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)
GLOBAL WRITERS BUREAU ENGLISH GRAMMAR & WRITING STYLE COURSE
LESSON 10
We shall complete our short revision of the first year course by quickly looking at RELATION OF IDEAS. This is most important.
Between any two of our thoughts there exists (or should do) some relation, whether that relation is expressed or not. The sun is now shining, I shall go out. Here the relation is reason. Why shall I go out? – BECAUSE (since, as) the sun is now shining.
It is raining heavily, I shall go out. Here we have the very opposite of reason. You would normally expect a person to go out when the weather is fine – but this person is going out ALTHOUGH (though, even though, despite the fact that) it is raining heavily. The relation is called concession. He worked hard. He wished to succeed. Here, once again, the relation seems to be reason (why did he work hard? – because etc). However, it is more definite than reason. It expresses a conscious purpose. He works hard, SO THAT (i.e. because he has a special intention) he may succeed.
EXERCISE
GIVE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SENTENCE
- She practices each day. She is determined to become a great pianist. (A. reason) (B. purpose)
- She practices each day. Her parents want her to do so. (A. reason) (B. purpose)
- She practices each day. She has nothing else in particular to do. (A. concession) (B. reason)
- She practices each day. She hates practicing. (A. reason) (B. concession)
