Clauses & Sentences
*CLAUSE
A clause
is a group of words that has a subject and a verb.
A subject
is who or what the sentence is about. A verb tells us what the subject is doing.
*INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
An independent
clause is a clause that can stand on its own.
Example:
I took an umbrella with me to the
park.
*DEPENDENT CLAUSE
A dependent
clause is a clause that cannot stand on its own (it’s a sentence
fragment).
Example:
Because it was raining.
Dependent
clauses often start with clue words (called subordinating conjunctions). Common ones include:
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
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after
although
as
as if
as long as
as though
because
before
even if
even though
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if
if only
in order that
now that
once
rather than
since
so that
than
that
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though
till
unless
until
when
whenever
where
whereas
wherever
while
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*SIMPLE SENTENCE
A simple sentence contains one independent clause
& no dependent clauses.
Example: The
clouds in the sky were dark & hung low.
*COMPOUND SENTENCE
A compound sentence contains two independent clauses
& no dependent clauses.
Example: I
like cake, but I prefer pie.
The two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating
conjunctions.
*COMPLEX SENTENCE
A complex sentence contains one independent clause
& one dependent clause.
Example: Because it was raining, I took an
umbrella with me to the park.
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