1. Sentence Structure Review
Why is sentence structure important when learning to write a speech?

2. This slide show will help you understand the following items:
Subject
Predicate
Phrase
Clause
Subordinate Clause
Independent Clause
Noun clause
Adjective clause
Adverb clause

3. Every sentence has 2 main parts:
A subject:
All of the words that tell who or what the sentence is about, including the noun or pronoun.
A predicate:
All of the words that state the action or condition of the subject, including a verb.
For example:
Your cousin Mike would like to be part of the band.

4. To identify subjects and predicates...
First identify the verb (action) in the sentence and ask yourself quickly ‘who or what is doing the action?’ The answer will be your subject. The verb is always in the predicate.

5. Which part is the subject and which is the predicate in the following sentences?
Shakespeare wrote many plays.
The corner store rents movies.
Her eyes gazed back at me.
Several of us near the front of the roller coaster lost our lunch.
The highest marks on the test were earned by Sam and Jake.

6. A sentence can also be broken down further into groups of words...
A phrase:
Is a group of closely linked words that function together as a single element without a subject and a predicate.
*A phrase can be used to add information to a sentence.
For example:
Subject (Maria and Bai)
Verb (should have won)
Adjective (with red hair)
Adverb (with passion)
A clause:
Differs from a phrase in that it is a group of closely linked words that contains a subject and a predicate.
*Clauses are the building blocks of any sentence; a sentence must contain at least one clause.

7. Is the underlined part of the sentence a phrase or a clause
Is the underlined part of the sentence a phrase or a clause? Ask yourself if there is both a subject and a predicate (clause), or just one the two (phrase).
Canada’s economy depends on it’s abundant natural resources.
After panning for gold for years, my uncle finally struck it rich.
Talking to my best friend makes me happy.
We believed that a giant fish was lurking down there.

8. Looking closer at clauses, there are two main types:
An independent clause:
Can stand alone as a sentence because it expresses a complete thought.
A subordinate clause:
Has a subject and a predicate but cannot stand alone as a sentence because it is not a complete thought.
*A subordinate clause must be combined with an independent clause to form a sentence.

9. For example: The deer that was sighted downtown has been captured.
Independent clause
Subordinate clause

10. Independent vs. Subordinate
the Prime Minister (subject) is in Ottawa (predicate)
when the Prime Minister (subject) is in Ottawa (predicate)
Notice that both clauses have a subject and predicate, yet the wording differentiates them into independent and subordinate types.
The second clause is an incomplete thought because we are left wondering when exactly the prime minister is there, or what will happen when he is there.

11. A subordinate clause can be 3 different types:
Noun Clause:
A noun clause is a subordinate clause that acts as a noun in a sentence; the clause functions as a subject or direct object.
Adjective Clause:
An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun. It answers the questions which one or what kind?
Adverb Clause:
An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective or another adverb. It answers the questions when, where, why or how?

12. Look at the following 3 examples:
1 (What we all need) is a long holiday.
2 In the 17th century, dentists began to use fillings (that contained gold.)
3 Today we have drugs (that reduce the pain of dental surgery).
Start by identifying the subordinate clause ( )
*a clause with a subject and predicate that is an incomplete thought

13. Then consider if the subordinate clause acts as a subject, modifies a subject or modifies the adverb/ adjective...
1 (What we all need is) a long holiday. = noun because it acts as the subject of the sentence
2 In the 17th century, dentists began to use fillings (that contained gold.) = adjective because it modifies the subject
3 Today we have drugs (that reduce the pain of dental surgery). = adverb because it explains how

14. Are these noun, adjective or adverb clauses? Explain
Hand tools were used (before electric became available.)
The coat (that I bought yesterday) was now ruined.
(Whoever shows up first) will get the best seats.