This document discusses clauses and sentence structure. It explains that there are two types of clauses: independent clauses and subordinate clauses. Independent clauses can stand alone as a sentence, while subordinate clauses cannot. There are also two types of adjective clauses: essential adjective clauses, which provide necessary information to identify a noun, and nonessential adjective clauses, which provide additional context. Recognizing clauses is important for avoiding fragments and for clearly connecting ideas in writing.

1. Language Network
Clauses and
Sentence
Structure

2. Clauses and Sentence Structure
Kinds of Clauses
Here’s the Idea
Independent Clauses
Subordinate Clauses
Why It Matters
Practice and Apply

3. Here’s the Idea
Clause
A clause is a group of words that
contains a subject and a verb.

4. Here’s the Idea
SUBJECT VERB
Your genes carry your family’s genetic history.
CLAUSE

5. Here’s the Idea
Clauses add details.
Clauses show relationships
between ideas.

6. Here’s the Idea
Independent Clause
An independent (or main)
clause expresses a complete
thought and can stand alone
as a sentence.

7. Here’s the Idea
Genes contain the code for
your physical appearance.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

8. Here’s the Idea
Subordinate Clause
A subordinate (or dependent)
clause contains a subject and
a verb but does not express a
complete thought and cannot
stand alone as a sentence.

9. Here’s the Idea
Subordinate clauses are introduced by words
like if, because, that, when, and since.
because inherited genes
often skip a generation
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

10. Here’s the Idea
By itself, a subordinate
clause is a sentence
fragment.
that determines your height
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

11. Here’s the Idea
For a complete thought to be expressed,
a subordinate clause must be part of a
sentence that contains an independent
clause.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
Genes contain the code
that determines your height.
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

12. Why It Matters
Recognizing independent and
subordinate clauses will help you avoid a
kind of fragment:
a subordinate clause accidentally
written as a sentence.

13. Why It Matters
Identify the subordinate clauses that act
as fragments.
STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT
Clasp your hands together. As the picture
shows. Which thumb is on top? If you
clasp your hands to position the other
thumb on top. This little trait is inherited.

14. Why It Matters
To fix these fragments, join them
with independent clauses.
STUDENT MODEL STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT REVISON
Clasp your hands Clasp your hands
together. As the picture together as the picture
shows. Which thumb is shows. Which thumb is
on top? If you clasp on top? If you clasp
your hands to position your hands to position
the other thumb on the other thumb on top,
top. This little trait is it feels wrong. This little
inherited. trait is inherited.

15. Practice and Apply
Join this subordinate clause with an
independent clause.
1. because my father is tall

16. Practice and Apply
Join this subordinate clause with an
independent clause.
2. even though his twin sisters look
alike

17. Practice and Apply
Join this subordinate clause with an
independent clause.
3. that shows her family tree

18. Practice and Apply
Join this subordinate clause with an
independent clause.
4. when my ancestors arrived in this
country

19. Clauses and Sentence Structure
Adjective Clauses
Here’s the Idea
Adjective Clauses
Essential Adjective Clauses
Nonessential Adjective Clauses
Why It Matters
Practice and Apply

20. Here’s the Idea
Subordinate clauses can
be adjective clauses.

21. Here’s the Idea
Adjective Clause
An adjective clause is a
subordinate clause that is used
as an adjective to modify a
noun or a pronoun.

22. Here’s the Idea
What does each adjective
clause modify?
A family is more than a group
of people who are related.
NOUN
It was she who started our family tree.
PRONOUN

23. Here’s the Idea
An adjective clause is introduced by a
relative pronoun or by a relative adverb.
that, who, whom, where, when,
whose, which why

24. Here’s the Idea
Essential Adjective Clause
An essential (or restrictive)
adjective clause provides
information that is necessary
to identify the preceding noun
or pronoun.

25. Here’s the Idea
ESSENTIAL ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
Someone who is your first cousin
is the child of your uncle or aunt.

26. Here’s the Idea
Nonessential Adjective Clause
A nonessential (or nonrestrictive)
adjective clause adds additional
information about a noun or
pronoun whose meaning is
already clear.

27. Here’s the Idea
NONESSENTIAL ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
Irene, who is your first cousin, was
married last fall.

28. Here’s the Idea
Use commas to set off a nonessential
clause. The commas separate
nonessential information from the
main idea of the sentence.

29. Why It Matters
Adjective clauses can
supply details necessary
to explain, support, and
connect your ideas.

30. Why It Matters
Adjective clauses help to avoid repetition.
STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT
The reception was held at an old
hotel. The hotel looks like a castle.

31. Why It Matters
Join these sentences with independent
clauses.
STUDENT MODEL STUDENT MODEL
DRAFT REVISON
The reception was The reception was
held at an old hotel. held at an old hotel
The hotel looks like that looks like a castle.
a castle.

32. Practice and Apply
Write the adjective clause, along
with the word or words it modifies.
5. Aunt Ming, who is known for her
funny jokes, entertains the family.

33. Practice and Apply
Write the adjective clause, along
with the word or words it modifies.
6. Spaghetti, which is Uncle Anthony’s
specialty, is everyone’s favorite dish.

34. Practice and Apply
Combine these sentences by changing one
into an adjective clause.
7. Emily’s ancestors arrived on Ellis
Island in 1900. Emily’s ancestors
sailed to America.

35. Practice and Apply
Combine these sentences by changing one
into an adjective clause.
8. Her ancestors established a business
in New York City. Many immigrants
settled in New York City.