GLOBAL WRITERS BUREAU ENGLISH GRAMMAR & WRITING STYLE COURSE
LESSON 8
So far we have revised the SIMPLE sentence – the sentence which contains only one finite verb and subject. The simple sentences can be linked together with a CONJUNCTION. There are four conjunctions: AND, BUT, EITHER-OR, NEITHER-NOR. These conjunctions are purely links. They belong to neither of the simple sentences that they join.
I went AND they joined me later.
We played, BUT she worked.
EITHER you (must go) OR she must go.
From now, we use the term “sentence” to describe any isolated sentence or any group of sentences linked together. Any individual sentences INSIDE a group of linked sentences will be referred to as CLAUSES (enclosed sentences):
SENTENCE
I WENT AHEAD (clause) and
THEY JOINED ME LATER (clause)
Any sentence made up entirely of clauses which are linked with AND, BUT, EITHER-OR, NEITHER-NOR is called a COMPOUND sentence. These conjunctions always link clauses of equal importance (coordinating conjunctions)
EXERCISE
CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER
- A simple sentence has (A. many) (B. one) finite verb(s).
- A coordinating conjunction links clauses of (A. equal) (7. unequal) importance.
- A coordinating conjunction (A. belongs) (B. does not belong) to some/any clause.
- A sentence inside a group of linked sentences is called a (A. simple sentence) (B. clause)
GLOBAL WRITERS BUREAU ENGLISH GRAMMAR & WRITING STYLE COURSE
LESSON 9
Not all (sentences-within-sentences) are of equal importance. Some clauses do the work of parts of speech, just as phrases do. Since no single part of speech can be as important as a sentence, it stands to reason that a clause which does the work of a part of speech will be a less important clause. So such clauses are called DEPENDENT clauses. They can do the work of adverbs, adjectives and nouns;
- He walks (how?) AS IF HE WERE TIRED.
Adverb clause
- I know (what?) THAT HE IS HERE.
Noun clause
- I spoke to the girl WHO WAS TALLER THAN OTHERS. (what kind of girl? Which girl?)
Adjective clause
None of the italicized clauses above makes full sense by itself. On the other hand, “he walks.” “I know,” “I spoke to the girl” DO make full sense, even by themselves, so they are called MAIN clauses. Sentences containing at least one main clause and at least one subordinate clause are called COMPLEX sentences. Complex sentences should not be confused with COMPOUND sentences which contain main clauses only.
EXERCISE 9:
GIVE THE CORRECT NAME FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING;
- He halted. (A. simple sentence) (B. clause)
- He halted because he was weary. (A. complex sentence) (B. compound sentence)
- He halted, but they went on. (A. complex sentences) (B. compound sentence)
- … when I had gone. (A. dependent clause) (B. main clause)
