1. Independent Clauses (Main Clauses)
* Definition: A complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. It has a subject and a verb.
* Examples:
* The cat sat on the mat.
* We went to the park.
* She loves to read.
2. Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clauses)
* Definition: A clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence. It depends on an independent clause for its meaning.
* Types of Dependent Clauses:
* Adjective Clauses: These modify nouns or pronouns. They often begin with relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, that).
* Example: The book *that I borrowed* is very interesting.
* Adverb Clauses: These modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They tell us when, where, why, how, or to what extent something happened.
* Example: *When it rains*, we stay inside.
* Noun Clauses: These act as nouns within a sentence. They can be the subject, object, or complement of a verb.
* Example: *What you said* surprised me.
3. Classifying Dependent Clauses
* How to Identify: Dependent clauses often begin with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., because, since, although, while, if, when, where, who, which, that).
* Examples:
* Adjective Clause: The girl *who lives next door* is my best friend. (Modifies "girl")
* Adverb Clause: *Because it was raining*, we stayed inside. (Modifies "stayed")
* Noun Clause: I know *what you mean*. (Acts as the direct object of "know")
4. Sentence Structure
* Simple Sentence: One independent clause.
* Example: The dog barked.
* Compound Sentence: Two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
* Example: The dog barked, and the cat hissed.
* Complex Sentence: One independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
* Example: The dog barked *because it saw the cat*.
* Compound-Complex Sentence: Two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
* Example: The dog barked *because it saw the cat*, and the cat hissed in response.
5. Essential vs. Non-Essential Clauses
* Essential Clause: A clause that is necessary for the meaning of the sentence. It cannot be removed without changing the meaning.
* Example: The book *that I borrowed* is very interesting. (We need the clause to know which book)
* Non-Essential Clause: A clause that provides additional information but is not essential to the meaning of the sentence. It can be removed without changing the meaning.
* Example: The book, *which I borrowed from the library*, is very interesting. (The clause provides extra information)
Key Points to Remember:
* Subject and Verb: Every clause must have a subject (who or what is performing the action) and a verb (the action itself).
* Subordinating Conjunctions: Dependent clauses often begin with a subordinating conjunction, which links them to the independent clause.
* Punctuation: Dependent clauses are often set off by commas.
Understanding clause types is crucial for comprehending sentence structure and writing clear, grammatically correct sentences.