Grammar 1 - Clauses and Sentences

English Grammar 1: Clauses and Sentences

What is a clause?

What is a clause?

A clause is a combination of words that have a SUBJECT and a VERB

What is a clause?

A clause is a combination of words that have a SUBJECT and a VERB
(He enjoyed) -> He is our SUBJECT, enjoyed is our VERB

• Also called the subordinating clause

• Depends on a main clause for meaning

• Doesn't make much sense alone

​Dependent clause

• Also called the main clause

• It makes complete sense on its own

• It doesn't depend on other sentences

Independent clause

Types of clauses

​Examples:

​Independent clause

Dependent clause

​He shouted

The cat was smarter

​What are the subjects and verbs from these two sentences?

​This is the Labeling Fairy, every time you see her, that means you feel to label the sentences accordingly

​Examples:

​Independent clause

Dependent clause

​He shouted

The cat was smarter

​Sub.

Verb

Verb

Sub.

​This sentences makes a lot of sense on its own, therefore its a independent clause

​This sentences doesn't make a lot of sense on its own. We might ask 'who' or 'what' is the cat smarter than. This is a dependent clause.

Multiple Choice

What is another name for a dependent clause?

• subordinate clause
• self-sufficient clause
• independent clause
• autonomous clause

Types of sentences

There are 4 types of sentences in English:
1. Simple
2. Complex
3. Compound
4. Compound complex

Types of sentences: 1. Simple

• A simple sentence has a subject and verb

• It contains one clause

• It makes sense independently, therefore it is an independent clause

​He is a good boy.

The tiger ran.

​Find the subject and verb in these sentences:

Types of sentences: 1. Simple

• A simple sentence has a subject and verb

• It contains one clause

• It makes sense independently, therefore it is an independent clause

​He is a good boy.

The tiger ran.

​Sub.

​Sub.

Verb

Verb

Multiple Choice

How many clauses does a simple sentence contain?

• 2
• 3
• 4
• 1

Multiple Choice

What type of clause does a simple sentence need?

• dependent clause
• subordinate clause
• independent clause
• compound clause

Types of sentences: 2. compound

Have you ever heard of a compound noun? These are nouns that use two separate words that are combined to make one noun.

Example: Bed + room = bedroom
Boy + friend = boyfriend

Open Ended

Give some more examples of compound nouns

Types of sentences: 2. compound

Compound sentences are similar to compound nouns. We need to connect 2 independent clauses (NOT dependent) and join them together with a coordinating conjunction

​He sang and she danced

​Label the sub and verb

Types of sentences: 2. compound

Compound sentences are similar to compound nouns. We need to connect 2 independent clauses (NOT dependent) and join them together with a coordinating conjunction

​He sang and she danced

​sub.

​sub.

v.

v.

​He sang.

​She danced.

​These two clauses make complete sentences on their own and don't depend on any other clauses. Therefore, what type of clause are they?

​He sang.

​She danced.

​These two clauses make complete sentences on their own and don't depend on any other clauses. Therefore, what type of clause are they?

​Independent
clause

​Independent
clause

​Remember, when two independent clauses are paired together and joined with a coordinating conjunction they make a compound sentence:

​He sang and she danced.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions help glue two independent clauses together to form a compound sentence. We can use the acronym FANBOYS to help us remember our coordinating conjunctions.

For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

Multiple Choice

What acronym can we use to help us remember our coordinating conjunctions?

• FANGIRL

• FANZOO
• FANMOMS
• FANBOYS

​It was raining, so I carried an umbrella

​Which word is the coordinating conjunction?

What are the 2 types of clauses used in this sentence?

​It was raining, so I carried an umbrella

​Which word is the coordinating conjunction?

What are the 2 types of clauses used in this sentence?

​coordinating conjunction

​Clause 1 = independent

​Clause 2 = independent

Types of sentences: 3. Complex

A complex sentence is a combination of an independent and dependent clause that are connected with a subordinating conjunction

​She smiled because I cracked a joke.

'​She smiled' is not a very complete sentence. We might ask why she smiled. This clause depends on the second clause to give it more information. What type of clause is it?

Types of sentences: 3. Complex

A complex sentence is a combination of an independent and dependent clause that are connected with a subordinating conjunction

​She smiled because I cracked a joke.

'​She smiled' is not a very complete sentence. We might ask why she smiled. This clause depends on the second clause to give it more information. What type of clause is it? Dependent Clause.

​Tip:

​Another reason that we know this sentence has a dependent clause and an independent clause is from the subordinating conjunction 'because'

​​She smiled because I cracked a joke.

​This tells us that we have a dependent (or subordinate) clause

What are subordinating conjunctions?

A subordinating conjunction glues a dependent (subordinate) clause to an independent clause.
We can use the acronym A WHITE BUS to help us remember some (but NOT ALL) common subordinate conjunctions:

Although, Whenever, However, If, Though, Even if, Because, Unless, Since

Multiple Choice

What acronym do we use for subordinate conjunctions? (between a dependent and independent clause)

• TOMBOYS

• A WHITE VAN

• A WHITE BUS

• FANBOYS

Multiple Choice

What acronym do we use for coordinating conjunctions? (between two independent clauses)

• TOMBOYS

• A WHITE VAN

• A WHITE BUS

• FANBOYS

Types of sentences: 4. Compound Complex

A compound complex sentence contains 2 or more independent clauses, and 1 or more dependent clauses. They are connected by a combination of subordinate and coordinating conjunctions.

​When class started, Roy came and Sam left.

​First, identify the three clauses

​​When class started, Roy came and Sam left.

​Clause 1

​Clause 2

​Clause 3

​Next, find the conjunctions and label them.

​​When class started, Roy came and Sam left.

​Clause 1

​Clause 2

​Clause 3

​Find the conjunctions and label them.

Subordinate conjunction

coordinating conjunction

​Now that we know which are our subordinating and coordinating conjunctions, we can identify what types of clauses we have.

​​When class started, Roy came and Sam left.

​Clause 1

​Clause 2

​Clause 3

Subordinate conjunction

coordinating conjunction

​Now that we know which are our subordinating and coordinating conjunctions, we can identify what types of clauses we have.

​Subordinate conjunction = subordinate (dependent) clause

​Coordinating conjunction = gluing together two independent clauses

​Therefore...

​When class started = dependent clause
Roy came = Independent clause
Sam left = Independent clause

​​When class started, Roy came and Sam left.

​Clause 1

​Clause 2

​Clause 3

Make sure to pay attention to the punctuation, as it separates the dependent clause from the independent clauses.

​Practice:

​My son cried when I left the room, but I didn't hear.

1. ​Find the 3 clauses

2. Find and label the conjunctions

3. Identify the types of clauses

​Practice:

​My son cried when I left the room, but I didn't hear.

1. ​Find the 3 clauses -> My son cried, I left the room, I didn't hear

2. Find and label the conjunctions -> When (subordinate conjunction) But (coordinating conjunction)

3. Identify the types of clauses -> My son cried (independent) when I left the room (dependent), but I didn't hear (independent)

Multiple Choice

Which one of these is NOT a type of sentence in English?

• Simple

• Complex

• Compound Complex

• Simple Complex

​Test your knowledge (independent vs. dependent clauses)

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