Clauses and

Sentence

Structure

Kinds of Clauses

Clauses and Sentence Structure

Here’s the Idea Independent Clauses

Subordinate Clauses

Why It Matters

Practice and Apply

Clause

A clause is a group of words that

contains a subject and a verb.

Here’s the Idea

CLAUSE

Your genes carry your family’s genetic history.

VERB SUBJECT

Here’s the Idea

Clauses add details.

Clauses show relationships

between ideas.

Here’s the Idea

Independent Clause

An independent (or main)

clause expresses a complete

thought and can stand alone

as a sentence.

Here’s the Idea

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

Genes contain the code for

your physical appearance.

Here’s the Idea

Dependent Clause

A Dependent (or subordinate)

clause contains a subject and

a verb but does not express a

complete thought and cannot

stand alone as a sentence.

Here’s the Idea

Subordinate clauses are

introduced by words like

if, because, that, when, since, who, whom, whose, which, where, when, why, whether, how, whomever,

whichever, whomever, than, after, before, although

Here’s the Idea

Just because you see the

DCM words, does not

mean you have a clause.

You still must look for

subject and verb

after those words.

By itself, a subordinate

clause is a sentence

fragment.

SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

that determines your height that determines your height

Here’s the Idea

For a complete thought to be expressed,

a subordinate clause must be part of a

sentence that contains an independent

clause.

SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

Genes contain the code

that determines your height.

Genes contain the code

that determines your height.

Here’s the Idea

a subordinate clause accidentally

written as a sentence.

Recognizing independent and

subordinate clauses will help you avoid

a kind of fragment:

Why It Matters

Identify the subordinate clauses that act

as fragments.

STUDENT MODEL

DRAFT

Clasp your hands together. As the picture

shows. Which thumb is on top? If you

clasp your hands to position the other

thumb on top. This little trait is inherited.

Why It Matters

STUDENT MODEL STUDENT MODEL

To fix these fragments, join them

with independent clauses.

Clasp your hands

together. As the picture

shows. Which thumb is

on top? If you clasp

your hands to position

the other thumb on

top. This little trait is

inherited.

DRAFT

Clasp your hands

together as the picture

shows. Which thumb is

on top? If you clasp

your hands to position

the other thumb on top,

it feels wrong. This little

trait is inherited.

REVISON

Why It Matters

Clauses and Sentence Structure

Adjective Clauses

Here’s the Idea Adjective Clauses

Essential Adjective Clauses

Nonessential Adjective Clauses

Why It Matters

Practice and Apply

Subordinate clauses can

be adjective clauses.

Here’s the Idea

Adjective Clause

An adjective clause is a

subordinate clause that is used

as an adjective to modify a

noun or a pronoun.

Here’s the Idea

NOUN

A family is more than a group

of people who are related.

It was she who started our family tree.

PRONOUN

What does each adjective

clause modify?

Here’s the Idea

An adjective clause is introduced by a

relative pronoun or by a relative adverb.

that, who, whom,

whose, which

where, when,

why

Here’s the Idea

An essential (or restrictive)

adjective clause provides

information that is necessary

to identify the preceding noun

or pronoun.

Essential Adjective Clause

Here’s the Idea

Someone who is your first cousin

is the child of your uncle or aunt.

ESSENTIAL ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

Here’s the Idea

A nonessential (or nonrestrictive)

adjective clause adds additional

information about a noun or

pronoun whose meaning is

already clear.

Nonessential Adjective Clause

Here’s the Idea

Irene, who is your first cousin, was

married last fall.

NONESSENTIAL ADJECTIVE CLAUSE

Here’s the Idea

Use commas to set off a nonessential

clause. The commas separate

nonessential information from the

main idea of the sentence.

Here’s the Idea

Adjective clauses can

supply details necessary

to explain, support, and

connect your ideas.

Why It Matters

Adjective clauses help to avoid repetition.

STUDENT MODEL

DRAFT

The reception was held at an old

hotel. The hotel looks like a castle.

Why It Matters

Join these sentences with independent

clauses.

STUDENT MODEL STUDENT MODEL

The reception was

held at an old hotel.

The hotel looks like

a castle.

DRAFT

The reception was

held at an old hotel

that looks like a castle.

REVISON

Why It Matters

Identify the adjective clause, along

with the word or words it modifies.

People first used parachutes to

jump from balloons that stayed in

the air.

5.

Practice and Apply

Identify the adjective clause, along

with the words it modifies.

Parachutes have large surfaces that

trap a lot of air.

6.

Practice and Apply

Combine these sentences by changing the

second one into an adjective clause.

Jacques and Joseph Montgolfier

invented the hot-air balloon. They

were brothers.

7.

Practice and Apply

Combine these sentences by changing the

second one into an adjective clause.

The balloon was filled with hot air.

The balloon was made of linen.

8.

Practice and Apply