Clauses and sentence structure

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1

Clauses and sentence structure 

What is a clause?

A clause is a group of words that functions as one part of speech and that includes a subject (onderwerp) and verb(werkwoord).

1. Independent clause; A sentence that contains a subject and a verb - It can stand alone

Example: He will succeed. 

2. Dependent clause; Contains a subject and a verb, but it cannot stand alone. 

Example: If you work hard

3. Adverbial clause; a group of words that function as an adverb and that contains a subject and a verb. 

Example: When the sun rises, we will escape.

Sentence structure types

1. Simple Sentence Structure:

one independent clause.

2. Compound Sentence Structure:

two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction (aka FANBOYS).

"for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so"

3. Complex Sentence Structure:

one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.

(Linking words)

4. Compound-Complex Sentence Structure:

  two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Sentence structure types

1. Simple Sentence Structure:

I studied hard.

2. Compound Sentence Structure:

I studied hard and passed the exam. 

3. Complex Sentence Structure:

I passed the exam, because I studied hard.

4. Compound-Complex Sentence Structure:

Because I studied hard, I passed the exam and I was so happy. 

What is an independent clause?

1. This sentence can stand alone and makes sense.
2. This sentence cannot stand alone and make sense.

Once this storm is over, our plane can take off, and we can actually begin our vacation.

1. Simple Sentence
2. Compound Sentence
3. Complex Sentence
4. Compound-Complex Sentence

I will go to Paris on Monday, and Devin will meet me on Wednesday.

1. Simple Sentence
2. Compound Sentence
3. Complex Sentence
4. Compound-Complex Sentence

This necklace is very important to me, so don’t lose it unless you want to see me angry.

1. Simple Sentence
2. Compound Sentence
3. Complex Sentence
4. Compound-Complex Sentence

If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.

1. Simple Sentence
2. Compound Sentence
3. Complex Sentence
4. Compound-Complex Sentence

If Ellen doesn’t want to go, I can ask Patrick, or I can just go alone.

1. Simple Sentence
2. Compound Sentence
3. Complex Sentence
4. Compound-Complex Sentence

You cannot leave the school until the bell rings.

1. Simple Sentence
2. Compound Sentence
3. Complex Sentence
4. Compound-Complex Sentence

Ways to make your writing more interesting.

Some practical examples

Adverb modifier

The artist worked relentlessly on his sketching technique until it was perfected.

Vs.

Relentlessly, the artist worked on his sketching technique until it was perfected.

Adverb Clause

The artist worked relentlessly on his sketching technique until it was perfected.

Vs.

Until his style improved, the artist spent most of the time perfecting his sketching technique.

Infinitive Phrase

The artist worked relentlessly on his sketching technique until it was perfected.

Vs.

To achieve perfection, the artist worked relentlessly on his sketching technique.

Transitional Expressions

The artist worked relentlessly on his sketching technique until it was perfected.

Vs.

He was a promising artist. However, he still needed to work a lot on his sketching technique.

Sentence Length

The Renaissance was a cultural movement. It lasted from the 14th until the 17th century. Its biggest representatives were Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

Vs.

The Renaissance was a cultural movement which lasted from the 14th until the 17th century. Its biggest representatives were Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

Sentence Length

The Renaissance was a cultural movement. It lasted from the 14th until the 17th century. Its biggest representatives were Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

Vs.

The Renaissance, a cultural movement between the 14th and 17th century, produced some of most famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

Work on

1) The sentence structure assignment in Showbie

2) Alquin: Read the text Go beyond the box. 

To help with reading have a look at the background information, vocabulary, and key-words in context in the workbook.

Ways to rearrange a sentence

Fronting

Fronting means placing a word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence (before the subject) to emphasize it or to create variety in sentence rhythm. It’s often used in formal, written, or literary English.

Fronting

1. At the end of the street stood an old house. (place fronting) 

2. In the middle of the chaos was a single calm voice. (prepositional fronting)

3. This book I will never forget. (object fronting)

4. Exhausted by the journey, he fell asleep immediately. (participle fronting)

5. Never before had I felt so nervous. (negative adverbial fronting)

Inversion

Inversion occurs when the usual word order (subject + verb) is reversed. Often used in formal writing or to add emphasis.

Inversion

I have never seen such chaos -> Never have I seen such chaos.

She rarely makes mistakes -> Rarely does she make mistakes.

He went outside only after finishing his homework -> Only after finishing his homework did he go outside.

Important here is that only with inversion does the Subject - Verb order change. 

(I have never -> Never have I)

Cleft Sentences

Cleft sentences divide a simple sentence into two parts.

Cleft sentences are used to emphasize a specific part of the sentence.

Cleft Sentences

John solved the problem -> 

It was John who solved the problem.

I need a longer holiday. -> 

What I need is a long holiday.

Participle Clauses

A participle clause is a subordinate clause that begins with a participle (a verb ending in -ing or a past participle) 

Participle clauses allow you to reduce clauses and make sentences more fluent.

Participle Clauses

I was walking down the street and then I met an old friend. ->

Walking down the street, I met an old friend. 

He was exhausted by the journey and he fell asleep immediately ->

Exhausted by the journey, he fell asleep immediately.

Work on

Sentence Structure (Part 2)

In Showbizz