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*Sentence Notes

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

after
although
as
as if
as long as
as though
because
before
even if
even though

if
if only
in order that
now that
once
rather than
since
so that
than
that

though
till
unless
until
when
whenever
where
whereas
wherever
while

 

*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.  

Coordinating Conjunctions

and

but

or

yet

for

nor

so

 

*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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