Download Clauses and Phrases

English II Honors - Grammar
 A clause – is a group of words that contains a
verb and its subject and is used as a sentence
or as part of a sentence.
 Every clause has a subject and a verb, but not
all clauses express complete thoughts.
 Those that do are called independent clauses.
 Those that do not are called subordinate
clauses.
 Independent clauses expresses a complete
thought and can stand by itself as a sentence.
 The outfielders missed easy fly balls; on the
other hand, the infielders didn’t.
 Subordinate clauses does not express a
complete thought and can not stand alone as
a sentence.
 whom we spoke to yesterday
 1. One of the guests who spoke at the
ceremony was Barbara Jordan.
 2. According to my mother, Jordan spoke
eloquently about the importance of values in
our society.
 3. Of course, her choice in subject matter
surprised no one since Jordan had long been
speaking on ethics for a while now in politics.
 4. Two years after the speech, Jordan decided
that she would retire from national politics.
 1. One of the guest who spoke at the ceremony
was Barbara Jordan. Subor.
 2. According to my mother, Jordan spoke
eloquently about the importance of values in our
society. Indep.
 3. Of course, her choice in subject matter
surprised no one since Jordan had long been
speaking on ethics for a while now in politics.
Indep.
 4. Two years after the speech, Jordan decided
that she would retire from national politics.
Subor.
 Short, simple sentences can be effective, a variety
of sentences is usually more effective. To make
choppy sentences into smoother writing, combine
shorter sentences by changing some into
subordinate clauses. Also, avoid repetition of
subjects, verbs, and pronouns.
 Choppy:
Ted runs everyday. Ted is in training.
He is training for a marathon.
 Smooth: Ted, who is training for a marathon,
runs everyday.
Choppy
 I am reading a book. It is a historical novel.
The book is about the Irish revolt of 1798.
 Make it a smooth sentence with a subordinate
clause.
 I am reading a book that is a historical novel
about the Irish revolt of 1798.
Identify the underlined part.
 1. Scientist have recently discovered that
chameleons are not masters of disguise.
 2. Their changes of color are not attempts at
camouflage; they are responses to changes in
light and temperature.
 3. Chameleons, which dislike any contact, will
tolerate it for the purpose of breeding.
 4. When two chameleons cross paths, they do
their best to frighten each other by hissing,
snapping, and changing color.
 5. Males occasionally fight, but most chameleons
try to avoid physical confrontation.
 1. subordinate
 2. independent
 3. subordinate
 4. subordinate
 5. independent
 Good job!!