Class session: Dependent and Independent Clauses

Hi class, pardon me for being out for I have to attend to equally important matters.

Although I am physically absent, I am virtually present.  Here are stuff which you can work with today.

Start writing a copy of these key points:

Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/15766.aspx

• A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb.
• An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a complete sentence.
• A dependent clause, or subordinate clause, contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone as a sentence. A subordinate clause must always be combined with an independent clause.
• A dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction (before, although, after, while, because, since, etc.)
• Understanding different types of clauses helps eliminates fragments and run-ons.

Adverb and Adjective Clauses

Types of dependent clauses include:

• Adjective Clause: these function as adjectives in a sentence. Adjective clauses answer the questions which one, what kind, how much, how many. They are introduced by a relative pronoun (who, whom, that, whose, which). They function as an adjective, are sometimes separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma, and should be placed next to the noun or pronoun they modify.

Example: Betrand, who never grew impatient with every second, showed his three passions in life. In this example, the dependent clause beginning with who modifies Bertrand. (modifies noun or pronoun)

• Adverbial (adverb) Clause: these function as adverbs in a sentence. Adverbial clauses answer the questions how, why and to what extent. They are introduced by a relative adverb (when, where, and why). They function as an adverb, and are not separated from the rest of the sentence with a comma.

Example: Betrand seeks also knowledge. Apparently, images flash in his mind like a storm whenever curiosity conquers his thirst for it.

Noun Clauses

• These function as nouns in a sentence, may be used anywhere in the sentence and can serve as subject, direct object, indirect object, predicate nominative, or object of the preposition. Noun clauses are usually introduced by a subordinating conjunction or relative adverb.

Example: What you pity for may determine the quality of your passions. (subject)

Example: The wounded enemy soldier wondered why the mother accepted him as a son.. (direct object) answer the questions what the soldier wondered.

Example: Betrand  brought whoever was in his path love and care. (indirect object) comes before the direct object - love and care.

Example: Unjust implementation of laws are what the journalists fear in Maguindanao. (predicate nominative) followed by the verb to be (are).

Example: The victims of the merciless massacre depended on how much faster the government can bring the culprits to prosecution. (object of the preposition, on)

Let see if you can fare well.

Instructions (individual work): From among the numbered kinds of clauses listed in the side frames, choose the one you think describes the clause in bold in the following sentences. Simply type 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. Just write your answer in your notes. Copying this part is optional.

1=Noun Clause as subject                                         2= Noun Clause as object     

3= Noun Clause as object of the preposition 4= Noun Clause as Predicative Nominative

5=Adjective clause                                                      6= Adverb Clause

___1.Although native English people love to travel to foreign countries, they seldom learn to speak other languages.

___2. My sister, who teaches Spanish and Italian in New York, says that she had more students twenty years ago.

___3. She wrote a book about what she has learned over the years.

___4. What she worries about is the general decline in American language-learning skills.

___5. She believes that native English speaking families used to take more pride in learning second languages.

___6. The internet, which has become such a global phenomenon, has contributed to the predominance of English.

___7. My sister's conviction is that native English speaking students could use the internet to help them learn other languages.

____8. English is the dominant language on the internet because the native English speaking computer industry dominates the rest of the world.

____9. When non-native speaking people get on the internet, they frequently are trying to improve their English.

____10. What computers have meant to language learning has surprised just about everyone in the academic world.

Activity source: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/clause_quiz.htm

(Checking will be done next meeting)

Assignment next week:

Bring any sample letter of application and bio-data form. Don’t forget that your book/novel critique has been passed over-due. It’s better late than never. I’ll  see you guys and gals this afternoon.

Lightline staff, please prepare for  podcasting coverage of anti-drugs campaign this afternoon.

Bye for now

Reynald Cacho