EnglishGrammar and Punctuation Unit

Independent Clauses: What are they?

0An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.

0An independent clause is a sentence.

0Stands on its own

0 If you are an independent person, you are just fine being by yourself. You function just fine!

Independent Clauses: Examples

0 Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz.

0Mr. Prueter loves teaching.

0Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore.

0Mr. P loves teaching, but doesn’t love the grading. independent clause …but not the end of the sentence. No problem!

Dependent Clauses: What are they?

0 A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought.

0 A dependent clause cannot be a sentence.

0 Often a dependent clause is marked by a dependent marker word.

0 What does it mean to depend on something? If you are dependent, you need something to make you function!

Dependent Clauses: Examples

Marker Words

0 When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz . . . 0 What happened when he studied? The thought is incomplete.

0 Although Emily likes to watch YouTube videos…0Again, we have an incomplete thought.

0 After breaking a bone, Mr. P decided to never match socks again dependent clause …but not the end of the sentence. No problem!

Pop Quiz!

0Look back at your notes!

0What is always after an introductory clause? 0 Intro clause = clause that kicks off (introduces) a sentence?

Connecting dependent and independent clauses

0Whether the introductory clause is dependent or independent, there are two ways to connect one to the other: coordinating conjunctions and independent word markers

0Remember what we just said for our pop quizzes; commas are used

Coordinating Conjunctions

0 The seven coordinating conjunctions used as connecting words at the beginning of an independent clause are and, but, for, or, nor, so, and yet.

0 I went to study, but I also did some people-watching

0 I went to study, and Jim decided to stay home and nap

0 I was not studying, nor was people-watching

0 I realized I could study, or I could spend my day people watching

What’s the difference?

0 I realized I could study, or I could spend my day people watching.

0 I realized I could study or people watch.

Semi-Colons ( ; )0 Combines two clauses that are closely related

0 My sister is a phenomenal figure skater; she will compete in Tokyo next month

0 The fact she is a great skater and that her skating leads her to Tokyo means these clauses are closely related.

0 We would not use one for the following sentence because they are not closely related:

0 My sister is a phenomenal figure skater. She has many friends.

Semi-Colons (cont.)

0Combines two clauses that are linked with a transitional word

0 The director wants to start filming; however, the weather is not cooperating

0 I planned to wear matching socks today; nevertheless, I didn’t want the school to catch fire so I wore a mismatched pair

Semi-colons (cont.)

0Used between items that already have commas

0 She presented her book proposal to publishers in San Francisco, California; Helena, Montana; Detroit, Michigan; and Atlanta, Georgia.

Colons ( : )0When listing

0 My English teacher introduces us to the following American authors: Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Dickenson

0When stating a fact0 My grandfather once gave me great advice: surround

yourself with greatness

0After a salutation in a letter0 Dear Mr. Kennedy:

Italics

0 Book titles: To Kill a Mockingbird

0 Full-length plays: Death of a Salesman

0 Long poems: The Odyssey

0 Magazines: Sports Illustrated

0 Newspapers: The New York Times

0 Movies: The Dark Night

0 Television programs: The Tonight Show

0 Paintings: The Last Supper

0 Ships and planes: Air Force One