Types of clauses
Natasha Thomas-Francis, Contributor

Hello class. Here are the answers for last week's activity:

1.There (was, were) two dogs lying on the pavement.

2. Neither the windows nor the door (was, were) locked.

3.Neither the hammer nor the nails (was, were) in the toolbox.

4. Maria, one of the star dancers on the show, (teaches, teach) dancing in her free time.

5. Toast, along with peanut butter and bananas, (is, are) Kedar's favourite breakfast.

6. The committee (meets, meet) every Tuesday.

7. News of events in foreign countries (reaches, reach) my country in minutes.

8. Every boy and girl in school (has, have) purchased a

Ticket for the concert

This week, we shall be looking at types of clauses. This is an introductory lesson to types of sentences. It is important that you have knowledge of various types of sentences and actually use them in your extended pieces (for example, story and argumentative writing). You will be tested on expression in your writing, and your use of various types of sentences will demonstrate to the examiner that you have a good grasp of the English language.

Before we can go into types of sentences, however, you must understand types of clauses. A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate and functions as part of a sentence or as a sentence. Clauses fall into two categories: main/independent clauses and subordinate/dependent clauses.

A main/independent clause has a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought. It is the only type of clause that can stand alone as sentence. A subordinate/dependent clause also has a subject and a predicate but, unlike the main clause, does not express a complete thought and, therefore, cannot stand alone as a sentence.

Let's look at the following examples:

• [While you are at the market], buy some tomatoes, please.
• Our house is untidy [because we are moving].
• Kingston, [which is a big city], has many entertainment spots for all kinds of people.

In the above examples, the underlined part of the sentence expresses a complete thought and, if the bracketed part were to be removed, would stand alone as a sentence. The underlined part is, therefore, the main clause. The part of the sentence surrounded by brackets contains a subject and a predicate, but cannot stand alone as a complete thought. This is, therefore, the subordinate clause.

In order to identify a subordinate clause, you will need to know the following:

• A subordinate clause is introduced by either a

subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun:

- Subordinating conjunctions include: since, when, because, if, as, while

- Relative pronouns include: that, which, who, whom, whose.

• A subordinate clause must not be confused with a phrase.

- A phrase is a group of related words that is used as a single part of speech and does not contain a finite verb and its subject. (A finite verb works with the subject of the sentence to give a sense of completeness).

- For example, look at the sentence: After his classes, Keith will attend the meeting. This sentence contains one main clause, but within the clause is a phrase: After his classes.

- Now look at this sentence: After his class has ended, Keith will attend the meeting. In this sentence, a finite verb has been added (has ended) to create a subordinate clause: After his class has ended.

Now you can do the following activity. In this activity, you should identify each item as a main clause, subordinate clause or a phrase:

1. English is an easy subject to study

2. Finding my pen

3. Across the road

4. While I was in the classroom

5. Sit!

6. In the kitchen

7. For I heard the sound

8. Are you sure you told Paul of the football match?

9. Wringing her hands and screaming uncontrollably

10. The phone rang

Now that you have a clear understanding of clauses, in next week's lesson we shall go on to types of sentences. Do have a blessed week!

Nada Marasovic (left), deputy representative of UNICEF, addresses students prior to the start of the Planning Institute of Jamaica/Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social & Economic Studies/UNICEF Caribbean Child Research Conference 2009 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston recently. - Rudolph Brown/Freelane Photographer