Writer's Choice Grade 11

Unit 13: Clauses and Sentence Structure

Overview

A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate and is used as part of a sentence. A main, or independent, clause can stand alone as a sentence. Consider the following: “The proctor called time, and the students stopped writing.” The proctor called time and the students stopped writing are both main clauses. They could be divided into two complete thoughts or sentences.

A subordinate, or dependent, clause, although it also has a subject and predicate, cannot stand alone as a sentence. For example, “When the proctor called time, the students stopped writing.” The subordinate clause, When the proctor called time, is not a complete thought or sentence; it must be attached to the main clause the students stopped writing. Subordinate clauses can act as adjectives, adverbs, or nouns. In the previous example, when the proctor called time functions like an adverb.

Sentence structure can be simple, consisting solely of a main clause. The following is a simple sentence: “The proctor called time.” Compound sentences consist of two main clauses. “The proctor called time, and the students stopped writing” is a compound sentence. Complex sentences consist of a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. For instance, “When the proctor called time, the students stopped writing.” Finally, compound-complex sentences have more than one main clause and at least one subordinate clause. “Students must study well in advance of the test day, and they should get a good night's sleep before they take their exam.”

Sentences have four different functions. Declarative sentences make statements and end with a period. For example, “The proctor called time.” Imperative sentences make requests or commands and also end with a period. “Stop writing, and put your pencils down” is an imperative sentence. Interrogative sentences ask questions and end with a question mark. For instance, “What did you think of the section on sentences and clauses?” Finally, exclamatory sentences express strong emotions and end with an exclamation point. “The section on sentences and clauses was easy!”

Sentence fragments and run-on sentences are common errors produced when working with clauses and sentences. A sentence fragment is punctuated as if it were a sentence although it is missing a subject or a verb, or it is a subordinate main clause standing alone. Correct these errors by joining the fragment to an idea that comes before or after it, or add additional words to form a complete sentence. A comma splice probably is the most common type of run-on sentence; it occurs when two main clauses are separated by a comma rather than a period or semicolon. Correct comma splices by replacing the comma with a period or other end mark, and start the new sentence with a capital letter. Alternatively, change the comma to a semicolon or insert a coordinating conjunction after the comma.
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