Here's a breakdown:
* Subject: The person, place, or thing performing the action.
* Verb: The action word or state of being.
* Complete Thought: A clause conveys a meaningful idea that can stand alone or be part of a larger sentence.
Examples:
* The dog barked loudly. (Subject: dog, Verb: barked, Complete Thought: The dog made a sound)
* Because the sun was shining. (Subject: sun, Verb: was shining, Complete Thought: The sun's state)
Key points to remember:
* Independent Clause: Can stand alone as a complete sentence.
* Dependent Clause: Cannot stand alone and needs an independent clause to make sense.
* Simple Sentence: Contains only one independent clause.
* Compound Sentence: Contains two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.
* Complex Sentence: Contains one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Understanding clauses helps you break down sentences, analyze their structure, and understand how they convey meaning.