clause (not santa) definition: a group of words that contains a subject and a verb
TRANSCRIPT
Clause
(Not Santa)
Definition: A group of words that contains
a subject and a verb
After this lesson I will be able to…
determine the difference between a dependent and independent clause, and identify them in a sentence.
There are two kinds of clauses:
Independent
and
Dependent
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
A clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand
alone.
AKA a sentence
Examples of INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
he memorized a poem last night
Mary will read her poem
many people enjoy poetry
When an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE starts with a capital
letter and ends with a period or question mark, it
is a SENTENCE.
He memorized a poem.
Mary will read her poem at school.
Many people enjoy poetry.
DEPENDENT CLAUSE
A clause that DOES NOT express a complete thought
AND
CANNOT stand by itself as a sentence
Examples of DEPENDENT CLAUSES
because he memorized a poem
when Mary reads her poem at school
since many people enjoy poetry
A DEPENDENT CLAUSE will be a FRAGMENT when the
clause begins with a capital letter and ends in a period or question mark.
THIS IS A GRAMMATICAL ERROR!
Because he memorized a poem.
What makes a clause DEPENDENT?
A clause is dependent when it begins with a subordinate word.
Examples: when, while, which, because, since, unless, etc.
A DEPENDENT CLAUSE needs an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE to create a true
sentence.
Because he memorized a poem, Cooper will receive
extra credit.
Cooper will receive extra credit because he memorized
a poem.
I CAN…
determine the difference between a dependent and independent clause, and identify them in a sentence.
Let’s Practice!
Independent Clause = “I”
Dependent Clause = “D”
If it is dependent, rewrite it to make it a complete sentence
REWRITE:
although it was rainingD
REWRITE:
John saw squirrels playingI
REWRITE:
whenever she gets poor grades in math
D
REWRITE:
when you finish your homework
D
REWRITE:
I didn’t want to wear a jacketI
REWRITE:
because you had to drive to a meeting
D
REWRITE:
When an independent clause and a dependent clause are put together to form one sentence we call it a COMPLEX sentence.
PUNCTUATION:When the dependent
clause comes first, it is usually followed by a
comma.
When the rain stops, the game will begin.
PUNCTUATION:When the dependent
clause comes last, there is generally no comma.
The game will begin when the rain stops.
Let’s Practice!
REWRITE each complex sentence by changing the order of the independent and dependent clauses.
Underling the independent clause in each complex sentence
I got to work late because I had car trouble.
Rewrite: Because I had car trouble, I got to work late.
1. Rewrite the sentence2. Underline the independent clause in your new sentence
Whenever she’s nervous, she bites her nails.
Rewrite: She bites her nails whenever she is nervous.
1. Rewrite the sentence2. Underline the independent clause in your new sentence
If I had a job like yours, I would quit!
Rewrite: I would quit if I had a job like yours!
1. Rewrite the sentence2. Underline the independent clause in your new sentence
Many people watch too much TV although they know better.
Rewrite: Although they know better, many people watch too much TV.
1. Rewrite the sentence2. Underline the independent clause in your new sentence