Sentences and Clauses

Subordinate clause

When at the beginning of a sentence, there must be a comma following the entire dependent group of words before the independent clause begins.

independent clauses

can stand alone; simple sentences

Coordinating conjunctions or "FANBOYS"

for and nor but or yet so

stores

What is the subject of the independent clause in this sentence? After the summer season ends, most retail stores change their merchandise to winter apparel.

Simple sentence/Independent clause

A birdwatcher once walked through the park in the dark of night just to see the Kingfisher Night Warbler's nest.

linking VERBs

AM IS WAS WERE ARE BE BEING BEEN

was

What is the verb in the dependent clause? Stephanie asked John a question about the project because he was in class last Tuesday.

fragment

If I didn't do my homework when Dad asked me to that night after we had gone to the zoo.

Compound Sentence

Johnny is planning to attend the party at Joe's house in June; Johanna might be there too.

Complex sentence

No one noticed the broken child's toy after the park closed early.

fragments

groups of words that are missing a subject or a verb; sometimes these are subordinate clauses that just need to attach to an independent clause.

Helping verbs

has have had do does did could would should may might must can shall will am is was were are be being been

semi-colon

means the same thing as "comma + FANBOYS"

compound sentences

must have 2 independent clauses joined in the middle with a [semi-colon] or [comma + FANBOYS]

Complex sentences

must have at least one independent clause and at least one subordinate/dependent clause

Action Verbs

run jump play think believe

subordinate clause

starts with an AWUBIS word and has a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone; also called dependent

Dependent clause

starts with an AWUBIS word and has both a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone; also called subordinate

subject

the who or what is DOING the action

Dependent clause

When at the end of a sentence, there is no need for a comma to attach this to an independent clause.

Clause

a group of words that has a subject and verb and is a complete thought. AKA a simple sentence!

phrase

a group of words with no subject or verb that adds extra information to a sentence; by itself, it's a fragment

Subordinating conjunctions or "AWUBIS" words

because, since, although, if, when, before, after, until, whenever