Text Box: Five Useful Ways to Combine Clauses

 

Five Useful Ways to Combine Clauses

Compound Sentences

 

Coordination     A=B

Equal and Independent

3 ways to create

Complex Sentences

 

Subordination      A≠B

Unequal:  Independent and Dependent

2 ways to create

Coordination Conjunctions    

     For          cause/reason

     And         addition of ideas

     Nor         negative choice

     But         contrast meaning

     Or          choice

     Yet         contrast meaning

     So          result

Remember:  fanboys

 

Independent Clause Subordinate Clause

 

No comma

 

After, although, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when (ever), whereas, while

 

These words show negation, contrast, time, result, addition, or emphasis

 

Semicolon

Independent clause; independent clause

 

Subordinate Clause, Independent clause

 

Must use comma after subordinate clause

 

After, although, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when (ever), whereas, while

 

These words show negation, contrast, choice, time, result, addition, or emphasis

 

 

Conjunctive Adverb

Independent clause; ca, independent clause

 

Consequently, furthermore, however, in addition, indeed, in fact, moreover, nevertheless, then, therefore

 

These words show negation, contrast, choice, time, result, addition, or emphasis

 


 

Appositives

 

A word or group of words that explains, renames, or clarifies a nearby noun. 

Notice that the appositive is separated from the rest of the sentence by commas if it is not essential to the meaning of the sentence.

Pam, my writing teacher, likes to teach coordination and subordination. 

On the other hand, if it is essential, do not separate it by commas. 

The word howl comes from an Old English word

It is possible, but not common, for appositives to rename other parts of speech as well as nouns.

 

Relative clauses

 

A type of subordinate clause that begins with a relative pronoun such as who, whom, which, or that and functions as an adjective.  It normally falls immediately after the noun or pronoun it modifies.  If the relative clause is not essential to the sentence, it is sent off by commas. 

Students who passed the test, which was given last Tuesday, are excused from class.

On the other hand, if the relative clause is essential, do not separate it with commas.

Students who passed the test are excused from class. 

Absolutes

 

An absolute phrase consists of a noun and a participle and modifies a whole sentence rather an individual word.  It can be positioned anywhere in the sentence but must be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.

Their salaries growing ever larger, professional athletes have become a distinct class of millionaires.

Professional athletes, their salaries growing even larger, have become a distinct class of millionaires.

 

 

Three Other Ways to Add Information to a Sentence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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