Linking words dependent and independent clauses

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo t
• Leerjaar 4

Linking words

Dependent and independent clauses

Today's goals

- I understand and can use different types of sentences.

At the end of class:

Dependent and independent clauses

WHAT IS THE CORRECT ORDER OF ENGLISH SENTENCES?

Onderwerp

Werkwoord

Lijdend/ meewerkend voorwerp

Plaats

Tijd

Clause

A group of words that contains a subject (onderwerp) and a verb (werkwoord). 

- Sometimes a complete sentence itself, but other times it needs help before the full meaning can be understood.

Independent clause

A clause that is a complete sentence is called an independent clause. 

It contains everything you need for a complete sentence: subjects and verbs, with objects optional. 

- We’ll eat dinner at five. 

- Faria and Bertuccio assisted the Count of Monte Cristo. 

Dependent clause

A clause that is not a complete sentence is called a dependent clause

These support independent clauses, usually by adding information.

- The roads are icy because it rained last night. 

Each sentence has a subject (the roads & it) and a verb (are & rained), but only the first clause is a complete sentence by itself. 

How would you make one sentence with these two clauses?

 

Sentence: Do you speak Spanish

Clause: When you're with family

How would you make one sentence with these two clauses?

 

Sentence: Do you speak Spanish

Clause: When you're with family

When you're with family, do you speak Spanish?

(Although it was raining), Maria went for a jog at Civitan Park.

1. Dependent clause
2. Independent clause
3. Not a clause

Brianna eats chocolate (whenever she gets a poor grade in math).

1. Dependent clause
2. Independent clause
3. Not a clause

(After the flood), the family moved into a temporary shelter.

1. Dependent clause
2. Independent clause
3. Not a clause

While walking at the park, (John saw a raccoon eating potato chips).

1. Dependent clause
2. Independent clause
3. Not a clause

(When you finish your homework), please take the dog for a walk.

1. Dependent clause
2. Independent clause
3. Not a clause

Different types of sentences

Depending on how you combine the clauses, you can create four different types of sentence structures: 

Simple sentence: 1 independent clause

Compound sentence: 2 or more independent clauses

Complex sentence: 1 independent clause + 1 or more dependent clauses

Compound-Complex sentence: 2 or more independent clauses + 1 or more dependent clauses

Simple sentences

Simple sentences are pretty simple: just a single independent clause, no more, no less. This includes subject and verbs, but can also include objects. 

- “Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.”—Hans Christian Anderson

Compound sentences

A compound sentence joins together two or more independent clauses into a single sentence, using a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so, known as FANBOYS) between the clauses. 

“It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first.”—Miyamoto Musashi

Complex sentences

A complex sentence uses one main independent clause with any number of dependent clauses.

If the subordinating clause comes first, use a comma before the independent clause. If the independent clause comes first, you don’t need a comma at all. 

“Until the lion learns to write, every story will glorify the hunter.”

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”—Aristotle