Clauses Review

Clauses Grammar Review

Clauses

Independent Clauses

• A complete sentence:

  • At least one subject.

  • At least one verb.

  • A complete thought (no subordinating conjunctions or relative clauses).

Clauses

Dependent / Subordinate Clauses

• A sentence fragment. Contains:

  • At least one subject.

  • At least one verb.

• Missing a complete thought.

• Begin with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun.

Subordinating Conjunctions

after although as as if as long as as much as as soon as

as though because before by the time even if even though

if in case in order that in the event that lest now that once

only only if provided that since so supposing than

that though till unless until when whenever where

whereas wherever whether or not while

Multiple Choice

Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer.

• Independent clause

• Dependent / Subordinate Clause

Multiple Choice

Because he wouldn’t wear a seat belt.

• Independent Clause

• Dependent / Subordinate Clause

Because...

...is a subordinating conjunction. It creates dependent clauses with the purpose of connecting them to an independent clause.

The full sentence could be:
Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer because he wouldn’t wear a seat belt.

Other examples...

• Batman required strict compliance with seat belt rules, hence Robin was not allowed to ride in the Batmobile.

• Since Robin refused to wear his seat belt, Batman has banned him from the Batmobile.

  
  

Relative Pronouns

• Which (non-essential clauses)

• That (essential clauses)

• Who

• Whom

• Whose

Elements of a Clause

Verbs / Predicates

The predicate is the part of a sentence (or clause) that tells us what the subject does or is.

Everything revolves around the main verb (predicate) of the clause. Find it first.

Multiple Choice

What is the verb / predicate?

Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer.

• Wasn't

• Allowed

• Was(n't) allowed

• Longer

Multiple Select

Identify the compound predicates.

Batman fought crime and kept the streets of Gotham safe from villains like the Penguin.

• safe

• fought

• like

• kept

Elements of a Clause

Subjects

A subject is a part of a sentence that contains the person or thing performing the action (or verb) in a sentence.

You can have a single subject or compound subjects that are joined by conjunctions.

Multiple Choice

What is the subject?

Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer.

• Robin

• Batmobile

• Longer

• Allowed

Multiple Select

Identify the compound subjects.

Batman and Robin were crimefighters.

• Batman

• were

• crimefighters

• Robin

Elements of a Clause

Subject Complements

Follows a LINKING VERB only.
Describes or renames the subject.
Can be a noun (predicate nominative) or adjective (predicate adjective).

Multiple Choice

Identify the subject complement:

Batman is a serious crimefighter.

• Batman

• Serious

• Crimefighter

Receives the direct object.
Answers "to whom?" or "for whom?"
NEVER in a prepositional phrase.

Indirect Object

Receives the action of the verb.
Answers "Who?" or "What?"
Follows an ACTION VERB only.
NEVER in a prepositional phrase.

Direct Object

Elements of a Clause

Multiple Choice

Identify the direct object:

Batman sent Robin a signal to alert him of the impending danger.

• Batman

• Robin

• signal

• danger

Multiple Choice

Identify the indirect object:

Batman sent Robin a signal to alert him of the impending danger.

• Batman

• Robin

• signal

• danger

Gerunds

Gerunds are a type of verbal.

They end in -ing and act as nouns.

In a clause, they may act as a subject, direct object, object of the preposition, or subject complement (predicate nominative).

Multiple Choice

Step 1: Identify the gerund:

Crime fighting is Batman and Robin's daily mission.

• Crime

• fighting

• Batman and Robin

• mission

Multiple Choice

Step 2: Identify the function of the gerund:

Crime fighting is Batman and Robin's daily mission.

• Subject

• Direct Object

• Subject Complement

• Object of the Preposition

Subject-Verb Agreement

A subject and its verb must be both singular or both plural.

A singular subject takes a singular verb

John lives in France.

A plural subject takes a plural verb

Their arguments are well-supported and organized.

If a subject is modified by the words “each” or “every” that subject is singular.

Rule 2

Singular subjects joined by the conjunction AND are generally plural.

Rule 1

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

Indefinite pronouns are usually singular.

Rule 4

If plural subjects are joined by “or,” “nor,” or “but,” the verb must only agree with the

subject that is closest to it.

Rule 3

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

Some indefinite pronouns and nouns will be singular or plural depending on the object of the prepositional phrase. These words are always about number or amount such as: all, half, some, none, most, part, etc.

Rule 5

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

In a question or in a sentence that begins with there or here, the verb will often come

before the subject. (Here and There are never subjects).

Rule 7

Collective nouns, such as family, group, committee, or class, is the subject, are treated as singular.

Rule 6

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

Batman and Robin swing/swings through the city at night.

• swing

• swings

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

Each mission require / requires the combined efforts of Batman and Robin.

• require

• requires

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

Either Batman or the many Robins is / are protecting Gotham tonight.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

Everyone admire / admires Batman's courage and dedication.

• admire

• admires

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

All of Batman's villains is / are afraid of the Caped Crusader.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

The Bat family fight / fights crime together.

• fight

• fights

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct verb:

There is / are many villains in Gotham.

• is

• are

Additional Practice

Multiple Select

Identify the verbs / predicates:

The fearless Batman and his loyal sidekick, Robin, combat the forces of evil that plague Gotham City.

• combat

• plague

• forces

• evil

Multiple Select

Identify the subjects:

The fearless Batman and his loyal sidekick, Robin, combat the forces of evil that plague Gotham City.

• Batman

• sidekick

• That

• Robin

Multiple Choice

How many clauses total (both dependent and independent)?

The fearless Batman and his loyal sidekick, Robin, combat the forces of evil that plague Gotham City.

• 1

• 2

• 3

• clauses?

Multiple Choice

What type of dependent clause?

The fearless Batman and his loyal sidekick, Robin, combat the forces of evil that plague Gotham City.

• Subordinating conjunction

• Relative clause

• Independent Clause

Multiple Select

Identify the direct objects:

The fearless Batman and his loyal sidekick, Robin, combat the forces of evil that plague Gotham City.

• forces

• evil

• Robin

• Gotham City

Multiple Select

Identify the verbs / predicates:

Because he wants to help, the steadfast Alfred is Batman's loyal butler, a trusted confidant who provides unwavering support.

• wants

• is

• trusted

• provides

Multiple Select

Identify the subjects:

Because he wants to help, the steadfast Alfred is Batman's loyal butler, a trusted confidant who provides unwavering support.

• he

• Alfred

• butler

• who

Multiple Choice

Identify the clauses:

Because he wants to help, the steadfast Alfred is Batman's loyal butler, a trusted confidant who provides unwavering support.

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

Identify the direct objects:

Because he wants to help, the steadfast Alfred is Batman's loyal butler, a trusted confidant who provides unwavering support.

• Batman

• butler

• confidant

• support

Multiple Choice

Identify the subject complements:

Because he wants to help, the steadfast Alfred is Batman's loyal butler, a trusted confidant who provides unwavering support.

• Batman

• butler

• confidant

• support

Multiple Select

Identify the verbs / predicates:

The Riddler, while he plans a bank robbery, sends Batman a cryptic message, and he plants some extra bombs around Gotham, too.

• plans

• sends

• message

• plants

Multiple Select

Identify the subjects:

The Riddler, while he plans a bank robbery, sends Batman a cryptic message, and he plants some extra bombs around Gotham, too.

• Riddler

• sendshe

• Batman

• bombs

Multiple Choice

Identify the clauses:

The Riddler, while he plans a bank robbery, sends Batman a cryptic message, and he plants some extra bombs around Gotham, too.

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Select

Identify the direct objects:

The Riddler, while he plans a bank robbery, sends Batman a cryptic message, and he plants some extra bombs around Gotham, too.

• robbery

• Batman

• message

• bombs

Multiple Select

Identify the indirect objects:

The Riddler, while he plans a bank robbery, sends Batman a cryptic message, and he plants some extra bombs around Gotham, too.

• robbery

• Batman

• message

• bombs