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Diagramming Dependent Clauses. Adjective, Adverb and Noun Clauses. What is a Clause?. MEMORIZE these two definitions: a PHRASE is a group of words without a subject and verb, used as a single part of speech a CLAUSE is a group of words with a subject and verb. We have already studied.
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Diagramming Dependent Clauses Adjective, Adverb and Noun Clauses
What is a Clause? • MEMORIZE these two definitions: • a PHRASE is a group of words without a subject and verb, used as a single part of speech • a CLAUSE is a group of words with a subject and verb
We have already studied • two kinds of PHRASES (with or without S/V?) • Verb phrase: a main verb and all its helpers (Ex. Rex has been chasing cars.) • Prepositional phrase: a preposition, its object and any modifiers of the object (Ex. Rex ran through the dark woods.) NOTICE!! A verb phrasehas no subject within it. But a SENTENCE always has a subject and a verb. So every sentence you have studied thus far has been a CLAUSE.
This means… • You have been studying one kind of clause— • MAIN or INDEPENDENT CLAUSE: a group of works with a subject and verb that can stand alone NOW!! We will study • DEPENDENT or SUBORDINATE CLAUSE: a group of words with a subject and verb that CANNOT STAND ALONE and that is used as a single part of speech GET EXCITED!
Just a reminder: • A sentence always includes AT LEAST ONE MAIN CLAUSE. For a sentence is “a group of words with a subject and verb expressing a complete thought.”
And Now-- Cue the drum roll, please! We will learn about groups of words with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone Babies cannot stand alone! They are dependent! This is what FRIGHTENS ME!!
Why would we need dependent clauses? • Let’s think back to our study of modifiers. We found we needed more information about our subjects and verbs. First we studied one-word modifiers: Rex barked yesterday. But what if we wanted to be more specific?: Rex barked in the afternoon. Now a whole phrase is modifying the subject and verb.
Check this out: Rex barked when the mailman came. So what the heck do we do with this?! noun verb Conjunction adjective
Rex barked when the mailman came Now we have something with a conjunction, adjective, noun and verb…but it is a UNIT. Did the mailman do the coming? Yes, so we have a subject and a verb—another one! RATS! What we have in “when the mailman came” is a GROUP OF WORDS • with a subject and a verb • that cannot stand alone (try it!) • that is used as a single part of speech (an adverb that answers “when?”)
A Dependent (subordinate) CLAUSE What is a clause again? a GROUP OF WORDS • with a subject and a verb • that cannot stand alone (try it!) • that is used as a single part of speech (an adverb that answers “when?”)
When did Rex bark? SO!: Prepositional PHRASES: DEPENDENT CLAUSES: Yesterday (an adverb) In the afternoon (An adverb phrase) When the mailman came (An adverb clause) • Adverb phrases • Adjective phrases • Adverb clauses • Adjective clauses • Noun clauses We are going to begin here—they’re the easiest!
Rex barked when the mailman came. Rex barked mailman came when the
Let’s practice with these: • Rex barked after the mailman left. • Rex barked because he hates the mailman. • Rex barked until the sun went down. • If he does not stop barking, Rex will be very sorry. • Since Rex started barking, three people have called. What do you observe about adverb clauses from these examples?
What do you observe about ADVERB CLAUSES from these examples? • ACs answer “why” and some other strange things. What does “if” answer? It tells something like “under what circumstances?” (Maybe answering “how”?) • ACs are introduced by a connecting word. These sentences had after, because, until, if and since. • ACs, like other adverbs may move to the front of the sentence. • When the AC comes first, it is followed by a comma: “Since Rex started barking, three people have called.”
What is the difference here? Rex ran after the ball. Rex barked after the mailman came. Subordinating conjunction Preposition
Subordinating Conjunctions • Introduce an adverb clause • Joins a clause to a main clause • There are TONS of them! • How many words can you think of to fill the dashed line? they left it rained
Subordinating=something of lower rank • Nellie caught the ball. • Because Nellie caught the ball • Which one can stand alone? Why? • Thus, • Coordinating conjunctions: joins two equal words, phrases or clauses (FANBOYS) • Subordinating conjunctions: _________________
What about this? Nellie is taller than Harry. Nellie is as tall as Mary. EEK!! What’s wrong here? Some words are left out—which ones?
Than always = conjunction Nellie is taller Harry (is) (tall) An elliptical expression (clause) is one which has some words left out. than
Nellie is tall Mary (is) (tall) as as
Try These: • You like Millie better than I. • You like Millie better than me.