What is a Clause?

1
What is a Clause?
2
Definition of a Clause

• A clause is a group of words that has at least
  one subject and predicate pair.
• The subject/predicate pair must work together
  to show what someone or something is doing in the
  past present or future.

3
Definition of a Clause Examples of
Subject/Predicate Pairs Working Together

• Micayla is writing a novel.
• Subject Micayla Simple Predicate is writing
• Shows what Micayla is doing now.
• Hannah will edit her work.
• Subject Hannah Simple Predicate will edit
• Shows what Hannah will do.
• She has written several novels this year.
• Subject She Simple Predicate has written
• Shows what she has done.

4
Definition of a Clause Subject/Predicate Pairs

• The subject/predicate pair could also show
  that someone or something exists in the past,
  present or future.

5
Definition of a Clause Subject and Predicate

• Andrew is in his seat.
• Subject Andrew Simple Predicate is
• Andrew is existing in his seat. He is not
  doing anything.
• Jacob will be on the top of the mountain soon.
• Subject Jacob Simple predicate will be
• Jacob will be existing on top of the
  mountain. He will not be doing anything once he
  gets there.
• Wade had been at practice all of last week.
• Subject Wade Simple Predicate had been
• Wade was existing at practice.

6
Definition of a Clause Compound Subjects and
Predicates

• Point to remember
• Sometimes a simple subject or predicate can be
  compound. The compound subject and/or predicate
  still work together as a pair.
• Lillia and Brandi did exercises in their
  language books.
• Dusty raised his hand and participated in
  class.
• Jay, Nico, and Jon discussed the figurative
  language and found the correct answers.

7
Types of Clauses Independent Clauses

• A clause that stands alone as a complete
  thought is called an independent clause.
• An independent clause, also known as a
  simple sentence, has one simple subject and
  simple predicate pair or a compound simple
  subject or predicate as demonstrated in the last
  few slides.

8
Types of Clauses Subordinate (Dependent) Clauses

• sub- below, under, beneath, less than
• subordinate subservient, dependent

9
Types of Clauses Subordinate (Dependent) Clauses

• The subordinate clause DOES HAVE a
  subject/predicate pair or compound subject and/or
  predicate pair, BUT it DOES NOT stand alone as a
  complete thought or as a complete sentence.

10
Types of Clauses Dependent or Subordinate Clauses

• The dependent clause is completely helpless
  with the independent clause to complete or
  support its meaning.
• Example
• Because Cornelius May sailed the Delaware River,
  
• Cape May is named for him.

11
What Makes the Dependent, or Subordinate Clause,
a Clause?

• A clause is a group of words that has at least
  one subject and predicate pair.
• In spite of the fact that a subordinate clause
  does have a subject and predicate pair, it is
  still an incomplete thought and cant stand
  alone.

12
What Makes the Subordinate Clause Dependent?

• Examples of Subordinate Clauses
• After I ate the banana.
• Simple subject I Simple predicate ate
• Simple subject and predicate pair work together
  to show what I did in the past.
• Complete thought?
• No, the sentence does not tell what happened
  after I ate the banana.

13
What Makes the Subordinate Clause Dependent?

• Examples of subordinate clauses
• Since the man is seven feet tall.
• Simple Subject man Simple Predicate is
• The subject and predicate pair tell that the man
  exists as a tall person. The clause does not
  complete the thought that begins with since.

14
What Makes the Subordinate Clause Dependent?

• Because Noah and Ben are working hard.
• Simple subject (compound) Ben, Noah
• Simple predicate are working
• The clause does not complete the thought.
  Because they are working hardwhat?

15
What Makes the Subordinate Clause Dependent?

• A subordinate clause begins with a key word
  that makes it depend upon another sentence for
  its meaning.
• Because Noah and Ben are working hard.
• Because
• Since the man is seven feet tall.
• Since
• In many clauses removing this key word will
  make the word an independent clause and a
  complete sentence.

16
What Makes the Subordinate Clause Dependent?

• The key word that makes a subordinate clause
  dependent is called a
• Subordinating
• Conjunction.
• Subordinating conjunctions frequently connect
  two clauses, and they always make the clause they
  connect dependent.

17
Reminder

• Coordinating and correlative conjunctions
  connect two equal parts. These conjunctions do
  not create dependent clauses.
• Coordinating and, but, or, nor, for, yet
• Correlative Not onlybut also Bothand
  eitheror neithernot whetheror.

18
What Makes the Subordinate Clause Dependent?

• The following is a list of common subordinating
  conjunctions that make subordinate clauses.
• after how till ( or 'til) although if unless as
  inasmuch   until as if in order that when as long
  as lest whenever as much as now that where as
  soon as provided (that)   wherever as though
  since while because so that before than even if
  that even though    though

19
Beware!

• The common subordinating conjunctions are
  sometimes other parts of speech such as
  prepositions.

20
Clause or Not?

• After a long sailing voyage.
• Hmmm. Might be a clause because it begins with
  after. After is sometimes a subordinating
  conjunction.
• How do we know if this is a clause? It must
  have a subject/predicate pair.
• A, long, sailing, are all adjectives
  describe the noun voyage so this is not a clause.
  (It is a prepositional phrase).
• Spain colonized California.
• After Mexico won indepedence.

21
Clause or Not?

• American settlers traveled to California.
• Hm. Might be an independent clause because it
  expresses a complete thought.
• Does it have a subject and predicate pair?
• settlers traveled
• It is a clause. It is independent.

22
Clause or Not?

• Because it has an excellent climate.
• It might be a clause because it begins with
  because, a subordinating conjunction.
• Does it have a subject/predicate pair?
• it has
• It does not stand on its own. It begins with
  a subordinating conjunction. It is a subordinate
  clause.

23
Clause or Not?

• The Dutch created a settlement.
• Independent Clause.
• As soon as the English arrived.
• Dependent clause
• During the Dutch-English conflict.
• Prepositional phrase
• When the Dutch settlers first came to New York.
• Dependent clause
• After the conflict was settled.
• Dependent clause

24
Online Practice

• http//grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/ind
  ep_clause_quiz.htm
• http//grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/qui
  z.pl/indep_clause_quiz2.htm
• http//www.csus.edu/owl/index/sent/clause_quiz.htm