Clauses

Independent:   subject/verb and a complete thought
        The dog barked all night.
Dependent:     subject/verb, but not a complete thought
        Because the dog barked all night

 

If these words precede a subject and a verb, they create a dependent clause:
after although as as if because even though how if
since so that than though unless until what when
whenever where whereas wherever whether while
that which whichever who whoever whom whomever whose
(The first three rows of words list subordinate conjunctions, and the bottom row  lists relative pronouns.)

 

Types of Sentences

 

Simple: 1 independent clause

Each spring, the college sponsors a career day for the students.

Compound: 2 or more independent clauses (joined by a comma and a conjunction,  joined by a semicolon, or joined by a semicolon and transitional word).
joined by a comma:
Chip ran up the tree, and Dale ran down the tree.
joined by a semicolon:
Chip ran up the tree; Dale ran down the tree.
joined by a semicolor/transitional word:
Chip ran up the tree; however, Dale ran down the tree.
Complex: 1 independent clause and 1 or more dependent clauses
Chip and Dale ran up the tree, although they were not being chased by a cat.

Compound/Complex: compound sentence with a dependent clause

When the cat appeared, Chip ran up the tree, and Dale ran down the tree.

 

Identifying Sentences

1. Using the chart, circle the "dependent" words in the sentence. If the word is followed by a subject and verb, label the group of words a dependent clause.
2. Circle conjunctions (and, but, yet, for, or, nor, so, yet) and the commas before them. Also circle semicolons.  Label the clauses before and after as independent clause.
3. Count the number of dependent clauses and independent clauses.

Example: If you will wash the dishes, I will cook dinner, and then we can go to the movies.
                   dep. clause                            ind. clause                        ind. clause