1. Phrases, Independent Clauses, and Dependent Clauses
Sentence Structure
Phrases, Independent Clauses, and Dependent Clauses

2. Sentences
A sentence is a group of words with a subject and a predicate.
Good sentences convey a complete thought.
Good sentences make sense.

3. What is a Subject?
The subject of a sentence usually tells who or what the sentence is about.
Ms. Shermulis is my English teacher.
Subject
My cell phone was stolen from my locker.

4. What is a Predicate?
The predicate of a sentence tells about the subject or tells what the subject is doing.
Ms. Shermulis is my English teacher.
Predicate
My cell phone was stolen from my locker.

5. Examples The bully picked on the helpless child.
Subject Predicate
She asked him to the dance.
Subject Predicate
The internet went down.
Subject Predicate
The test was really difficult.
Subject Predicate

6. Clauses and Phrases
Clause: A part of a sentence which contains its own subject and predicate.
Phrase: A part of a sentence which does not contain its own subject and predicate.

7. Two Types of Clauses
1. Independent Clause: Makes sense on its own. Can stand alone as a sentence. This is sometimes referred to as the main clause.
2. Dependent Clause: Does not make sense on its own. Cannot stand alone as a sentence. This is sometimes referred to as the subordinate clause.

8. Examples After school, Katie studied for her test.
Phrase Independent Clause
After she finished studying, she went to work.
Dependent Clause Independent Clause
Katie felt a lot better after she studied for the test.
Independent Clause Dependent Clause

9. Your Turn! P = Phrase IC = Independent Clause DC = Dependent Clause
Directions: Underline and identify the phrases and clauses in each of the following sentences.
P = Phrase
IC = Independent Clause
DC = Dependent Clause

10. #1
After school, Katie works at the grocery store.

11. After school, Katie works at the store. Answer to #1
Phrase
works at the store.
Independent Clause

12. #2
Mark went to the store
after he finished studying.

13. Mark went to the store after he finished studying. Answer to #2
Independent Clause
after he finished studying.
Dependent Clause

14. After Mark finished studying, he went to the store.#3
After Mark finished studying,
he went to the store.

15. he went to the store. After Mark finished studying, Answer to #3
Dependent Clause
he went to the store.
Independent Clause

16. Before the baseball game, Katie went home to study.#4
Before the baseball game, Katie went home to study.

17. game, Katie went home to study.
Answer #4
Before the baseball
Phrase
game, Katie went home to study.
Independent Clause

18. When he gets his new car, Matt will drive everyone to school.#5
When he gets his new car, Matt will drive everyone to school.

19. new car, Matt will drive everyone to school.
Answer #5
When he gets his
Dependent Clause
new car, Matt will drive everyone to school.
Independent Clause

20. Run-On Sentence
A run-on sentence consists of two or more independent clauses with no punctuation or connector between them.

21. Examples of Run-Ons
I have many goals I want to accomplish in life I have to finish high school first.
We headed off to the game during the rain the rain stopped before we got there.

22. Comma Splice
A comma splice is like a run-on sentence, except that a comma separates the two independent clauses. Comma splices must be corrected.

23. Examples of Comma Splices
I have many goals I want to accomplish in life, I have to finish high school first.
We headed off to the game during the rain, the rain stopped before we got there.

24. Three Ways to Make it Right
Turn the two independent clauses into separate sentences by adding an end mark and a capital letter.
Add a comma + conjunction
Separate the two independent clauses with a semi-colon (;).

25. Examples
I have many goals I want to accomplish in life. I have to finish high school first.
2. I have many goals I want to accomplish in life, but I have to finish high school first.
3. I have many goals I want to accomplish in life; I have to finish high school first.

26. More Examples
We headed off to the game during the rain. The rain stopped before we got there.
We headed off to the game during the rain, but the rain stopped before we got there.
We headed off to the game during the rain; the rain stopped before we got there.

27. Your Turn!
Correct the run-ons and comma splices. Some sentences are correct.

28. #1
I like pizza with pepperoni and sausage Katie likes onion and extra cheese on her pizza.

29. Answer #1
I like pizza with pepperoni and sausage. Katie likes onion and extra cheese on her pizza. OR
2. I like pizza with pepperoni and sausage, and Katie likes onion and extra cheese on her pizza.

30. Answer #1
OR I like pizza with pepperoni and sausage; Katie likes onion and extra cheese on her pizza.

31. I ate all my pizza, I could not finish the breadsticks.#2
I ate all my pizza, I could not finish the breadsticks.

32. I ate all my pizza. I could not finish the breadsticks. Or
Answer #2
I ate all my pizza. I could not finish the breadsticks. Or
2. I ate all my pizza, but I could not finish the breadsticks.

33. I ate all my pizza; I could not finish the breadsticks.
Answer #2 Or
I ate all my pizza; I could not finish the breadsticks.

34. After I finished my pizza, I went to softball practice.#3
After I finished my pizza, I went to softball practice.

35. After I finished my pizza, I went to softball practice.
Answer #3
Correct!
After I finished my pizza, I
Dependent Clause
went to softball practice.
Independent Clause