Chapter 4 | Clauses | 45
CHAPTER _____________________________________________________________________
4 Clauses
A clause is a group of words that has (at least) a subject and a predicate, and that
is used as a part of a sentence.
Clauses fall into two categories: main clauses, which are also called independent
clauses, and subordinate clauses, which are also called dependent clauses.
Main Clauses
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A main clause has a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a sentence.
There must be at least one main clause in every sentence. Both of the clauses in
each of the following examples are main clauses because both can stand alone as
sentences.
Main Clause Main Clause
Stories entertain, and people listen.
Main Clause Main Clause
The author wrote vividly, but the editor asked for many changes.
Main Clause Main Clause
The major critics cheered, and the book sold because of good reviews.
PRACTICE 1 Identifying Main Clauses
On your paper, mark each main clause. Then write S below each subject and V
below each verb. Be sure that each clause you mark can stand alone as a
sentence.
1. The publishers advertised, and the bookstore owners responded.
2. The book’s cover was a striking design, and the author was pleased.
3. The author toured, and television hosts interviewed her.
4. Sometimes she gave readings, but few people attended.
5. Eventually sales increased, and the author celebrated.
Subordinate Clauses
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A subordinate clause has a subject and a predicate but cannot stand alone as a
sentence.
Stories entertain because they are amusing.
Stories that entertain amuse people.
Mr. Senghong, who is intelligent, is my student.
The three subordinate clauses—adjective clause, adverb clause, and noun clause
—will be explained clearly in the next lesson.
Chapter 4 | Clauses | 46
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PRACTICE 2 Identifying Clauses
Each of the following sentences has a clause that appears in italics. On your
paper, indicate whether the clause is a main clause or a subordinate clause.
Mahalia Jackson, Gospel Singer
1
Mahalia Jackson was an African American singer who became popular
worldwide as a performer of gospel music. 2Although she was strongly
associated with religious music, her vocal style was influenced by blues.
3
Jackson grew up in New Orleans, where she sang in a church choir. 4When she
was 16 years old, Jackson moved to Chicago. 5She worked at odd jobs during the
first years that she lived in the city. 6Because she possessed a beautiful voice,
record companies soon offered her contracts. 7In the 1950s, she gave a series of
gospel concerts across the United States that drew huge audiences. 8Jackson
performed internationally after her United States tours proved so successful.
9
Although she was a popular gospel star, Jackson was also very much concerned
with politics. 10Since she viewed song as an inspiration for peace, she performed
at many civil rights rallies and marches.
PRACTICE 3 Identifying whether the following sentences are main clauses or subordinate
clauses.
1. Globalization means more travel for businessmen and women.
2. As business executives fly around the globe to sell their companies’ products
and services.
3. Jet lag affects most long-distance travelers.
4. Which is simply the urge to sleep at inappropriate times.
5. During long journeys through several time zones, the body’s inner clock is
disrupted.
6. For some reason, travel from west to east causes greater jet lag than travel
from east to west.
7. Also, changes in work schedules can cause jet lag.
8. When hospital nurses change from a day shift to a night shift.
9. Although there is no sure way to prevent jet lag.
10. There are some ways to minimize it.
11. Because jet lag is caused at least partially by loss of sleep, not just a change
in the time of sleep.
12. A traveler should plan to arrive at his or her destination as late as possible.
13. Upon arriving, he or she should immediately go to bed.
14. Then the traveler should start to live in the new time zone immediately.
15. Even when the traveler arrives early in the morning and cannot go to bed
immediately.
