English Composition

English Composition Study Guide

Clauses Clauses, unlike phrases, contain a subject and a predicate. There are two kinds of clauses: dependent and independent. Independent clauses: Independent clauses express a complete thought. These clauses describe an action or state of being and name the doer of the action. Independent clauses are sometimes referred to as main clauses. Unlike a dependent clause, an independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence. • Jim read a book at the coffee shop, but he found it hard to concentrate. The conjunction but is used to link the two independent clauses to create one sentence. Dependent clauses: Dependent clauses have a subject and a predicate but express an incomplete thought. A dependent clause includes an introductory word that prevents the clause from standing on its own. This word can be either a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. The addition of the introductory word makes the sentence require more information than is provided by the clause alone. A dependent clause must be in a sentence with an independent clause. The sentence is incomplete without both clauses. • Although he found it hard to concentrate , Jim read a book at the coffee shop. The word although marks the start of the dependent clause. Dependent clauses modify some element of the independent clause. It can function as an adjective modifying the subject or object, or it may function as an adverb modifying the verb. Dependent clauses may also function as a noun within the independent clause. Used as an adverb: • Maria felt sick if she sat in the backseat of a car . Used as an adjective: • The store opened on Monday when it was scheduled to open . Used a noun: • David fed his dog whatever the dog wanted . Avoid incomplete sentences: Writers should avoid punctuating a dependent clause as if the clause is a complete sentence. Dependent clauses without an independent clause are called sentence fragments. • Although the phrase “storm of the century” is overused. Hurricane Ruth may turn out to earn that name. Changing the period to a comma changes the fragment to a complete sentence. • Although the phrase “storm of the century” is overused, Hurricane Ruth may turn out to earn that name.

©2018

Achieve

Page 13

of 84

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker