Understanding Clauses
* Independent Clause: A complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. It has a subject (who or what is doing the action) and a verb (the action).
* Dependent Clause: A group of words with a subject and verb, but it cannot stand alone as a sentence. It depends on an independent clause for its meaning.
Common Clause Errors
1. Comma Splice: Two independent clauses joined only by a comma.
* Incorrect: The sun was shining, the birds were singing.
* Correct: The sun was shining, and the birds were singing. (Use a conjunction like *and*, *but*, or *or*)
* Correct: The sun was shining. The birds were singing. (Separate into two sentences)
2. Fused Sentence: Two independent clauses joined without any punctuation or conjunction.
* Incorrect: The cat jumped on the table it knocked over the vase.
* Correct: The cat jumped on the table, and it knocked over the vase. (Use a conjunction)
* Correct: The cat jumped on the table. It knocked over the vase. (Separate into two sentences)
3. Run-on Sentence: A sentence with multiple independent clauses that are not properly separated.
* Incorrect: I went to the store I bought groceries I came home.
* Correct: I went to the store, I bought groceries, and I came home. (Use commas and conjunctions)
* Correct: I went to the store. I bought groceries. I came home. (Separate into three sentences)
4. Dangling Modifier: A phrase that modifies the wrong word or phrase.
* Incorrect: Running down the street, the dog barked at the mailman. (Who is running?)
* Correct: Running down the street, the mailman was barked at by the dog. (Clarify the subject)
5. Misplaced Modifier: A phrase that is placed in a sentence in a way that makes its meaning unclear.
* Incorrect: I saw a cat with a long tail and whiskers on the way to the park. (Is the park on the cat?)
* Correct: On the way to the park, I saw a cat with a long tail and whiskers. (Clarify the placement)
Fixing Clause Errors
1. Identify the clauses: Determine which are independent and dependent.
2. Check for correct punctuation: Ensure that clauses are properly separated with commas, conjunctions, or periods.
3. Look for dangling or misplaced modifiers: Ensure that phrases modify the correct words.
4. Simplify: If possible, break long sentences into shorter ones for clarity.
Example
Incorrect: The dog wagged its tail, it was happy to see me.
Correct: The dog wagged its tail because it was happy to see me. (Use a conjunction to connect the clauses)
Important Tip: When in doubt, read your writing aloud. If it sounds awkward or confusing, there's likely a clause error that needs fixing!