Independent and Subordinate Clauses

Transcription

1 CHAPTER The Clause Independent and Subordinate Clauses Diagnostic Preview Go to the for an interactive activity. A. Identifying and Classifying Independent and Subordinate Clauses Identify each of the following clauses as either independent or subordinate. EXAMPLE 1. when I was eleven years old 1. subordinate 1. because I have lived in Chile and Ecuador 2. his writing has improved 3. although Gullah is still spoken on South Carolina s Sea Islands 4. when the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team won the National League pennant 5. she served as secretary of labor 6. which we brought to the Juneteenth picnic 7. everyone laughed 8. whose mother you met yesterday 9. during the storm the power failed 10. to whom his mother explained the reason for the delay 422 Chapter 15 The Clause

2 B. Identifying and Classifying Subordinate Clauses Identify the subordinate clause in each of the following sentences. Then, classify each as either an adjective clause or an adverb clause. 1. Today is the day that you are eating at my house. 1. that you are eating at my house adjective clause 2. I will give you a map so that you can find my house. 2. so that you can find my house adverb clause 11. If.you have never had Caribbean food, you are in for a treat. 12. My mother, who was born and raised in Jamaica, really knows how to cook. 13. Whenever I have a chance, I try to learn her secrets. 14. My grandmother, whose cooking is spectacular, is making her special sweet potato pone for dessert. 15. Some of the fruits and vegetables that grow in Jamaica are hard to find in the markets around here. 16. Today we are shopping for coconuts, avocados, and callaloo greens, which were introduced.to the Caribbean by Africans. 17. We must also remember to buy the fresh hot peppers, onions, and spices that are needed for seasoning the meat. 18. Although my mother never uses measuring spoons, she seems to know just how much of each spice to add. 19. As soon as we pay for these items, let s take them home. 20. Part of your treat will be to smell the delicious aroma from the kitchen before.you even begin eating. Go to the for an interactive activity. 15 a What Is a Clause? 15a. A clause is a word group that contains a verb and its subject and that is used as a sentence or as part of a sentence. Every clause contains a subject and a verb. However, not all clauses express complete thoughts. A clause that does express a complete thought is called an independent clause. A clause that does not make sense by itself is called a subordinate clause. NOTE A subordinate clause that is capitalized and punctuated as if it were a sentence is a sentence fragment. Reference Note For information about correcting sentence fragments, see page 269. What Is a Clause? 423

3 Reference Note For information on using commas and coordinating conjunctions to join two independent clauses, see page 605. For information about using commas to join independent and subordinate clauses, see page 607. The Independent Clause 15b. An independent (or main) clause expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a sentence. I woke up late this morning. Do you know Joseph? When an independent clause stands alone, it is called a sentence. Usually, the term independent clause is used only when such a clause is joined with another clause. My mother drove me to school. [This entire sentence is an independent clause.] My mother drove me to school, but my brother rode his bicycle. [This sentence contains two independent clauses.] Since I missed the bus, my mother drove me to school. [This sentence contains one subordinate clause and one independent clause.] The Subordinate Clause 15c. A subordinate (or dependent) clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence. Words such as because, if, since, that, until, which, and whom signal that the clauses following them may be subordinate. Subordinate means lesser in rank or importance. A subordinate clause must be joined with at least one independent clause to make a sentence and express a complete thought. SUBORDINATE CLAUSES if the dress is too long that the veterinarian recommended SENTENCES If the dress is too long, we will hem it. The new food that the veterinarian recommended is good for our hamster. Subordinate clauses may appear at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence. 424 Chapter 15 The Clause

4 Exercise 1 Identifying Independent and Subordinate Clauses Identify the italicized clause in each of the following sentences as independent or subordinate. EXAMPLE 1. If you know any modern music history, then you are probably familiar with the Motown sound. 1. subordinate 1. Do you recognize the entertainers who are shown in the photographs on this page and the next? 2. These performers had hit records in the 1950s and 1960s when the.music business in Detroit (the Motor City,.or Motown ) was booming. 3. Berry Gordy, who founded the Motown record label, began his business in a small office in Detroit. 4. He was a songwriter and producer, and he was able to spot talent. 5. Gordy went to clubs to hear local groups whose sound he liked. 6. The Miracles, which was the first group discovered by Gordy, had a lead singer named Smokey Robinson. 7. Robinson was also a songwriter, and Gordy included him in the Motown team of writers and musicians. 15 b, c The Subordinate Clause 425

5 8. Gordy carefully managed all aspects of the Motown sound, which is a special combination of.rhythm and blues and soul. 9. Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, the Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Michael Jackson are just some of the performers that Gordy discovered. 10. As you look carefully at the photographs again, can you and your classmates recognize these music legends? STYLE TIP Although short sentences can be effective, a variety of sentence structures is usually more effective. To revise choppy sentences into smoother writing, combine shorter sentences by changing some into subordinate clauses. CHOPPY This is our dog, Skippy. He is five years old. He is a Yorkshire terrier. SMOOTH This is our dog, Skippy, who is a five-year-old Yorkshire terrier. In the example above, two of the short sentences are combined into a single subordinate clause. Exercise 2 Identifying Subordinate Clauses Identify the subordinate clause in each of the following sentences. EXAMPLE 1. When you get up in the morning, do you look at your sleepy face in a mirror? 1. When you get up in the morning 1. A mirror is a piece of polished metal or glass that is coated with a substance such as silver. 2. The most common type of mirror is the plane mirror, which is flat. 3. The image that is reflected in a plane mirror is reversed. 4. As you look into a mirror, your left hand seems to be the image s right hand. 5. When an image is reversed, it is called a mirror image. 6. A sailor who looks through the periscope of.a submarine is using a system of lenses and mirrors in a tube to see above the water s surface. 7. Right-hand rearview mirrors on cars, which show.a wide area of.the road behind, are usually convex, or curved outward. 8. Drivers must be careful because convex mirrors make reflected objects appear far away. 9. Because the mirror in a flashlight is concave,.or curved inward, it strengthens the light from a small lightbulb. 10. When you look in a concave mirror, you sometimes see a magnified reflection of yourself. 426 Chapter 15 The Clause

6 Exercise 3 Writing Sentences with Subordinate Clauses Write ten sentences by adding an independent clause to each of the following subordinate clauses. Underline the independent clause in each of your sentences. Make your sentences interesting by using a variety of independent clauses. 1. who lives next door to us 1. Have you or Peggy met the woman who lives next door to us? 2. that Alexander bought 2. The sleeping bag that Alexander bought was on sale. 1. when I bought the CD 2. who won the contest 3. if my parents agree 4. as Jessye Norman began to sing 5. because we are going to a concert 6. that you made 7. who built the pyramids 8. for which this musician is famous 9. since the introduction of the telephone 10. whose paintings are now famous 15 d The Adjective Clause 15d. An adjective clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a noun or a pronoun. Like an adjective or an adjective phrase, an adjective clause may modify a noun or a pronoun. Unlike an adjective phrase, an adjective clause contains both a verb and its subject. ADJECTIVE ADJECTIVE PHRASE ADJECTIVE CLAUSE a blue flower a flower with blue petals [The phrase does not have a verb and its subject.] a flower that has blue petals [The clause does have a verb and its subject.] An adjective clause usually follows the word or words it modifies and tells which one or what kind. The Subordinate Clause 427

7 Emma Willard was the one who founded the first women s college in the United States. [The adjective clause modifies the pronoun one, telling which one.] STYLE TIP The relative pronoun that is used to refer both to people and to things. The relative pronoun which is used to refer to things. She is the person that I met yesterday. This is the CD that you should buy. The bus, which is behind schedule, stops at the next corner. Reference Note For information about when to use commas to set off adjective clauses, see page 607. I want a bicycle that I can ride over rough ground. [The adjective clause modifies the noun bicycle, telling what kind.] The Relative Pronoun An adjective clause is usually introduced by a relative pronoun. These words are called relative pronouns because they relate an adjective clause to the noun or pronoun that the clause modifies. NOTE EXAMPLE Commonly Used Relative Pronouns that which who whom whose A snorkel is a hollow tube that lets a diver breathe underwater. [The relative pronoun that begins the adjective clause and relates it to the noun tube.] The team s mascot, which is a horse, is called Renegade. [The relative pronoun which begins the adjective clause and relates it to the noun mascot.] Gwendolyn Brooks is the writer who is the poet laureate of Illinois. [The relative pronoun who begins the adjective clause and relates it to the noun writer.] Those whose library books are overdue must pay fines. [The relative pronoun whose begins the adjective clause and relates it to the pronoun Those.] In some cases, the relative pronoun can be omitted. The person [that or whom] we met at the market was Mrs. Herrera. Exercise 4 Identifying Adjective Clauses Identify the adjective.clause in each of the sentences on the next page. Underline the relative.pronoun that begins the clause. 428 Chapter 15 The Clause

8 EXAMPLE 1. The person who wrote the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson. 1. who wrote the Declaration of Independence 1. In his later years, Jefferson lived at his home, Monticello, which he designed. 2. Jefferson planned a daily schedule that kept him busy all day. 3. He began each day by writing himself a note that recorded the morning temperature. 4. Then he did his writing, which included letters to friends and businesspeople. 5. Afterward, he ate breakfast, which was served around 9:00 A.M. 6. Jefferson, whose property included stables as well as farm fields, went horseback riding at noon. 7. Dinner, which began about 4:00 P.M., was a big meal. 8. From dinner until dark, he talked to friends and neighbors who came to visit. 9. His large family, whom he often spent time with, included twelve grandchildren. 10. Jefferson, whose interests ranged from art and architecture to biology and mathematics, read each night. Exercise 5 Writing Appropriate Adjective Clauses Complete each of the following sentences with an adjective clause. Then, underline the relative pronoun. EXAMPLE 1. We read the Greek legend. 1. We read the Greek legend that tells the story of the Trojan horse. 1. You should proofread every composition. 2. My best friend,, is a good student. 3. Mrs. Rivera,, was my fifth-grade teacher. 4. We heard a sound. 5. Our neighbors are from Fez, Morocco. 6. The ship,, carried bananas. 7. Anyone is excused from the final exam. 8. Carmen, can you tell us about the scientist? 9. Is Victor Hugo the author? 10. Wow! I didn t know you had a dog. HELP Remember, to be a clause,a word group must contain both a verb and its subject. The Subordinate Clause 429

9 STYLE TIP In most cases, deciding where to place an adverb clause is a matter of style, not correctness. As he leapt across the gorge, Rex glanced back at his alien pursuers. Rex glanced back at his alien pursuers as he leapt across the gorge. Which sentence might you use in a science fiction story? The sentence to choose would be the one that looks and sounds better in context the rest of the paragraph to which the sentence belongs. Reference Note For more information on punctuating introductory adverb clauses, see page 613. The Adverb Clause 15e. An adverb clause is a subordinate clause that modifies a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. Like an adverb or an adverb phrase, an adverb clause can modify a verb, an adjective, or an adverb. Unlike an adverb phrase, an adverb clause contains both a verb and its subject. ADVERB ADVERB PHRASE ADVERB CLAUSE Bravely, Jason battled a fierce dragon. With great bravery, Jason battled a fierce dragon. [The phrase does not have both a verb and its subject.] Because Jason was brave, he battled a fierce dragon. [The clause does have a verb and its subject.] Adverb clauses answer the following questions: How? When? Where? Why? To what extent? How much? How long? and Under what condition? I feel as though I will never catch up. [The adverb clause tells how I feel.] After I finish painting my bookcases, I will call you. [The adverb clause tells when I will call you.] I paint where there is plenty of fresh air. [The adverb clause tells where I paint.] I have more work to do today because I didn t paint yesterday. [The adverb clause tells why I have more work to do.] Jennifer can run faster than Victor can. [The adverb clause tells to what extent Jennifer can run faster.] I will paint until Mom comes home; then I will clean my brushes and set the table for supper. [The adverb clause tells how long I will paint.] If I paint for two more hours, I should be able to finish. [The adverb clause tells under what condition I should be able to finish.] Notice in the preceding examples that adverb clauses may be placed in various positions in sentences. When an adverb clause comes at the beginning, it is usually followed by a comma. 430 Chapter 15 The Clause

10 Subordinating Conjunctions Adverb clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions. 15 e Common Subordinating Conjunctions after because though although before unless as how until as if if when as long as in order that whenever as much as since where as soon as so that wherever as though than while Some words that are used as subordinating conjunctions, such as after, as, before, since, and until, can also be used as prepositions. PREPOSITION SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION Before sunrise, we left for the cabin. Before the sun had risen, we left for the cabin. PREPOSITION SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION In the nineteenth century, buffalo skins were used as blankets and clothing. Around 1900, as the buffalo became nearly extinct, conservationists fought for its protection. Exercise 6 Identifying Adverb Clauses Identify the adverb clause in each of the following sentences. EXAMPLE 1. As long as they have been a people, the Chinese have been making kites. 1. As long as they have been a people 1. Although the following story is only a legend, many people believe that a kite like the one pictured on the next page may have saved the people of China s Han dynasty. 2. The Chinese were about to be attacked by an enemy army when an advisor to the emperor came up with a plan. 3. As the advisor stood beside an open window, his hat was lifted off by a strong wind. 4. He immediately called for a number of kites to be made so that they might be used to frighten the enemy. COMPUTER TIP A computer can help you proofread your writing. Use the computer s search function to highlight any uses of the words after, as, before, since, and until. Look at the use of such words at the beginnings of sentences. Decide whether the word begins a prepositional phrase or a subordinate clause. In most cases an introductory prepositional phrase is not set off by a comma. An introductory adverb clause, though, should be followed by a comma. The Subordinate Clause 431

11 5. The kite makers had no trouble finding lightweight bamboo for their kite frames because.bamboo.grows widely in China. 6. As each frame was completed, silk was stretched over it. 7. The emperor s advisor attached noisemakers to the kites so that they would produce an eerie.sound. 8. He ordered his men to fly the kites in the darkest hour of night because.then.the.enemy would hear the kites but would not be able to see them. 9. Unless the advisor was wrong, the enemy would think that the kites were gods warning them to retreat. 10. According to the legend, the enemy retreated as if.they were being chased by a fire-breathing dragon. David F. Jue, Chinese Kites, How to Make and Fly Them. Charles E. Tuttle Co. Inc., of Tokyo, Japan. HELP Remember, a clause contains both a verb and its subject. Exercise 7 Writing Adverb Clauses Complete each of the following sentences with an adverb clause. Then, underline the subordinating conjunction. EXAMPLE 1., digital cameras will become quite popular. 1. If I m right, digital cameras will become quite popular. 1., everything seemed fresh and new. 2. The gears jammed. 3., the African dancers began their routine. 432 Chapter 15 The Clause

12 4. From the trees, a Bengal tiger watched the herd. 5., maybe he ll help you clean your room. 6. Call us. 7., the cement mixer backed up to the wooden frame. 8. The buses have been running on time. 9., street sweepers rolled slowly next to the curb. 10. His map looked. Review A Identifying and Classifying Subordinate Clauses Identify the subordinate clause in each of the following sentences. Then, classify each clause as an adjective clause or an adverb clause. 1. American history is filled with stories of people who performed heroic deeds. 1. who performed heroic deeds adjective clause 2. As the American colonists struggled for independence, women played important roles. 2. As the American colonists struggled for independence adverb clause 1. When you study.the American Revolution, you may learn about the adventures of a woman known as Molly Pitcher. 2. Molly Pitcher, whose real name was Mary, was the daughter of farmers. 3. Although she was born in New Jersey, she moved to the Pennsylvania colony. 4. There she married William Hays, who was a barber. 5. Hays joined the colonial army when the.revolution began. 6. Mary Hays went to be with her husband in Monmouth, New Jersey, which was the site of.a battle on a hot June day in At first, she carried water to the soldiers so that they would not be overcome.by the intense.heat. 8. The soldiers nicknamed her Molly Pitcher because.she carried the.water in pitchers. 9. Later, when her husband collapsed from the.heat, she took over his cannon. 10. George Washington, who was the commander of.the Continental Army, made Molly an honorary sergeant. Go to the for an interactive activity. The Subordinate Clause 433

13 Go to the for an interactive activity. Review B Writing Sentences with Subordinate Clauses Write twenty different sentences of your own. In each sentence, include a subordinate clause that begins with one of the following words or word groups. Underline the subordinate clause. After the sentence, classify the subordinate clause as an adjective clause or an adverb clause. 1. so that 1. We hurried so that we wouldn t miss the bus going downtown. adverb clause 2. whom 2. Jim Nakamura, whom I met at summer camp, is now my pen pal. adjective clause 1. which 11. because 2. before 12. unless 3. since 13. as soon as 4. who 14. whom 5. than 15. while 6. whose 16. whenever 7. as though 17. after 8. although 18. where 9. that 19. as much as 10. if 20. wherever 434 Chapter 15 The Clause

14 CHAPTER Go to the for an interactive activity. Chapter Review A. Identifying Independent and Subordinate Clauses Identify the italicized clause in each of the following sentences as an independent or a subordinate clause. 1. As Jawan walked to school, he saw a.strange sight. 2. If.you go.to the library, you should take a look at the young adult section. 3. The book that I read last night was very scary! 4. Long after the rain had stopped, the ground was still.wet. 5. If the trip is cancelled, we can play tennis. 6. When the.spin cycle stops, please take the laundry out of the washing machine. 7. The shells that they found are still in the closet. 8. Most people are asleep when the morning newspaper is delivered. 9. Was the movie that the reviewers liked sold out? 10. Since we moved here from Chile, we have met many people. Go to the for an interactive activity. B. Identifying Adjective and Adverb Clauses Identify each italicized clause in the following sentences as an adjective clause or an adverb clause. Then, write the word each clause modifies. 11. We camped near Lake Arrowhead when we went fishing last year. 12. Because the weather was cold, I wore a sweater under my jacket. 13. The coat that my mother bought for me was blue. 14. As she left her office, Cletha heard the phone. 15. Vince hit the home run that won the game! 16. Everyone who signed up for the marathon should meet at 8:00 A.M. tomorrow in the school parking lot. 17. On Tuesday the Chavez family went to the Rex parade, which is held every year in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Chapter Review 435

15 18. Larry is a little taller than Dana is. 19. The CD that Rita wanted to buy was out of stock. 20. Louise stayed home today because she has a bad case of the flu. 21. Play soccer if you need more exercise. 22. The turtle moves faster than I expected. 23. My older sister, who is on the varsity basketball team, practices after school every day. 24. Since it was such a beautiful evening, we decided to take a long walk. 25. Will the students whose families observe the Jewish Sabbath be excused early on Friday? Go to the for an interactive activity. C. Identifying Subordinate Clauses Identify the subordinate clause in each sentence. Then, classify the clause as an adjective clause or an adverb clause. Write none if the sentence does not contain a subordinate clause. 26. The denim blue jeans that are known as Levi s have an interesting history. 27. They were created in 1873 by Levi Strauss. 28. Strauss, who had immigrated to the United States from Bavaria, founded a clothing company called Levi Strauss & Co. 29. Six years after his arrival in the United States, he sailed to San Francisco because.his sister and brother-in-law had a dry goods business there. 30. In 1872, Strauss had received a letter from Jacob Davis, a tailor in Nevada who was one of.his regular.customers. 31. Davis told Strauss about riveting the pocket corners of work pants so that the pants would be more durable. 32. Since Davis lacked the.money to.patent.this invention, he asked Strauss to be his partner. 33. Both men were named as patent holders in The copper-riveted overalls were popular with working people who needed.tough but comfortable pants. 35. In 1880, the company, whose sales had reached $2.4 million, was selling denim pants to retailers for about $1.50 a pair. 436 Chapter 15 The Clause

16 36. Strauss died in 1902, four years before.an earthquake and fire in San Francisco destroyed his company s factories. 37. After the earthquake, the company built a new factory that is still.operating today. 38. The company suffered financially, as did many other businesses, during the Great Depression of the 1930s. 39. Since the 1940s, the pants have become increasingly fashionable among young people. 40. In the 1950s, when actors such as James Dean wore them in film roles, the jeans skyrocketed in popularity. Writing Application Using Clauses in a Manual Subordinate Clauses Your class project for National Safety Week is to write a safety manual. Each class member will write one page of instructions telling what to do in a particular emergency. Use subordinating conjunctions to show the relationships between your ideas. Prewriting Think of a specific emergency that you know how to handle. List the steps that someone should follow in this emergency. Number the steps in order. If you aren t sure of the order or don t know a particular step, stop writing and get the information you need. Writing Use your prewriting list to begin your first draft. As you write, make your instructions as clear as possible. Define or explain terms that might be unfamiliar to your readers. Be sure that your instructions are in the right order. Revising Read over your instructions to be sure that you ve included all necessary information. Add, cut, or rearrange steps to make the instructions easy to follow. Be sure to use appropriate subordinating conjunctions to make the order of the steps clear. Publishing Check your work carefully for any errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. To publish your class safety manual, gather all the pages and make booklets out of printouts or photocopies. Organize your topics alphabetically, or group them by kinds of emergencies. HELP A health teacher, the school nurse, or an organization such as the Red Cross should be able to provide information. Reference Note For information about punctuating introductory adverb clauses, see page 613. Chapter Review 437