English 9 / Unit 9: Grammar and Usage
9.2 Clauses and Sentence Types
Notes
A clause has a subject and a verb. An independent clause can stand alone; a dependent clause cannot (it often begins with because, although, when, if, since).
- Simple: one independent clause. "The dog barked."
- Compound: two or more independent clauses joined by a comma + FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or a semicolon. "The dog barked, and the cat ran."
- Complex: one independent clause + at least one dependent clause. "When the doorbell rang, the dog barked."
- Compound-complex: two or more independent clauses + at least one dependent clause.
- Sentence purposes: declarative (statement), interrogative (question), imperative (command), exclamatory (strong feeling).
Practice
"Although it was raining, we played the game." This sentence is:
One dependent clause ("Although it was raining") plus one independent clause.
"I studied for hours, but the test was still hard." This sentence is:
Two independent clauses are joined by a comma and "but."
"Close the window." What type of sentence is this by purpose?
It is a command, with the understood subject "you."
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