Definition: a group of words that contains a subject and a verb Clause …not Santa Definition: a group of words that contains a subject and a verb

II. There are two kinds of clauses: A. Independent (IC) and B. Dependent (Subordinate) (DC)

A clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone. A. Independent A clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone. AKA A SENTENCE

Examples of Independent Clauses: *he memorized a poem last night *Mary will read her poem *many people enjoy poetry

When an independent clause (IC) starts with a capital letter and ends with a period or question mark, it is a SENTENCE. *He memorized a poem. *Mary will read her poem at school. *Many people enjoy poetry.

Dependent (or subordinate ) clause (DC) It does not express a complete thought and It cannot stand by itself as a sentence

Examples of Dependent (Subordinate Clauses) *because he memorized a poem *when Mary reads her poem at school *since many people enjoy poetry

A dependent/subordinate clause (DC) will be a FRAGMENT when the clause begins with a capital letter and ends with a period or question mark. This is a grammatical ERROR!. * Because he memorized a poem. *When Mary reads her poem at school tomorrow. *Since many people enjoy poetry.

What makes one clause independent and another dependent? ...because he memorized a poem… He memorized a poem.

…when Mary read her poem at school... Mary read her poem at school.

What makes a clause dependent/subordinate? A clause is dependent/subordinate (DC) when it begins with a subordinate word. …a few examples… Who When While Which That Since Because Unless etc. etc. etc. Sometimes the subordinate word is understood to be present.

Sometimes the subject of the dependent/subordinate clause (DC) is a pronoun. Examples: April, which is my favorite month, is going to be cold this year. Subject of DC is “which.” Verb of DC is “is.” The flower that grew in my yard was a rose. Subject of DC is “that.” Verb of DC is “grew.”

A dependent/subordinate clause (DC) needs an independent clause (IC) to create a true sentence.

Because he memorized a poem, Mike will receive extra credit. Mike will receive extra credit because he memorized a poem.

We will applaud when Mary reads her poem at school. When Mary reads her poem at school, we will applaud. We will applaud when Mary reads her poem at school.

When the rain stops, the game will begin. Punctuation: When the dependent clause (DC) comes first, it is usually followed by a comma. When the rain stops, the game will begin.

The game will begin when the rain stops. Punctuation: When the dependent clause (DC) comes last, there is generally no comma. The game will begin when the rain stops.

Relative Pronouns: ( Relative adverbs are: when / where ) that which who whom whose Words that introduce Noun Clauses: how that what whatever when whether which who whoever whom whomever why Subordinating Conjunctions: after as though since when although because so that whenever as before than where as if how though wherever as long as if unless whether as soon as in order that until while