Type 1:

• Draw a picture that depicts an independent person and a

dependent person.OR

• List five differences between an independent person and a

dependent person.

Grammar Lesson:

Independent and Dependent Clauses.

Clause:a group of words with a subject and a predicate.

Unless it rains today

Clause example #1

Although his zipper broke

Clause example #2

When the teacher fainted

Clause example #3

Wait a minute…

• Did you notice that each of those clauses left you hanging?

• Did you find yourself saying, “Yes, go on”?

• That’s the natural reaction because none of those clauses expresses a complete thought.

• They were all dependent clauses!

Dependent Clauses• A clause that expresses an

incomplete or partial thought. • It is not a complete sentence; it

can’t stand on its own.– Why?

• It depends on another group of words to express a complete thought.

unless it rains todayWe are going on a picnic

Although his zipper broke,he wore the pants anyway.

When the teacher fainted,I called Mrs. Scheibe.

• All of those added groups of words can stand on their own…–We are going on a picnic.–I called Mrs. Scheibe.–He wore them anyway.

• These are independent clauses!

Independent Clauses

• A clause that expresses a complete thought; it can stand on its own.

• Does NOT depend on another group of words to express a complete thought (hence the name independent).

Identify a dependent clause (DC) and an independent clause (IC) :

1. The Trojans were winning the war until Achilles returned to battle.

IC DC– The Trojans were winning the war until Achilles

returned to battle.

2. When Sojourner Truth spoke, her powerful words moved everyone in the audience.

DC IC– When Sojourner Truth spoke, her powerful words

moved everyone in the audience.

Let’s add on…

• Dependent Clauses often begin with words like if, whether, since, when, etc. These are called subordinating conjunctions.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions:

• after• although• as• as if• as much as• as though• because• before• how

• if• in order that• provided• since• so that• than • that • though• unless

• until• when• whenever• where• wherever• while

Subordinating Conjunctions…

• might be located in between the clauses it joins:– I gasped when I saw the headline. IC DC

• might be located at the beginning of a sentence: – When I saw the headline, I gasped.

DC IC

Comma Rule:

Subordinating conjunction + dependent clause at the

beginning of a sentence = comma before the independent

clause.

Ex: When I saw the headline, I gasped.

DC IC

Find the dependent and independent clause. Decide if a

comma is needed.1. While some scientists map the human

genome others map the genes of worms.

2. After they had worked for about eight years scientists had sequenced 99 percent of a worm’s genes.

3. Scientists can learn much from this particular worm because it shares many genes with humans.

Where would you put a comma?1. While some scientists map the human

genome, others map the genes of worms.

2. After they had worked for about eight years, scientists had sequenced 99 percent of a worm’s genes.

3. Scientists can learn much from this particular worm because it shares many genes with humans.

(No comma needed because the dependent clause is essential to the meaning of the

sentence.)

Writing Activity:• Write a sentence that you could use

in your persuasive letter using the following patterns: – Subordinating Conjunction +

Dependent Clause + comma + Independent Clause

– Independent Clause + “because” + Dependent Clause (no comma needed)

NOTE:

• Some words can be used as either prepositions or as subordinating conjunctions:

• Example:– After the election, we celebrated.– After we won the election, we

celebrated.

– Which is which? How do you know?

NOTE:• Some words can be used as either

prepositions or as subordinating conjunctions:– After the election, we celebrated.

• Prepositions begin prepositional phrases which do not contain a subject and/or a predicate.

– After we won the election, we celebrated.• Subordinating conjunctions begin

dependent clauses which contain a subject and a predicate.

Type 2 - Select one:

• Define the following sentence structures:

1. Sentence2. Phrase3. Clause• Provide an

example for each.

• What is the difference

between these three sentence structures: a sentence , a

phrase, and a clause?