Notes for Chapter 13
Sentences, Clauses, and Verbals
I.
Sentences and Clauses
A. Independent (MAIN) clauses:
1. Have a complete subject (may be compound)
2. Have a complete predicate (may be compound)
3. Express a complete thought.
-Ex. Brittany went to the movies.
B. A simple sentence is an independent (MAIN) clause.
II.
Complex Sentences
A. Subordinate Clauses can not stand alone.
B. Subordinate clauses have a subject and a predicate.
- Whenever we go to the movies, we have fun.
C. Complex sentences: joining an independent and a subordinate clause (or
more than one subordinate clause)
D. Use a comma when the subordinate is at the beginning, don’t at the end.
III.
Adjective Clauses
A. When the subordinate clause acts as an adjective
B. Adjective Clause: modifies the noun or pronoun in the independent clause
of a complete sentence.
1. Often begins with a relative pronoun (see chart at bottom.)
2. The relative pronoun relates to the clause modified.
3. Ex. Julie was the girl who stuck her gum there.
4. Adjective clauses can begin with when or where.
-I like to sit in chairs where there isn’t gum!
IV.
Essential and Nonessential Clauses
A. An essential clause
1. Is needed to explain the word it is modifying, it cannot be taken
out.
2. Ex. My husky who died last year was fourteen.
B. Nonessential clauses
1. Can be taken out and the sentence still makes sense…the SAME
sense.
2. Ex. My husky, who had blue eyes, had heart problems.
V.
Adverb Clauses
A. Subordinate clauses can act as adverbs.
B. Adverb clauses modify verbs in the independent clause.
C. Like an adverb, it tells: How, when, where, why, or under what conditions.
1. How: As if they were set free, the students raced from school.
2. When: At the end of the year, students feel relieved.
3. Condition: Unless you remember, you cannot imagine the
excitement.
D. An adverb clause usually begins with a subordinating conjunction.
E. If the adverb clause is at the beginning, commas are needed; if it is at the
end no commas are needed.
VI.
Noun Clauses
A. What Walt had for lunch didn’t look good (Subordinate clause is
highlighted, but is not an adjective or adverb clause)
B. A noun clause is a subordinate clause that functions as a noun.
C. Use noun clauses like nouns
1. Subject: What Walt had for lunch didn’t look good.
2. Direct Object: Walt can eat whatever interests him.
3. O.P. He eats with whom he wants.
4. Predicate Noun: The lunchroom is where Walt grosses us out.
D. Noun clauses are used in complex sentences
E. Noun clauses are usually introduced by one of the following words: how,
that, what, whatever, when, where, which, whichever, who, whom,
whomever, and whose.