Clause Types: Overview
Lesson goal: to review independent and dependent clauses
Lesson goal: to review independent and dependent clauses
A clause is a grammatical unit that consists of (1) a subject and (2) a verb. There are two types of clauses: independent and dependent.
An independent clause is the dominant, main clause of a sentence. One independent clause makes a simple sentence. Two or more independent clauses make a compound sentence.
e.g. If only I dared to sit up and paddle, I made sure that I could overhaul her. (Stevenson, 1993)
A dependent clause only serves to modify - describe or provide additional information about - the independent clause. A combination of one independent and one or more dependent clauses makes a complex sentence.
e.g. If only I dared to sit up and paddle, I made sure that I could overhaul her. (Stevenson, 1993)
The underlined clauses here are dependent, their role in the sentence is to provide additional information to the main clause - I made sure.
The difference in writing between the two is that dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions (explicitly stated or implied) that serve to join clauses together.
REMEMBER that commas never join clauses and serve as scissors to separate clauses and phrases. Use conjunctions to join clauses!
There are three types of dependent clauses: Adverbial, Adjective, and Noun. Click on Dependent Clauses to read more.
An independent clause is the dominant, main clause of a sentence. One independent clause makes a simple sentence. Two or more independent clauses make a compound sentence.
e.g. If only I dared to sit up and paddle, I made sure that I could overhaul her. (Stevenson, 1993)
A dependent clause only serves to modify - describe or provide additional information about - the independent clause. A combination of one independent and one or more dependent clauses makes a complex sentence.
e.g. If only I dared to sit up and paddle, I made sure that I could overhaul her. (Stevenson, 1993)
The underlined clauses here are dependent, their role in the sentence is to provide additional information to the main clause - I made sure.
The difference in writing between the two is that dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions (explicitly stated or implied) that serve to join clauses together.
REMEMBER that commas never join clauses and serve as scissors to separate clauses and phrases. Use conjunctions to join clauses!
There are three types of dependent clauses: Adverbial, Adjective, and Noun. Click on Dependent Clauses to read more.
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