Phrases, Clauses, and Sentence Types

SENTENCE STRUCTURE

An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate (verb or verb and object), and expresses a complete thought.

An independent clause can be a sentence.

Jim studied for his chemistry quiz at Tim Hortons

INDEPENDENT CLAUSES

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought because it has a subordinate conjunction or relative pronoun. The clause might begin with something like “when.”

When Jim studied at Tim Hortons for his chemistry quiz

(What happened when he studied? The thought is incomplete.)

DEPENDENT CLAUSES

after

although

as

because

before

even if

even though

if

in order that

once

provided that

rather than

since

so that

than

that

though

unless

until

when

whenever

where

whereas

wherever

whether

while

why

SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

Note that some relative pronouns, like who, whom, which, etc. can also be the subject of the dependent clause

RELATIVE PRONOUNS

that

which

whichever

who

whoever

whom

whose

whosever

whomever

Phrases are a group of words that do not contain a subject or a predicate verb.

The most common phrases in English prepositional phrases (i.e. begins with a preposition).

There are 76 English prepositions, including: to, in into, on, onto, across, over, under, up, down, through.

Prepositional phrases look like this: To the store Over the bridge Under the table In the heat

PHRASES

Find the phrases, dependent clauses and independent clauses in the sentences below

For each clause, circle the subject, put brackets around the verb, and put brackets under the phrases

When Eileen gets angry at her students, she yells and

jumps up and down.

PRACTICE SENTENCES

Find the phrases, dependent clauses and independent clauses in the sentences below

For each clause, circle the subject, put brackets around the verb, and put brackets under the phrases

Ms Doucet has a short temper, which can be a problem for me.

PRACTICE SENTENCES

There are four major sentence types in English: Simple Sentences Compound Sentences Complex Sentences Compound-Complex Sentences

All are combinations of independent and dependent clauses, plus the phrases associated with those clauses.

SENTENCE TYPES

Simple sentences are composed of ONE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE and the PHRASES necessary to the idea expressed

I like chocolate. I like chocolate.

Eileen ran to school. Eileen ran to school.

In the heat of the night, Ms Doucet got up for a drink of water.

In the heat of the night, Ms Doucet got up for a drink of water.

SIMPLE SENTENCE

Compound sentences are sentences that have TWO INDEPENDENT CLAUSES and their associated PHRASES joined by a COORDINATING CONJUNCTION.

Coordinating conjunctions include: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (acronym – FANBOYS)

I love chocolate yet I hate chocolate-covered almonds.

I love chocolate yet I hate chocolate-covered almonds.

Mr. Zohar rides his bike to school and Mr. McNaughton drives.

Mr. Zohar rides his bike to school and Mr. McNaughton drives.

COMPOUND SENTENCES

Complex sentences include ONE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE and ONE DEPENDENT CLAUSE and their associated phrases.

If you come over early, we can have lunch fi rst. If you come over early, we can have lunch fi rst.

When my grandmother baked gingerbread cookies for us to take home, my sister and I used to throw them out of the car window on the 401.

When my grandmother baked gingerbread cookies for us to take home, my sister and I used to throw them out of the car window on the 401.

COMPLEX SENTENCES

Just as the name implies, a complex-compound sentence is the combination of ONE DEPENDENT CLAUSE with a COMPOUND SENTENCE (two INDEPENDENT CLAUSES joined by a COORDINATING CONJUNCTION) and their associated PHRASES.

This is the longest type of sentence that can be formed in English. Adding more clauses will result in sentence errors.

When I go to Montreal, I visit my family and I go to Schwartz’s for a smoked meat sandwich.

When I go to Montreal, I visit my family and I go to Schwartz’s for a smoked meat sandwich.

COMPLEX-COMPOUND SENTENCES

If you create a sentence that does not fi t one of these paradigms, you have probably created a sentence error.

Sentence errors include: Sentence Fragments Comma Splices Run-on Sentences Fused Sentences

SENTENCE ERRORS

A sentence fragment is any group of words that has a capital at the beginning and a period at the end that does not contain a subject and a predicate and which does not form a complete thought.

Two commons causes of sentence fragments: Phrases meant to be attached to the previous sentence are

written as their own sentences Dependent clauses are written as their own sentences

E.g. “Like the three little pigs and Little Red Riding Hood.”

E.g. “Which Eileen told them not to do.”

SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

A run-on sentence is one in which two or more independent clauses are joined inappropriately.

The term “Run-on Sentence” includes both comma splices and fused sentences.

Often this term is used more specifi cally for sentences that have three or more independent clauses joined by conjunctions.

E.g. “I like ice cream so I went to the store to buy some, but the store didn’t have any left, so I had had to take the bus to the mall to get some, and then I was late for work.”

FIX: I like ice cream and went to the store to get some; however, the store was out of chocolate ice cream, so I had to go to the mall. After all the running around I did, I was late for work.”

RUN-ON SENTENCES

A comma splice is the joining of two independent clauses with a comma. (Note: splice = join)

In some languages, like Spanish, this is perfectly acceptable, but in English it is not.

In English sentences must be joined by conjunctions, semi-colons, or colons.

E.g. “I like chocolate ice cream, I eat it every other day.”

FIX: “I like chocolate ice cream; I eat it every other day.”FIX: “I like chocolate ice cream, so I eat it every other

day.”FIX: “Because I like chocolate ice cream, I eat it every

other day.”

COMMA SPLICES

Fused sentences are ones that include more than one independent clause but which have no punctuation or conjunctions at all.

This error can be corrected using the same strategies that are used to correct comma splices.

E.g. “I like ice cream I eat it every other day.”FIX: “I like ice cream, so I eat it every other day.”

FUSED SENTENCES

Ms Doucet’s class is the best, I always learn something from her.

ERROR: Comma Splice

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Eileen is tall enough to reach the top shelf I don’t think you are.

ERROR: Fused Sentence

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A long time ago in a country far, far away.

ERROR: Sentence Fragment

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Although I wanted to come to the party, I could not make it, I had to go to my grandmother’s house.

ERROR: Comma Splice

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The dog ate my homework and my little sister flushed my cell phone down the toilet and my bus pass disappeared, I was having a bad day.

ERRORS: Run-on Sentence and Comma Splice

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