Clause

(Not Santa)

Definition: A group of words that contains

a subject and a verb

After this lesson I will be able to…

determine the difference between a dependent and independent clause, and identify them in a sentence.

There are two kinds of clauses:

Independent

and

Dependent

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

A clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand

alone.

AKA a sentence

Examples of INDEPENDENT CLAUSES

he memorized a poem last night

Mary will read her poem

many people enjoy poetry

When an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE starts with a capital

letter and ends with a period or question mark, it

is a SENTENCE.

He memorized a poem.

Mary will read her poem at school.

Many people enjoy poetry.

DEPENDENT CLAUSE

A clause that DOES NOT express a complete thought

AND

CANNOT stand by itself as a sentence

Examples of DEPENDENT CLAUSES

because he memorized a poem

when Mary reads her poem at school

since many people enjoy poetry

A DEPENDENT CLAUSE will be a FRAGMENT when the

clause begins with a capital letter and ends in a period or question mark.

THIS IS A GRAMMATICAL ERROR!

Because he memorized a poem.

What makes a clause DEPENDENT?

A clause is dependent when it begins with a subordinate word.

Examples: when, while, which, because, since, unless, etc.

A DEPENDENT CLAUSE needs an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE to create a true

sentence.

Because he memorized a poem, Cooper will receive

extra credit.

Cooper will receive extra credit because he memorized

a poem.

I CAN…

determine the difference between a dependent and independent clause, and identify them in a sentence.

Let’s Practice!

Independent Clause = “I”

Dependent Clause = “D”

If it is dependent, rewrite it to make it a complete sentence

REWRITE:

although it was rainingD

REWRITE:

John saw squirrels playingI

REWRITE:

whenever she gets poor grades in math

D

REWRITE:

when you finish your homework

D

REWRITE:

I didn’t want to wear a jacketI

REWRITE:

because you had to drive to a meeting

D

REWRITE:

When an independent clause and a dependent clause are put together to form one sentence we call it a COMPLEX sentence.

PUNCTUATION:When the dependent

clause comes first, it is usually followed by a

comma.

When the rain stops, the game will begin.

PUNCTUATION:When the dependent

clause comes last, there is generally no comma.

The game will begin when the rain stops.

Let’s Practice!

REWRITE each complex sentence by changing the order of the independent and dependent clauses.

Underling the independent clause in each complex sentence

I got to work late because I had car trouble.

Rewrite: Because I had car trouble, I got to work late.

1. Rewrite the sentence2. Underline the independent clause in your new sentence

Whenever she’s nervous, she bites her nails.

Rewrite: She bites her nails whenever she is nervous.

1. Rewrite the sentence2. Underline the independent clause in your new sentence

If I had a job like yours, I would quit!

Rewrite: I would quit if I had a job like yours!

1. Rewrite the sentence2. Underline the independent clause in your new sentence

Many people watch too much TV although they know better.

Rewrite: Although they know better, many people watch too much TV.

1. Rewrite the sentence2. Underline the independent clause in your new sentence