Clauses

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject (noun) and a predicate (verb)

Phrase vs. Clause

Phrases act as certain parts of speech but do NOT include both a noun and a verb within them.

Clauses act as certain parts of speech but DO include both a noun and a verb within them.

Main Clause

A main clause is also known as an independent clause.

A main clause has a subject and a verb and can stand on its own as a sentence

(Independent: can stand on its own)

Main Clause, continued:

Every sentence must have at least one main clause

A sentence may have more than one main clause Main clauses within sentences are

separated by a comma and conjunction OR connected with a semicolon.

Examples: Main Clauses

Children love Halloween, and they dress in costumes. Main clause #1: Children (noun) love

(verb) Halloween (D.O.) Main clause #2: They (pronoun) dress

(verb) in costumes (prep. phrase) Each main clause can be a sentence

by itself

More examples: Main Clauses My sister runs track, and I play

basketball.Main Clause #1: My sister (noun)

runs (verb) track (D.O.).Main Clause #2: I (pronoun) play

(verb) basketball (D.O.).

Subordinate Clauses

A subordinate clause has a subject (noun) and a predicate (verb), but it CANNOT stand on its own as a sentence. Must be attached to a main clause in order

for it to make sense:

Pizza is the food that I (noun) love (verb) the most.

That I love the most CANNOT stand on its own as a sentence

Subordinate Clauses, continued:

Can begin with a relative pronoun: Who, whom, whose, which, that Mrs. Steib is my teacher who (pronoun)

can speak (verb phrase) with a British accent (prep phrase).

My sister, who (pronoun) is (verb) nine years old, is in fourth grade.

Subordinate Clauses, continued:

Can also begin with a subordinating conjunction. Examples of subordinating conjunctions:

After, although, as, as far as, as if, as long as, as soon as, as though, because, before, if, in order that, since, so long as, so that, than, unless, until, when, whenever, where, while

Subordinating Clauses

Examples: Because she was trying to annoy me,

my sister chewed very loudly. I earned an A on my Biology test after

I spent a whole night studying. Since construction is happening, we

often deal with noise during class.

Clauses and types of sentences

A simple sentence has one main and no subordinate clauses.

We ate pizza. We ate pizza at seven o’clock in the

restaurant on the corner. (Still simple even though it has prep. phrases: only one main clause)

At noon on Monday, my friend had a car accident. (Still simple even though it has prep phrases and a direct object).

Clauses and types of sentences A compound sentence has more

than one main clause and no subordinate clauses.

Mrs. Steib can speak with a British accent, and we think she is weird. (or cool)

The noise from construction is distracting, but we try to concentrate despite it.

My sister didn’t eat the pizza, nor did I. I understood the idea, yet I got that part

wrong on the test.

Do Now: On notebook paper, write:

3 simple sentences. Label noun and verb. 3 compound sentences. Label noun and

verb in each clause. Punctuate appropriately! (Comma with conjunction OR semicolon)

Save room on your paper! You will be adding sentences to this.

Pair up with a classmate to check each other’s sentences.

Clauses and types of sentences, continued:

A complex sentence includes one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.

Since Tammy’s friend Jenny was sick, Tammy got Jenny’s assignments for her. (sub. Clause in blue/ main clause in black)

We got on the bus after we won a close game.

Before we ate dinner, our dad gave us a lecture because we came home late. (two sub. But only one main clause)

Clauses and types of sentences A compound-complex sentence has

more than one main clause and at least one subordinate clause. We won the game, (main) and we

celebrated at Joe’s house (main) since his parents invited us. (subordinate)

When my sister graduated from college (subordinate), she returned home to live for awhile, (main) and I had to give up my own bathroom. (main)

Review: types of sentences

Simple: Only one main clause; no subordinate clauses

Compound: More than one main clause; no subordinate clauses

Complex: One main clause and one or more subordinate clauses

Compound-complex: More than one main clause and at least one subordinate clause.

Do Now: Get out your sheet with simple and

compound sentences. Add: 2 sentences with complex

sentences Add: 2 sentences with compound-

complex sentences. Pair up with a classmate to check each

other’s sentences. Turn in all sentences when you have

checked them.

Three types of subordinate clauses: Adjective clauses

Adverb clauses

Noun clauses

Remember—to be a clause, a group of words must have a subject (noun) AND a predicate (verb)

Adjective Clause

An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that acts the same way an adjective does (modifies noun or pronoun) Begins with a relative pronoun: who,

whom, whose, which, that

Adjective Clauses continued: Halloween decorations can be spooky. Halloween decorations are becoming

more popular. Combine both simple sentences into

one complex sentence with an adjective clause:

Halloween decorations, which can be spooky, are becoming more popular.

Adjective Clauses, continued: I have a cold. This cold is a nuisance. I have a cold which is a nuisance.

(subject: which; predicate: is) The one act plays are this weekend. The one act plays should be entertaining. The one act plays, which should be

entertaining, are this weekend.

Adjective Clauses, continued

Can be essential (necessary to the meaning of the sentence) or nonessential (provide additional information).

Essential: don’t use commas Nonessential: use commas

(see previous slides)

Adverb Clauses

An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. It tells when, where, how, why, to what extent, or under what condition.

See Clause Cheat Sheet

Adverb Clauses continued: Examples (adv. clauses in blue)

Whenever it is quiet, I study hard. (Adv. Clause modifies verb study. It tells when)

I remained calm as long as you were nearby. (Adv. Clause modifies adjective calm. It tells under what condition.)

She can swim faster than I can run. (Adv. Clause modifies adv. faster. It tells to what extent)

Find the adverb clauses: Wherever he goes, my friend Tom

draws attention. He draws attention because he has a

very unique hairstyle with spikes and bright red highlights.

If someone comments on it, Tom says “thanks.”

Teachers don’t mind Tom’s hairstyle as long as it is not a distraction for others.

More adverb clauses:

Since I have practice after school, I don’t eat supper until 6:00.

If I continue to earn good grades, my parents will reward me.

The rewards will continue as long as my effort is strong and my attitude is positive.

Do Now: Use “Clause Cheat”sheet Write six sentences (do NOT copy

notes). Write these on your own paper: one each that tells:

When Where How Why To what extent Under what condition

Underline adverb clauses

Noun clauses A noun clause is a subordinate clause

used as a noun. Like gerund phrases, noun clauses can be used as: Subject Direct object Object of the preposition Predicate nominative

See Cheat Sheet for words that begin noun clauses

Noun Clause as Subject: Whoever wants to climb Mount Everest

is adventurous. What makes mountain climbing exciting

is that it is dangerous and demanding. Whatever happens during a climb can

endanger the climber. What challenges climbers is the

dangerous and exciting nature of the climb.

Noun clauses as direct object:

Teachers instruct whoever is in their classes.

Dogs love whoever feeds and cares for them.

Parents explain whatever their rules are.

Noun Clauses as object of the preposition

I asked my friend for whatever money she could spare.

My brain is focused on how many minutes will pass before lunch.

I like to think about how noun clauses make me a better writer.

Noun clauses as predicate nominative Where no one has been is where

daring people want to go. What I know for sure is that I want

to go to college. What I don’t know yet is what

career I want to pursue. (All of these have noun clause as

subject also)

Noun clauses

My sister can be annoying. (Noun clause): Whoever sleeps in

the room next to me can be annoying.

Students like everything. Students like whatever happens on

Friday.