A relative clause is inserted into the middle of an independent clause and it acts as an adjective: it gives a description about the subject of the independent clause.
The three words that most often start a relative clause are that, which and who.
When starting a relative clause with "that," there is no need for commas. For example:
IC: The book is really good.
IC with RC: The book that I'm reading now is really good.
However, when starting a relative clause with who or which, you do need to separate the relative clause from the rest of the sentence with commas. For example:
IC: Johnny runs faster than anyone I've ever seen.
IC with RC: Johnny, who won the state championship last year, runs faster than anyone I've ever seen.
IC: Mom-mom is coming over for dinner.
IC with RC: Mom-mom, which is what I call my grandmother, is coming over for dinner.
Your Assignment:
Create six independent clauses and then create an independent clause with a relative clause from the independent clause, justu like I did above. So, six sets of sentences.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Independent and Dependent Clauses
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED IN PART BY PURDUE UNIVERSITY'S WEBSITE
Identifying Independent and Dependent Clauses
Summary: This handout defines dependent and independent clauses and explores how they are treated in standard usage.
When you want to use commas and semicolons in sentences and when you are concerned about whether a sentence is or is not a fragment, a good way to start is to be able to recognize dependent and independent clauses. The definitions offered here will help you with this.
Independent Clause
An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause is a sentence.
Ex: Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz.
Dependent Clause
A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence. Often a dependent clause is marked by a dependent marker word.
Ex: When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz . . . (What happened when he studied? The thought is incomplete.)
Dependent Marker Word
A dependent marker word is a word added to the beginning of an independent clause that makes it into a dependent clause.
Ex: When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz, it was very noisy.
Some common dependent markers are: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.
Your assignment:
This week, you will create six independent clauses and six sentences that begin with dependent clauses created from each of the independent clauses.
For example:
IC (independent clause): I went to the beach.
DCS (dependent clause sentence): After I went to the beach, I stopped for ice cream.
IC: Mark went to the museum.
DCS: Because Mark went to the museum, he developed an interest in sculpture.
IC: I babysit to earn money.
DCS: Until I babysit to earn money, I can't afford an iPod.
Identifying Independent and Dependent Clauses
Summary: This handout defines dependent and independent clauses and explores how they are treated in standard usage.
When you want to use commas and semicolons in sentences and when you are concerned about whether a sentence is or is not a fragment, a good way to start is to be able to recognize dependent and independent clauses. The definitions offered here will help you with this.
Independent Clause
An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought. An independent clause is a sentence.
Ex: Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz.
Dependent Clause
A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause cannot be a sentence. Often a dependent clause is marked by a dependent marker word.
Ex: When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz . . . (What happened when he studied? The thought is incomplete.)
Dependent Marker Word
A dependent marker word is a word added to the beginning of an independent clause that makes it into a dependent clause.
Ex: When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz, it was very noisy.
Some common dependent markers are: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.
Your assignment:
This week, you will create six independent clauses and six sentences that begin with dependent clauses created from each of the independent clauses.
For example:
IC (independent clause): I went to the beach.
DCS (dependent clause sentence): After I went to the beach, I stopped for ice cream.
IC: Mark went to the museum.
DCS: Because Mark went to the museum, he developed an interest in sculpture.
IC: I babysit to earn money.
DCS: Until I babysit to earn money, I can't afford an iPod.
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