Complex Sentences and Clauses

1. Complex Sentences and Clauses

2. Clause • A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate. • It may express a complete thought or not. • See text for more information.

3. Punctuation for clauses • When a dependent introductory clause comes at the beginning of a sentence, use a comma to separate it from the independent clause. • If the dependent clause comes at the end of the sentence, no comma is needed.

4. Look at this sentence to illustrate …. • Because Ryan arrived late, he was criticized. • Because Ryan arrived late is a dependent clause and it appears at the beginning of the sentence, you must use a comma following it.

5. Here’s another example … • Although it was still dark out, Jim was getting ready for work. • Although it was dark out is the dependent clause; it appears at the beginning of the sentence and therefore a comma will follow the clause.

6. Independent clause … • Ryan was criticized because he arrived late. • When the dependent clause is at the end of the sentence, no comma separates it from the independent clause.

7. One more example … • Jim was getting ready for worth although it was still dark out. • … although it was still dark out is a dependent clause and it completes the sentence. NO comma is used to separate it from the remainder of the sentence.

8. Make up a Yes-No question • To determine whether a clause is independent or not, make up a Yes or No question about the clause’s statement. An independent clause leads to a sensible question; a dependent clause does not.

9. One last thought … • When you combine thoughts or sentences, you may find one thought becomes a dependent clause. • Whether you use a comma or not depends on where you put that dependent clause.