Transcript What is a Clause? - Lancaster High School

What is a Clause?
Definition of a Clause
A clause is a group of words that has at
least one subject and predicate pair.
The subject/predicate pair must work
together to show what someone or something
is doing in the past present or future.
Definition of a Clause: Examples of
Subject/Predicate Pairs Working Together
Micayla is writing a novel.
Subject: Micayla
Simple Predicate: is writing
Shows what Micayla is doing now.
Hannah will edit her work.
Subject: Hannah Simple Predicate: will edit
Shows what Hannah will do.
She has written several novels this year.
Subject: She Simple Predicate: has written
Shows what she has done.
Definition of a Clause:
Subject/Predicate Pairs
The subject/predicate pair
could also show that someone
or something exists in the
past, present or future.
Definition of a Clause: Subject and
Predicate
Andrew is in his seat.
Subject: Andrew Simple Predicate: is
Andrew is existing in his seat. He is not doing
anything.
Jacob will be on the top of the mountain soon.
Subject: Jacob Simple predicate: will be
Jacob will be existing on top of the mountain. He
will not be doing anything once he gets there.
Wade had been at practice all of last week.
Subject: Wade Simple Predicate: had been
Wade was existing at practice.
Definition of a Clause: Compound
Subjects and Predicates
Point to remember:
Sometimes a simple subject or predicate can be
compound. The compound subject and/or predicate
still work together as a pair.
Lillia and Brandi did exercises in their language
books.
Dusty raised his hand and participated in class.
Jay, Nico, and Jon discussed the figurative
language and found the correct answers.
Types of Clauses: Independent
Clauses
A clause that stands alone as a complete
thought is called an independent clause.
An independent clause, also known as a
simple sentence, has one simple subject and
simple predicate pair or a compound simple
subject or predicate as demonstrated in the
last few slides.
Types of Clauses : Subordinate
(Dependent) Clauses
sub- below, under, beneath,
less than
subordinate = subservient,
dependent
Types of Clauses : Subordinate
(Dependent) Clauses
The subordinate clause DOES
HAVE a subject/predicate pair or
compound subject and/or predicate
pair, BUT it DOES NOT stand alone as
a complete thought or as a complete
sentence.
Types of Clauses: Dependent or
Subordinate Clauses
The dependent clause is
completely helpless with the
independent clause to complete
or support its meaning.
Example:
Because Cornelius May sailed the
Delaware River,
Cape May is named for him.
What Makes the Dependent, or
Subordinate Clause, a Clause?
A clause is a group of words that has
at least one subject and predicate pair.
In spite of the fact that a subordinate
clause does have a subject and predicate
pair, it is still an incomplete thought and
can’t stand alone.
What Makes the Subordinate
Clause Dependent?
Examples of Subordinate Clauses:
After I ate the banana.
Simple subject: I Simple predicate: ate
Simple subject and predicate pair work
together to show what “I” did in the past.
Complete thought?
No, the sentence does not tell what
happened after “I” ate the banana.
What Makes the Subordinate
Clause Dependent?
Examples of subordinate clauses:
Since the man is seven feet tall.
Simple Subject: man Simple Predicate: is
The subject and predicate pair tell that the man
exists as a tall person. The clause does not
complete the thought that begins with
“since.”
What Makes the Subordinate
Clause Dependent?
Because Noah and Ben are working hard.
Simple subject (compound): Ben, Noah
Simple predicate: are working
The clause does not complete the thought.
Because they are working hard…what?
What Makes the Subordinate
Clause Dependent?
A subordinate clause begins with a key word that
makes it depend upon another sentence for its
meaning.
Because Noah and Ben are working hard.
Because
Since the man is seven feet tall.
Since
In many clauses removing this key word will make
the word an independent clause and a complete
sentence.
What Makes the Subordinate
Clause Dependent?
The key word that makes a
subordinate clause dependent is called a
Subordinating
Conjunction.
Subordinating conjunctions frequently connect
two clauses, and they always make the clause they
connect dependent.
Reminder
Coordinating and correlative conjunctions
connect two equal parts. These conjunctions do
not create dependent clauses.
Coordinating: and, but, or, nor, for, yet
Correlative: Not only…but also; Both…and;
either…or; neither…not; whether…or.
What Makes the Subordinate
Clause Dependent?
The following is a list of common
subordinating conjunctions that make
subordinate clauses.
after how till ( or 'til) although if unless as
inasmuch until as if in order that when as
long as lest whenever as much as now that
where as soon as provided (that) wherever
as though since while because so that before
than even if that even though though
Beware!
The common
subordinating
conjunctions are
sometimes other parts
of speech such as
prepositions.
Clause or Not?
After a long sailing voyage.
Hmmm. Might be a clause because it
begins with after. After is sometimes a
subordinating conjunction.
How do we know if this is a clause? It
must have a subject/predicate pair.
“A,” “long,” “sailing,” are all adjectives
describe the noun voyage so this is not a
clause. (It is a prepositional phrase).
Clause or Not?
American settlers traveled to California.
Hm. Might be an independent clause
because it expresses a complete thought.
Does it have a subject and predicate pair?
settlers traveled
It is a clause. It is independent.
Clause or Not?
Because it has an excellent climate.
It might be a clause because it begins with
because, a subordinating conjunction.
Does it have a subject/predicate pair?
it has
It does not stand on its own. It begins with
a subordinating conjunction. It is a subordinate
clause.
Clause or Not?
The Dutch created a settlement.
Independent Clause.
As soon as the English arrived.
Dependent clause
During the Dutch-English conflict.
Prepositional phrase
When the Dutch settlers first came to New York.
Dependent clause
After the conflict was settled.
Dependent clause
Online Practice
• http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/q
uizzes/indep_clause_quiz.htm
• http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/c
gi-shl/quiz.pl/indep_clause_quiz2.htm
• http://www.csus.edu/owl/index/sent/clause_
quiz.htm