1. Sentence Basics Combining Clauses
“Sentence Basics” by Lorna Nelson is licensed under CC BY 4.0

2. Pre-test Which sentences are correct?
1. Mack is a fantastic mechanic; his garage has become the biggest one in town.
2. Because Mack is a fantastic mechanic
3. Mack is a fantastic mechanic so, his garage has become the biggest one in town.
Correct = 1

3. Independent Clauses
An independent clause is another name for a sentence. It can stand alone because it has a subject and a verb and it expresses a complete thought.
Which of the following is an independent clause?
Mack is a fantastic mechanic.
Because Mack is a fantastic mechanic.

4. Comma Splices and Fused Sentences
Remember, a comma splice = IC, IC
Mack is a fantastic mechanic, his garage has become one of the biggest in town.
A fused sentence = IC IC
Mack is a fantastic mechanic his garage has become one of the biggest in town.
Avoid comma splices and fused sentences!

5. Dependent Clauses
A dependent clause must be attached to the main part of your sentence, or you will have a sentence fragment. Dependent clauses may have a subject and a verb, but a they cannot stand on their own in academic text. Examples:
Because Mack is a fantastic mechanic
Although Mack is a fantastic mechanic
For example, a fantastic mechanic

6. Sentence Fragments
Along with comma splices and fused sentences, avoid sentence fragments in formal writing.
Ask me for extra practice if you need it!

7. Conjunctions join clauses
The FANBOYS are coordinating conjunctions.
IC = IC.
But other conjunctions, such as although and because, are used to subordinate one clause (make it dependent)
IC DC.
DC, IC.
Ask me for more practice with conjunctions if you need it!

8. Pre-Test: Combine these clauses in three ways
Mack is a fantastic mechanic
His garage has become the biggest one in town
Mack is a fantastic mechanic, so his garage has become the biggest one in town. (FANBOYS)
Mack is a fantastic mechanic; his garage has become the biggest one in town. (Semi-colon)
Because Mack is a fantastic mechanic, his garage has become the biggest one in town. (DC, IC)

9. 1. FANBOYS IC, fanboys IC. Fanboys = coordinating conjunctions
Comma before conjunction!
for
and
nor
but or
yet so

10. Use FANBOYS to combine these IC
1. Shawn drank seven beers on the way to the beach
He dropped his wallet into the toilet at Bojangle’s
FOR AND NOR BUT OR YET SO
Shawn drank seven beers on the way to the beach, and he dropped his wallet into the toilet at Bojangle’s.

11. IC, FANBOYS IC continued
2. Shawn dropped his wallet into the toilet
He had to fish it out bare-handed
FOR AND NOR BUT OR YET SO
Shawn dropped his wallet into the toilet, so he had to fish it out barehanded.
Remember, comma BEFORE FANBOYS

12. IC, FANBOYS IC continued
3. The picture of Mandy in his wallet did not get wet
The wallet now smells faintly of urine
FOR AND NOR BUT OR YET SO
The picture of Mandy in his wallet did not get wet, but the wallet now smells faintly of urine.

13. IC; IC
A semi-colon can be used to join two short, closely related independent clauses.
Mandy knew Shawn had a drinking problem ;
she wanted him to get help.
Mandy knew Shawn had a drinking problem; she wanted him to get help.

14. Combine these IC using (1)FANBOYS and (2) a semi-colon
Shawn’s devious friend Marcus was also in love with Mandy
He told her about the Bojangle’s incident
Shawn’s devious friend Marcus was also in love with Mandy, so he told her about the Bojangle’s incident.
Shawn’s devious friend Marcus was also in love with Mandy; he told her about the Bojangle’s incident.

15. DC, IC vs IC DC
Method # 3 for combining IC: Subordinate one of the clauses
DC, IC or IC DC
DC, IC: Because Mandy’s mother disliked Shawn, he tried to avoid Mandy’s family altogether.
IC DC: Shawn tried to avoid Mandy’s family altogether because Mandy’s mother disliked him.

16. Subordinating Conjunctions
Making one clause subordinate or dependent to the main clause requires a subordinating conjunction (or another part of speech), such as:
after although as if because even if how
since then that though unless when
where while
Because and although are two of the most common subordinating conjunctions

17. DC, IC vs IC DC
Although Marcus believed Mandy secretly adored him, she had no interest in him.
Mandy had no interest in Marcus although he believed she secretly adored him.
Is the main clause or the dependent clause underlined?

18. Write a sentence using because to make one clause dependent
1. DC, IC
2. IC DC
Mandy knew her mother detested Shawn
She never spoke about him at home
Mandy never spoke about Shawn at home
She knew her mother detested him

19. Answers to Practice
Because Mandy knew her mother detested Shawn, she never spoke about him at home.
Mandy never spoke about Shawn at home because she knew her mother detested him.

20. Combining Clauses: Method # 4
Review:
1. Comma, FANBOYS
2. Semi-colon
3. Subordinate one of the clauses: IC DC or DC, IC
Advanced method:
Conjunctive adverb
Think legalese! Use this to sound authoritative.

21. Method # 4
Even Mandy’s friends told her to stay away from Shawn; however, she ignored their advice.
Semi-colon + conjunctive adverb + comma
This stops the sentence cold and redirects, clarifies, or emphasizes it.
You can also make two sentences: They advised her against it. However, she ignored them.

22. Method # 4
Mandy’s mother knew Shawn’s father had a drinking problem; furthermore, she believed the local gossip about Shawn’s mother.
Mandy’s mother believed that Shawn’s mother had turned to prostitution to support her family; however, this was completely untrue.

23. Conjunctive Adverbs ; adverb, accordingly however nonetheless
also indeed otherwise
besides instead similarly
consequently likewise still
conversely meanwhile subsequently
finally moreover then
furthermore nevertheless therefore
hence next thus

24. Semi-colon Use: A Warning
We have now covered two of the three “correct” uses of semi-colons. The following is not one of them:
Shawn’s family had a substance abuse problem; gambling as well.
Many of you are using semi-colons where commas should go. If in doubt, use a comma.

25. Review Combining Main Clauses
1. Comma, FANBOYS
2. Semi-colon
3. Subordinate one of the clauses
4. Use a conjunctive adverb

26. Practice Combine the following clauses in 4 ways
Mandy could not stop loving Shawn
His eyes were simply mesmerizing
FANBOYS: use for
Semi-colon
Dependent clause: use because (you must switch the order of the clauses
First IC DC. Then DC, IC.
Conjunctive adverb: use indeed

27. Practice Answers
1. Mandy could not stop loving Shawn, for his eyes were simply mesmerizing.
2. Mandy could not stop loving Shawn; his eyes were simply mesmerizing.
3. IC DC: Mandy could not stop loving Shawn because his eyes were simply mesmerizing.
DC, IC: Because his eyes were simply mesmerizing, Mandy could not stop loving Shawn.
4. Mandy could not stop loving Shawn; indeed, his eyes were simply mesmerizing.

28. Post-Test Mandy and Shawn never married. Shawn and Marcus did.
Combine the following clauses in 5 ways. Put your name on your paper, and hand it in when you finish. You may use your notes.
Mandy and Shawn never married.
Shawn and Marcus did.
1. , FANBOYS
2. Semi-colon
3. IC DC
4. DC, IC
5. Conjunctive adverb