Diagramming Dependent Clauses

1
Diagramming Dependent Clauses

• Adjective, Adverb and Noun Clauses

2
What is a Clause?

• MEMORIZE these two definitions
• a PHRASE is a group of words without a subject
  and verb, used as a single part of speech
• a CLAUSE is a group of words with a subject and
  verb

3
We have already studied

• two kinds of PHRASES (with or without S/V?)
• Verb phrase a main verb and all its helpers
  (Ex. Rex has been chasing cars.)
• Prepositional phrase a preposition, its object
  and any modifiers of the object (Ex. Rex ran
  through the dark woods.)
• NOTICE!! A verb phrase has no subject within it.
  But a SENTENCE always has a subject and a verb.
  So every sentence you have studied thus far has
  been a CLAUSE.

4
This means

• You have been studying one kind of clause
• MAIN or INDEPENDENT CLAUSE a group of works with
  a subject and verb that can stand alone
• NOW!! We will study
• DEPENDENT or SUBORDINATE CLAUSE a group of words
  with a subject and verb that CANNOT STAND ALONE
  and that is used as a single part of speech

GET EXCITED!
5
Just a reminder

• A sentence always includes AT LEAST ONE MAIN
  CLAUSE. For a sentence is a group of words with
  a subject and verb expressing a complete thought.

6
And Now--

• Cue the drum roll, please!
• We will learn about groups of words with a
  subject and verb that cannot stand alone

Babies cannot stand alone! They are dependent!
This is what FRIGHTENS ME!!
7
Why would we need dependent clauses?

• Lets think back to our study of modifiers. We
  found we needed more information about our
  subjects and verbs. First we studied one-word
  modifiers Rex barked yesterday. But what if we
  wanted to be more specific? Rex barked in the
  afternoon. Now a whole phrase is modifying the
  subject and verb.

8
Check this out

• Rex barked when the mailman came.
• So what the heck do we do with this?!

noun
verb
Conjunction
adjective
9
Rex barked when the mailman came

• Now we have something with a conjunction,
  adjective, noun and verbbut it is a UNIT. Did
  the mailman do the coming? Yes, so we have a
  subject and a verbanother one! RATS!
• What we have in when the mailman came is a
  GROUP OF WORDS
• with a subject and a verb
• that cannot stand alone (try it!)
• that is used as a single part of speech (an
  adverb that answers when?)

10
A Dependent (subordinate) CLAUSE

• What is a clause again?
• a GROUP OF WORDS
• with a subject and a verb
• that cannot stand alone (try it!)
• that is used as a single part of speech (an
  adverb that answers when?)

11

• When did Rex bark?
• SO!
• Prepositional PHRASES
• DEPENDENT CLAUSES

• Yesterday (an adverb)
• In the afternoon (An adverb phrase)
• When the mailman came (An adverb clause)
• Adverb phrases
• Adjective phrases
• Adverb clauses
• Adjective clauses
• Noun clauses

We are going to begin heretheyre the easiest!
12
Rex barked when the mailman came.

• Rex barked
• mailman came

when
the
13
Lets practice with these

1. Rex barked after the mailman left.
2. Rex barked because he hates the mailman.
3. Rex barked until the sun went down.
4. If he does not stop barking, Rex will be very
   sorry.
5. Since Rex started barking, three people have
   called.

What do you observe about adverb clauses from
these examples?
14
What do you observe about ADVERB CLAUSES from
these examples?

• ACs answer why and
• some other strange things.
• What does if answer? It tells something
  like under what circumstances? (Maybe answering
  how?)
• ACs are introduced by a connecting word. These
  sentences had after, because, until, if and
  since.
• ACs, like other adverbs may move to the front of
  the sentence.
• When the AC comes first, it is followed by a
  comma Since Rex started barking, three people
  have called.

15
What is the difference here?

• Rex ran after the ball.

• Rex barked after the mailman came.

Subordinating conjunction
Preposition
16
Subordinating Conjunctions

• Introduce an adverb clause
• Joins a clause to a main clause
• There are TONS of them!
• How many words can you think of to fill the
  dashed line?
• they left
• it rained

17
Subordinatingsomething of lower rank

• Nellie caught the ball.
• Because Nellie caught the ball
• Which one can stand alone? Why?
• Thus,
• Coordinating conjunctions joins two equal words,
  phrases or clauses (FANBOYS)
• Subordinating conjunctions _________________

18
Before we bust a move
19
What about this?

• Nellie is taller than Harry.
• Nellie is as tall as Mary.
• EEK!!
• Whats wrong here?
• Some words are left outwhich ones?

20
Than always conjunction

• Nellie is taller
• Harry (is) (tall)
• An elliptical expression (clause) is one which
  has some words left out.

than
21

• Nellie is tall
• Mary (is) (tall)

as
as
22
Try These

• You like Millie better than I.
• You like Millie better than me.