Clauses and Phrases

The keys for unlocking

compound / complex sentences

By AJ Brown

A clause is a group of words WITH a subject/verb pair.

• It can be a simple sentence.AJ and her sister lived in Spain.

It is sunny.

• It can be one half of a compound sentence.AJ lived in Spain, and she lived in Japan.

It is sunny, but it is not warm.

• It can be one part of a complex sentence. AJ lived in Spain when she was 25.

Although it is sunny, it is not warm.

There are two kinds of clauses:

Clause #1 = independent or main clause

• Can be a simple sentenceAJ and her sister lived in Spain.

• Can be one clause of a compound sentenceAJ lived in Spain, so she speaks Spanish.

• Can be the main clause of a complex sentenceAJ lived in Spain when she was 25.

Clause #2 = dependent or time clause

• Cannot be a simple sentenceWhen AJ and her sister lived in Spain.

• Cannot be one clause of a compound sentence When AJ lived in Spain, so she speaks Spanish.

• Can be the dependent clause of a complex sentence

AJ lived in Spain when she was 25.

Wrong!!!

Wrong!!!

Correct!!!

Remember…

• An independent clause can be in all three types of sentences in English.

• A dependent clause can ONLY be in complex sentences.

• Also, dependent clauses ALWAYS begin with a subordinating conjunction (if, when, although, that, etc.)

Rule to remember about dependent clauses:

They are never a full sentence. They must also have an independent (main) clause

•Because I am hungry.

•I am eating because I am hungry.

•If I study a lot.

•My English will improve if I study a lot.

•When I was a child.

•I learned to ski when I was a child.

wrong

wrong

wrong

Practice – say dependent or independent

• Before I came to the U.S.• I came to the U.S.• When I was a child.• I was a child.• My sister and I stayed home.• If my sister and I stayed home.

DID

II

D

A phrase is a group of words WITHOUT a subject/verb pair.

The most common phrase is a prepositional phrase (prep +

noun object)• of location

in my country on the desk

at the storebetween the houses

• of direction from my house

to the libraryinto the soup

• of time in an hour

after two weeksfor ten minutesduring the day

A prepositional phraseCANNOT be the subject

Another common phrase is a noun phrase

• Singular noun a country

an eggthe moon

• Adjective + noun clever students

the highest score the hot soup

• Gerund + object learning to ski

listening to musicmemorizing grammar rules

• Nouns joined by coordinators Stephanie and AJ

coffee or teapoor but happy

A noun phraseCAN be the subject

Practice – say clause orphrase

• In the capital of my country.• Between you and me.• I was a child.• If I can.• My sister and her husband• Since I was a child.

phrase

phrase

clause

clause

phrase

clause

Comma rules for clauses

Rule #1 = compound sentences

• Always write a comma before the conjunctionI live in Portland, and I work in Beaverton.

He is sleeping right now, but he’ll call you later.I lost my purse, so I called the police.

• Do not write a comma between two words or phrasesI like ice cream and candy.

The ball went behind the sofa and under the desk.She is the top student and my best friend.

Comma rules for clausesRule #2 = complex sentences

• YES! write a comma if the dependent clause is 1st.Although I live in Portland, I work in Beaverton.

Because he is sleeping right now, he’ll call you later.Since I lost my purse, I called the police.

• NO! do not write a comma if the dependent clause is 2nd.I work in Beaverton although I work in Portland.

He’ll call you later because he is sleeping right now.I called the police since I lost my purse.

Practice Write a DC in front of the dependent clauses,

an IC in front of the independent clauses, and a P in front of the phrases.

• The student next to Abdul.• The car stopped.• When he was a small boy.• We went to see a movie. • In the morning or in the afternoon.• The cats were lying in the sun.• Since the dawn of time.• From the easily missed corner.• As soon as the alarm went off.• The music from the southern part of my country.

P

P

P

P

P

IC

IC

DC

DC

IC