Grammar overview

ESL 0190Dr. Tara Narcross

Autumn 2013

Types of clausesIndependent clause (IC)Dependent clause (DC)

What is a clause?

• A clause is a group of words with a subject and verb

that expresses an idea.

o An independent clause can stand alone as a

sentence. There is enough information in the clause to

express a complete idea.

o A dependent clause doesn’t have enough

information on its own to express a complete idea. It

needs to be attached to an independent clause to

make a complete sentence.

Types of sentences

Simple sentence (IC)Compound sentence (IC + IC)Complex sentence

(IC + at least one DC)Compound-complex sentence

Simple sentences

Derek mowed the lawn.

I’m going to the grocery for Mom tomorrow.

Compound sentences

Derek mowed the lawn and Frank trimmed the shrubs.

I’m going to the grocery for Mom tomorrow and then I’m going to do the laundry.

CoordinationDerek mowed the lawn and Frank trimmed the shrubs.

Derek mowed the lawn; Frank trimmed the shrubs.

Derek mowed the lawn; however, he didn’t trim the shrubs.

Comma spliceDerek mowed the lawn, Frank trimmed the shrubs.

Comma spliceDerek mowed the lawn, Frank trimmed the shrubs.

When is a sentence too long?

Too long! (Stringy sentence)

• Derek mowed the lawn and Frank trimmed the

shrubs last week because we wanted the yard to

look nice before the arrival of Derek’s mother,

who lives in South Africa and was going to be

here for her first visit in several years because

she’s just not able to get here that often because

of the high cost of traveling such a long distance

and she had been here only once after Derek and

I got married in 2001.

Types of dependent clauses

Adjective clauseAdverb clauseNoun clause

Adjective clauseThe woman who is standing in front of the class is the teacher.

Adverb clauseI will pick up supper before I go home today.

We changed rooms because it was too hot upstairs.

Noun clauseDonna said that she wanted us to come over for a picnic tomorrow.