CLAUSES:THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF SENTENCES

CLAUSE: A GROUP OF WORDS WITH A SUBJECT AND A VERB

The handsome young man and his ugly dog Not a clause, because no verb

Making lots of money Not a clause, because no subject

Even though we don’t have money. Clause, because we=subject, do have=verb

I am so in love with you, honey. Clause, because I=subject, am=verb

Instead of the blue dress at Macy’s. Not a clause, because no subject or verb

INDEPENDENT VS. DEPENDENT CLAUSES

Independent Clauses Expresses a complete thought Can stand alone Example: The coffee was fresh.

Dependent Clauses Do NOT express a complete thought Cannot stand alone as a sentence Example: Even though the coffee was fresh.

WHAT MAKES A DEPENDENT CLAUSE SO DEPENDENT?

Dependent Clauses begin with dependent words:after if, even if when, wheneveralthough in order that where, whereveras since whetherbecause that, so that which, whicheverbefore unless whileeven though until whohow what, whatever whose

Practice: Write five dependent clauses using some of the dependent words above. Hint: Remember that dependent clauses still have a subject and a verb.

IDENTIFY EACH GROUP OF WORDS AS DC (DEPENDENT CLAUSE), IC (INDEPENDENT CLAUSE) OR NC (NOT A CLAUSE) Whenever I see you smile

I usually get my paycheck on Mondays

Whatever you want

After grading the next set of papers

After school, we will play basketball

After you drink your coffee

Hint: Does it contain a subject and verb?Yes=clauseNo=not a clause

Does it begin with a dependent word?No=ICYes=probably DC

Is it a complete thought?No=DCYes=IC

IDENTIFY EACH GROUP OF WORDS AS DC (DEPENDENT CLAUSE), IC (INDEPENDENT CLAUSE) OR NC (NOT A CLAUSE)

Whenever I see you smile DC

I usually get my paycheck on Mondays IC

Whatever you want DC

After grading the next set of papers NC

After school, we will play basketball IC

After you drink your coffee DC

MORE PRACTICE WITH CLAUSES

http://www.csus.edu/owl/index/sent/clause_quiz.htm