Identifying clauses

1. definition of the clause

1. Definition of clause

A clause, like a phrase, is a group of related words. The difference is that a clause
is a more complete expression--it contains a subject and a verbThere are two kinds of clauses.

2. Types of Clauses
2.1. Dependent Clause—

has a subject and verb and a dependent word (subordinate conjunction). A dependent clause expresses only part of an idea, and relies upon some other information in the sentence for complete meaning (hence the term "dependent").

e.g.Because the dog barked all night.

We usually use dependent clauses in sentences to express thoughts that are additional or accessory to our main thought in the sentence.
2.2. Independent Clause—

an independent clause is a group of related words that has both a subject (actor) and verb (action) and makes sense to us without needing any additional information. Therefore, an independent clause is also known as a simple sentence. It is not just part of a thought, but is complete on its own.

e.g.The dog barked all night.

subordinate conjunctions

The  following  are commonly used subordinate conjunctions and
relative pronouns. These words are clues to help us identify and write dependent clauses. It may be easier for you to remember these words as “Dependent Words” because one of these words always appears as the first word of a dependent clause. In other words, if a group of words that has a subject and a verb begins with one of these subordinate conjunctions or relative pronouns (dependent words), the clause is a dependent clause.

Subordinate Conjunctions
(also called “Dependent Words”)
after, although, since, whenever
as, so that, when, even though
as if ,though ,where, provided that
because, unless, whether, whereas
except, until, while, than
what ,before ,that, in order that
once, (meaning “if” or “when”), if ,why
Relative Pronouns
that whoever ,which, whatever,Whom, who, whichever

2. Types of Subordinate Clauses

3. Types of Subordinate Clauses

A subordinate clause can do the job of other clause elements.
It can work as subject, object, complement and adverbial, as in these examples:
• Subordinate subject clause: What you say is stupid.
• Subordinate object clause: I did not know that you were here.
• Subordinate adverbial clause: Come round when you're ready.

An adverb clause begins with a subordinating conjunction--an adverb that connects the subordinate clause to the main clause. The subordinating conjunction may indicate a relationship of cause, concession, comparison, condition, place, manner, purpose, result or time.

Subordinate Adjectival clauses: A familiar type is the relative clause, introduced by a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, that, which), as in
these examples:
• Here is the woman (whom) I married.
• This is the book (which) I am reading.
• The drink (that) I most like is orange-juice.

Subordinate Adjectival clauses: A familiar type is the relative clause, introduced by a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, that, which), as in these examples:
• Here is the woman (whom) I married.
• This is the book (which) I am reading.
• The drink (that) I most like is orange-juice.

3. Restrictive Versus Nonrestrictive ADJECTIVE Clauses

Restrictive Versus Nonrestrictive ADJECTIVE Clauses

A restrictive adjective clause limits or narrows the meaning of the sentence in which it appears. The sentence must have that clause or the meaning changes; in other words, the clause is necessary to the meaning. Because they are essential to the sentence, restrictive adjective clauses can never be set off from the sentence with punctuation.
Examples:
High-risk students who attended extra tutoring sessions had significantly higher grades than students who
did not attend. (The clause in italics is necessary to the sentence. If we took it out, the meaning of the sentence would change drastically; therefore, there should be no punctuation to set off the restrictive element here.) Look at the difference when the sentence is written incorrectly.
High-risk students, who attended extra tutoring sessions, had significantly higher grades than students who did not attend.

Correct: Students who have not signed in at the desk will not receive assistance.
Incorrect: Students, who have not signed in at the desk, will not receive assistance.
Correct: Students who have done or attempted to do their homework can check their answers against the
professor’s answer sheet.
Incorrect: Students, who have done or attempted to do their homework, can check their answers against the professor’s answer sheet.

A clause is non-restrictive if it is not strictly necessary to the meaning of the sentence. It can be left out and the sentence will still be logical. The non-restrictive clause merely gives the reader extra information. Imagine that you could lift the non-restrictive clause out of the sentence, using the commas as handles, and the sentence could still function. That is why the clause is called “non-restrictive”: it does not restrict the sentence, or the sentence is not restricted to containing the clause.

Examples:
Non-traditional students, who are generally highly motivated, tend to do well on the sample tests.
The cat, who had already spent eight of his nine lives, was spared from tragedy once again.

In both examples containing non-restrictive clauses, the material between commas could be “lifted” out without changing the general meaning of the sentences. That material gives extra but not essential information. In sentences containing restrictive clauses, the material cannot be “lifted” out and should not be enclosed by commas.

4. 4. Sentences Classified by Structure

4. Sentences Classified by Structure

The Four Structures of Sentences Sentences can be classified by the number and kind of clauses
they contain.

Examples of compound clauses

 *I‘m happy, but my kids are always complaining.

  *Robert doesn’t eat meat, so Barbara made a special vegetarian dish for him.

 *My brother and I went to the mall last night, but we didn’t buy anything.

* This new laptop computer has already crashed twice, and I have no idea why.

Complex Sentence

• I’m happy, even though I don’t make much money.
• Robert, a friend I’ve known since high school, doesn’t eat meat.
• My brother and I went to the mall last night, while my sister stayed home and studied.
• This new laptop computer, which I bought yesterday, has already crashed twice.

Compound-Complex Sentence

• I’m happy, even though I don’t make much money, but my kids are always complaining since we can’t afford to buy the newest toys.

5. Sentences Classified by Purpose

• 5. Sentences Classified by Purpose

• Just as there are four different sentence structures, there are four basic sentence purposes.
  • a declarative sentence makes a statement, or declaration: Cake is delicious.
  • an imperative sentence is used to command or request: I want more cake now.
  • an interrogative sentence poses a question: Do you like cake?
  • an exclamatory sentence exclaims something: Cake is the best dessert ever

6. Sentence Punctuation

• 6. Sentence Punctuation

• Two INDEPENDENT CLAUSES may be joined in three ways to coordinate the flow of meaning in a sentence.
•  1. use a semicolon to create one sentence:
•  independent clause ; (space) independent clause
  Jane walked to the store; her brother walked with her.
•  2. use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So) to create one sentence:
•  independent clause , (space) coordinating conjunction independent clause
  Jane walked to the store, and her brother walked with her.

3. use a semi-colon and one of the following transitional words: accordingly, also, consequently, for example, furthermore, however, indeed; in fact, moreover, nevertheless, on the other hand, otherwise, so, still, then therefore, thus, too
NOTE: A semi-colon is used ONLY when these words are used to join two independent clauses.