Clauses

A CLAUSE is a group of words that has a subject AND a predicate; however, it does NOT ALWAYS make a sentence.

There are two types of clauses:

A DEPENDENT CLAUSE is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate, BUT it does not express a complete thought.  It is very, very close to being a sentence, but it doesn’t provide enough information to finish the idea; it does not express a complete thought.

• When a dog ran in front of my car
• Since she got back from her trip
• Because I said so
• Although you think you know everything there is to know

An INDEPENDENT CLAUSE is a group of words with a subject AND a predicate AND they express a complete thought.  All simple sentences are independent clauses.  We can also use independent clauses to make other types of sentences.

• A dog ran in front of my car.
• She got back from her trip. 
• I said so.
• You think you know everything there is to know.

Rule of Thumb: Dependent Clause

Write a sentence, then put a “Dependent Clause Maker” word in front of the sentence. 

DEPENDENT CLAUSE MAKERS:

• Because
• Although
• Since
• When
• If
• Though
• Before
• Even though

My room is colorful.  – sentence

Though my room is colorful…  --- clause – does not express a complete thought!

My dad had brown hair.  --- sentence

If my dad had brown hair… --- clause