses, there must be a SEMICOLON (;) before the conjunctive adverbs and a COMMA (,) after the conjunctive adverbs.
Example: My friend came; however, he didn’t do anything.
You can also combine two independent clauses with SEMICOLON (;).
Example: My friend came; he didn’t do anything.
3. Complex sentence. When you combine one independent clause with one or more dependent clauses, you have a complex sentence.
A CLAUSE is a group of words that has a subject and a verb.
Some clauses are complete sentences. Example: The students in Berkmar studied hard last year.
Some clauses are not complete sentences. Example: because he is studying.
An INDEPENDENT CLAUSE expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. Example: The students in Berkmar studied hard last year.
A DEPENDENT CLAUSE does not express a complete thought. It is not a sentence. Example: if you come today.
SOME EXAMPLES OF WORDS THAT SIGNAL a dependent clause.
Because he does like studying ________________________________
Since he came this morning________________________________
After working hard today________________________________
As time goes back________________________________
Before deciding what to do________________________________
When he comes back________________________________
Whenever you like it________________________________
While my mom is cooking________________________________
Until the work is finished________________________________
Although I am tired________________________________
As long as I am hungry________________________________
If you don’t like it________________________________
Unless I am stopped________________________________
That you can eat it. ________________________________
The party, which makes me happy,________________________________
Who came this morning________________________________
Whom you don’t know________________________________
Whose mother you spoke with________________________________
SIMPLE SENTENCE: It has on independent
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