SENTENCES

Independent (Main) Clause

Has a subject(s) and a verb(s) and expresses a complete thought

Can stand alone *Like a complete sentence, an

independent clause within a sentence can stand alone. That’s why it’s independent!

Examples of Independent(Main) Clauses

Identify the subject(s) and verb(s) of these two sentences.

Long ago, immigrants came to America from Europe.

In the steerage section traveled parents, children, and others.

Compound Sentence

Contains two or more independent clauses.

There are three ways to correctly join the two independent clauses of a compound sentence. , + FANBOYS ; ; conjunctive adverb,

, + FANBOYS

One family traveled from Russia, and another came from Italy.

*Identify the subject(s) and the verb(s) from the above sentence.

Remember…. There are two independent clauses in a compound sentence. Therefore, these can be two separate sentences.

One family traveled from Russia. Another came from Italy.

; (Semicolon)

One family traveled from Russia; another came from Italy.

Never, ever put a FANBOYS after a ; (semicolon). This would be considered a Run-On!!!!

; conjunctive adverb,

Here we are using a conjunction that is not a FANBOYS!!

One family traveled from Russia; however, another came from Italy.

Subordinate (Dependent) Clause

Has a subject and a verb but doesn’t express a complete thought.

Can appear at the beginning, middle or end of a sentence.

This is a sentence fragment. It cannot stand alone.

It must be inserted into or attached to an independent clause.

*Can be taken out of the sentence and the sentence is still grammatically correct.

because they hoped for better life

who barely had a penny

Subordinate (Dependent) Clause at the beginning of a sentence

Because they hoped for a better life, immigrants endured difficult journeys.

Identify the subject and verb of this sentence.

Can be taken out of the sentence and the sentence is still grammatically correct.

Immigrants endured difficult journeys.

If the Subordinate (Dependent) Clause comes at the beginning of the sentence there is a comma after it.

Because they hoped for a better life, immigrants endured difficult journeys.

Subordinate (Dependent) Clause at the end of a sentence

Immigrants endured difficult journeys because they hoped for a better life.

*If the subordinate (Dependent) Clause comes at the end of a sentence there is no comma.

Subordinate (Dependent) Clause in the middle of a sentence

People who had money traveled first class.

Can be taken out of the sentence and the sentence is still grammatically correct.

People traveled first class.