CLAUSES

A.  Clauses – Some sentences can be broken up into smaller sentences. These simple sentences are called clauses.

B.  An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence. It has both a subject and a verb and forms a complete thought.

C.    A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb, but no complete thought (fragment). A dependent clause may be introduced by:

                      i.       Subordinating conjunctions eg. after, if, because and although (ADVERB CLAUSE)     

                    ii.       Relative pronouns. The clause starts with a pronoun such as who, whom, that, or which or an adverb such as when, where and why. (ADJECTIVE CLAUSE)  

                  iii.       Relative pronoun, subordinating conjunctions, or adverbs (NOUN CLAUSE)             

D.    All types of complete sentences: simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex, require at least one independent clause:

           i.     Simple sentence has one independent clause: 'Dave sleeps.'

         ii.     Compound sentence has two independent clauses joined by:

a.       a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) 'Dave sleeps, and Sam reads.

b.      a conjunctive adverb (e.g. however, therefore) Sam reads novels; however, Dave reads poetry.

c.       a semicolon alone. Dave reads poetry; his friend reads novels.

       iii.     Complex sentence (one independent clause and at least one dependent clause): 'When Dave sleeps, Sam reads.'

       iv.     Compound-Complex sentence (at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause): 'When Dave sleeps, Sam reads because he has the house quiet.