A Clause Is a Clause Is a Clause

A Clause Is a Clause Is a Clause

• A Group of Words That Always Contains a Subject and Verb in Combination

• Clauses may be Independent or Dependent.• Independent Clauses can function as complete

sentences, e.g., a simple sentence.• Dependent Clauses must be “attached” to an

Independent Clause, e.g., a complex sentence.

Simple Sentence=One Independent Clause(Also called the main or principal clause)

In the bedtime story, Jack killed the goose.Subject=JackVerb=killedSentence Pattern= ?Pattern 3 because of the direct object goose.

Compound Sentence=Contains Two or More Independent Clauses

In the bedtime story, Jack killed the goose, and his mother cooked it for supper.

Subject=JackVerb=killedSubject=motherVerb=cooked

Punctuation for Compound Sentences

• Because you have more than two independent clauses in the same sentence, you will need additional punctuation as well as conjunctions.

• Commas will almost always precede coordinating conjunctions: but, or, yet, so, for and, nor. (BOYSFAN or FANBOYS)

• You may elect to use a semicolon to join two independent clauses as well. Sometimes you will include a conjunctive adverb and a comma as well.

Compound Sentence with a Coordinating Conjunction and a comma

• The Giants have won eight consecutive games, but their hopes of making the playoffs are dwindling.

• Subjects: Giants and hopes• Verbs: have won and are dwindling.• Comma must precede but because two

independent clauses are joined with a coordinating conjunction.

Compound Sentence with a Semicolon and/or Conjunctive Adverb

• The Clemson Tigers destroyed the Auburn Tigers on Saturday; Auburn will not repeat as college football champions this season.

• Subjects: Clemson Tigers and Auburn Tigers• Verbs: destroyed and will repeat• The semicolon joins two independent clauses.• ; therefore, (would also work in place of

comma and coordinating conjunction)

Conjunctive Adverb “Fix”

• The Clemson Tigers destroyed the Auburn Tigers on Saturday; Auburn will not repeat as college football champions this season.

• The Clemson Tigers destroyed the Auburn Tigers on Saturday; therefore, Auburn will not repeat as college football champions this season.

Comma Splices

• Never use a comma to splice together two independent clauses because you will create a comma splice or fault. This error reflects two serious grammar mistakes: one relating to punctuation and one relating to sentence structure.

Fixing a comma splice is easy.

• President Obama proposed increasing taxes on rich Americans, many Republicans immediately called it “class warfare.”

• President Obama proposed increasing taxes on rich Americans, and many Republicans immediately called it “class warfare.”

• President Obama proposed increasing taxes on rich Americans; many Republicans immediately called it “class warfare.”

Practice Exercises

• In each of the following sentences, a caret ˄ marks a point of coordination. If the sentence is Type 1, write O in the space at the left. If the sentence is Type 2, write C (for comma) in the space. If the sentence is Type 3, write S (for semicolon) in the space.

• _____ Yesterday, the men finished the project ˄ therefore, they stayed home today.

Practice Exercises

• In each of the following sentences, a caret ˄ marks a point of coordination. If the sentence is Type 1, write O in the space at the left. If the sentence is Type 2, write C (for comma) in the space. If the sentence is Type 3, write S (for semicolon) in the space.

• _____ The shortstop dove for the ball ˄ but was not able to field it cleanly.

Practice Exercises

• In each of the following sentences, a caret ˄ marks a point of coordination. If the sentence is Type 1, write O in the space at the left. If the sentence is Type 2, write C (for comma) in the space. If the sentence is Type 3, write S (for semicolon) in the space.

• _____ Usually, Jim takes his vacation in August ˄ he’s never been to the mountains in October before.

Practice Exercises

• In each of the following sentences, a caret ˄ marks a point of coordination. If the sentence is Type 1, write O in the space at the left. If the sentence is Type 2, write C (for comma) in the space. If the sentence is Type 3, write S (for semicolon) in the space.

• _____ The secretary is searching everywhere for that lost file ˄ for we need it desperately for this afternoon’s meeting.

Practice Exercises

• In each of the following sentences, a caret ˄ marks a point of coordination. If the sentence is Type 1, write O in the space at the left. If the sentence is Type 2, write C (for comma) in the space. If the sentence is Type 3, write S (for semicolon) in the space.

• _____ Maria will either take that job in Los Angeles ˄ or take a tour of Europe immediately after graduation.