ABAC Writing Center Basic Grammar Workshop

1. ABAC Writing CenterBasic Grammar Workshop Clauses (subjects, verbs, phrases, AND independent, dependent, introductory, subordinating, and coordinating clauses)

3. Subject The subject tells who or what the sentence is about: The successful student studies very hard for the final exam. It is a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun that identifies what is performing the action of the sentence.

4. Verb The verb tells what the subject is doing or feeling: The successful student studies very hard for the final exam. It is often useful to identify the main verb of the sentence first. That makes identifying the subject much easier.

5. Phrases A phrase is any group of words that functions as a single grammatical part of a sentence, but it does not have a subject � verb relationship. A noun phrase: The boy who rode his bike down the hill A verb phrase: racing wildly through the streets A prepositional phrase: around the house

6. Clauses - general A clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a verb.� There are many different kinds of clauses. Independent Dependent Introductory Subordinating Coordinating

7. Independent Clause Can stand by itself and still make sense Could be its own sentence Is combined with other independent clauses and with dependent clauses Are sometimes called essential, main, or restrictive clauses.�

8. Independent Clauses - examples Educators say teaching has changed over the years. Teaching used to consist mostly of lectures, but now the emphasis is on student participation. Classrooms even look different now; technology has made its way into education. Learning occurs best when a variety of methods are used to present information.

9. Combining Independent Clauses Independent clauses can be connected in a variety of ways:� 1. With a comma and coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so).� 2. With a semicolon, by itself.� 3. With a semicolon accompanied by a conjunctive adverb (such as however, moreover, nevertheless, as a result, consequently, etc.).� 4. And, of course, they can be left unconnected and separated by a period.

10. Dependent Clause Cannot stand by itself Depends on an independent clause for its meaning. By itself would be a sentence fragment Are sometimes called subordinate, nonessential, or nonrestrictive clauses

11. Dependent Clauses Dependent clauses can be identified and classified according to their grammatical role in the sentence. Noun clauses can be subjects, objects, and objects of prepositions.� Adverb clauses tell something about the sentence�s main verb: when, why, under what conditions.� Adjective clauses modify nouns or pronouns in the rest of the sentence. �

12. Dependent Clauses/Coordinating Clauses Dependent clauses can be identified and classified according to their functional role in the sentence.� Introductory clauses introduce the context of the main independent clause and are usually adverb clauses (a kind of subordinating clause) Subordinating clauses add information to the independent clause and often use relative pronouns or subordinating conjunctions Coordinating clauses � are independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction

13. Introductory clauses According to the textbook, dinosaurs roamed the earth for a longer period than mankind has. After I send this letter, I will be happy to go to lunch with you. When the bell rings, you may leave quietly.

14. Subordinating clauses Suggest unequal importance between information in main clause and subordinate clause Often use subordinating conjunctions There are many subordinating conjunctions. Here are a few of the most common ones: after because since although before unless as if until I could not see the road clearly because the lights were too dim. Although the team won the game, they were still in last place in the standings.

15. Coordinating clauses Two or more independent clauses joined together to give each separate idea approximately equal importance. The dog barked very loudly, so the neighbor called the police. The dog barked very loudly; the neighbor called the police. The dog barked very loudly; therefore, the neighbor called the police.