Grammar 1 — Independent Clauses, Dependent Clauses, and Sentence Fragments

Grammar One Independent clauses Dependent clauses Sentence fragments What is an independent clause? An independent clause contains a subject and a verb It operates as a full and complete sentence Examples: John jumped at the chance Izzy went to the store The mayor decide...

Grammar One Independent clauses Dependent clauses Sentence fragments What is an independent clause? An independent clause contains a subject and a verb It operates as a full and complete sentence Examples: John jumped at the chance Izzy went to the store The mayor decided to vote against the public transit bill We are all having a nice time learning grammar What is an dependent clause? A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb but relies on another clause in the same sentence to make sense. It cannot operate as a full and complete sentence. Examples: John jumped at the chance, but he was too late Izzy went to the store while Georgia started making jam The mayor decided to vote against the public transit bill even though public transit is a necessary service What is an dependent clause? A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb but relies on another clause in the same sentence to make sense It cannot operate as a full and complete sentence Examples: but he was too late while Georgia started making jam even though public transit is a necessary service because we know it will be over soon What is an dependent clause? A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb but relies on another clause in the same sentence to make sense It cannot operate as a full and complete sentence Examples: but he was too late while Georgia started making jam even though public transit is a necessary service because we know it will be over soon What is a conjunction? A conjunction is a part of speech that connects two clauses to indicate cause and effect. Examples of conjunctions: Because and if or until when but so since although before for than though whereas before while instead still as Another example The secret to life is honesty. independent clause could be a full sentence if you can fake that you’ve got it made dependent clause independent clause could not be a sentence could be a full sentence What is a sentence fragment? We get a sentence fragment when one of the key pieces of a sentence is missing, or when a dependent clause is presented as a full sentence. In short, a sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence. Sentence fragment: missing verb Sentence fragment: A dog in the yard. Revised to a complete sentence: A dog in the yard barked all night. Sentence fragment: missing subject Sentence fragment: Shows no improvement in your efficiency. Revised to a complete sentence: This evaluation shows no improvement in your efficiency. Sentence fragment: missing subject and verb Sentence fragment: A time of wonder and excitement. Revised to a complete sentence: The town fair was a time of wonder and excitement. Sentence fragment: incomplete thought (AKA dependent clause) Sentence fragment: Because it was raining. Revised to a complete sentence: We cancelled the picnic because it was raining. Practice: identify the independent clause, subject, and verb of these sentences 1. While walking to the store, Marie made friends with a raccoon and brought it home. 2. I slept in my own bed after the harrowing drive home 3. Ali took the cupcakes while Raj took the decorations. 4. Once I figured out the colour I wanted, it was easy to paint the wall. 5. The power ranger costume arrived exactly when it said and there was no time to spare. Practice: identify the independent clause, subject, and verb of these sentences 1. While walking to the store, Marie made friends with a raccoon and brought it home. 2. I slept in my own bed after the harrowing drive home 3. Ali took the cupcakes while Raj took the decorations. 4. Once I figured out the colour I wanted, it was easy to paint the wall. 5. The power ranger costume arrived exactly when it said it would and there was no time to spare. Practice: Identify what’s missing from the sentence fragment. How would you fix it? 1. A really beautiful time. 2. A hook for a hand. A glass orb for an eye. 3. Jumping up and down forever. 4. But I didn’t like the taste of it at all. 5. A good thing, then. 6. Since you never really wanted it anyway. Practice: Identify what’s missing from the sentence fragment. How would you fix it? 1. We had a really beautiful time. 2. He had a hook for a hand and a glass orb for an eye. 3. They were jumping up and down forever. 4. But I didn’t like the taste of it at all. 5. It was a good thing, then. 6. Since you never really wanted it anyway.