Understanding and correctly using clauses and complex sentences is a fundamental skill in English grammar. In Unit 7, we will explore the key concepts and principles behind clauses and complex sentences, providing you with a comprehensive answer key to help you reinforce your understanding of these important topics.
With this answer key, you will have the opportunity to review and practice identifying different types of clauses, such as independent clauses, dependent clauses, relative clauses, and noun clauses. You will also learn how to combine these clauses to create complex sentences, using coordinating conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and relative pronouns.
This answer key is designed to serve as a valuable resource for both students and teachers. It provides clear explanations and examples of the concepts covered in Unit 7, allowing you to check your answers and monitor your progress. By using this answer key, you can ensure that you have a solid understanding of clauses and complex sentences, enabling you to communicate effectively and confidently in written and spoken English.
Unit 7 Clauses and Complex Sentences Answer Key
In Unit 7, we have learned about clauses and complex sentences. A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It can be either independent or dependent. An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence, while a dependent clause cannot. Complex sentences are made up of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
Independent Clauses
An independent clause can express a complete thought and can function as a sentence on its own. It can have a subject and a predicate and can stand alone without any additional information. For example:
- I love to read. – This is an independent clause because it expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
- The dog barked loudly. – This is another example of an independent clause, which can function as a sentence by itself.
Dependent Clauses
A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence. It depends on an independent clause to make sense. Dependent clauses often begin with words like “because,” “if,” “when,” or “although.” For example:
- Because it was raining, we decided to stay inside. – The dependent clause “because it was raining” cannot stand alone as a sentence and relies on the independent clause to provide meaning.
- If you take the bus, you will save money. – In this example, the dependent clause “if you take the bus” needs the independent clause to complete the thought.
Complex Sentences
Complex sentences are formed by combining independent and dependent clauses. The independent clause provides the main idea or complete thought, while the dependent clause adds additional information or provides context. These sentences are often separated by a comma or a subordinating conjunction. For example:
- Although she was tired, she continued working. – This is a complex sentence where the independent clause “she continued working” is supported by the dependent clause “although she was tired.”
- He studied hard, but he failed the test. – In this example, the independent clauses “he studied hard” and “he failed the test” are joined by the coordinating conjunction “but.”
Understanding clauses and complex sentences is important for developing strong writing and communication skills. By recognizing and using different types of clauses, we can create more varied and sophisticated sentences. Keep practicing to improve your understanding and mastery of this grammar topic.
Understanding Clauses: Definitions and Examples
Clauses are an important part of sentence structure in the English language. They provide additional information and help to create complex sentences. In this article, we will explore the definition of clauses and provide examples to better understand their use.
What is a Clause?
A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It can function as a sentence or be part of a larger sentence. There are two main types of clauses: independent clauses and dependent clauses.
Independent Clauses
An independent clause, also known as a main clause, can stand alone as a complete sentence. It expresses a complete thought and does not rely on any other part of the sentence. For example, “She went to the store” is an independent clause because it can function on its own.
Independent clauses can also be combined to create compound sentences. For example, “She went to the store, and he stayed at home” is a compound sentence consisting of two independent clauses connected by the coordinating conjunction “and”.
Dependent Clauses
A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on another part of the sentence to provide a complete thought. For example, “Because it was raining” is a dependent clause because it relies on another clause or sentence to make sense.
Dependent clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions such as “because”, “although”, or “when”. They can be used to add additional information, provide a condition, or show a contrast. For example, “Although it was raining, she still went to the store” is a complex sentence with a dependent clause at the beginning.
Understanding clauses is essential for constructing well-formed and meaningful sentences in English. By recognizing the different types of clauses and their functions, you can create more varied and sophisticated sentences in your writing.
Types of Clauses: Independent and Dependent
Clauses are groups of words that contain a subject and a verb. They can be classified into two main types: independent clauses and dependent clauses. Independent clauses, also known as main clauses, can stand alone as complete sentences because they express a complete thought. They can function as sentences on their own and do not rely on other clauses for their meaning. For example:
- She went to the store. (This is an example of an independent clause because it expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.)
On the other hand, dependent clauses, also known as subordinate clauses, cannot stand alone as complete sentences because they do not express a complete thought. They rely on an independent clause to complete their meaning. Dependent clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions like “because,” “although,” or “when.” For example:
- Because she was tired, she decided to go to bed early. (The dependent clause “Because she was tired” relies on the independent clause “she decided to go to bed early” to complete its meaning.)
- Although it was raining, they still went for a walk. (The dependent clause “Although it was raining” relies on the independent clause “they still went for a walk” to complete its meaning.)
In summary, independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences, while dependent clauses rely on independent clauses to complete their meaning. Understanding the different types of clauses is essential for constructing complex sentences and conveying complex thoughts.
Subordinate Clauses: Definition and Examples
Subordinate clauses, also known as dependent clauses, are groups of words that cannot stand alone as complete sentences. They rely on main clauses to give them meaning and make sense. Subordinate clauses are usually introduced by subordinating conjunctions, such as “because,” “although,” “when,” “if,” and “since.” These clauses serve to provide additional information, give reasons, express contrast, show time relationships, or indicate conditions.
There are several types of subordinate clauses. One type is the adverbial clause, which functions as an adverb in the sentence. For example, “Although it was raining, they decided to go for a walk.” In this sentence, the subordinate clause “although it was raining” provides additional information about the circumstances, and modifies the main clause “they decided to go for a walk.”
Examples of Subordinate Clauses:
- “Because I studied hard, I passed the exam.”
- “After he finished his homework, he went to bed.”
- “I will go for a run if it stops raining.”
- “She couldn’t go to the party because she was feeling sick.”
Another type of subordinate clause is the adjective clause, which functions as an adjective in the sentence. It describes or gives more information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause. For example, “The book that he recommended is really interesting.” Here, the subordinate clause “that he recommended” modifies the noun “book” in the main clause.
Examples of Subordinate Clauses:
- “I met a girl who loves to travel.”
- “The car that I bought last week broke down.”
- “She has a cat that always sleeps on her bed.”
- “I saw a movie that was really scary.”
Subordinate clauses add complexity and depth to sentences, allowing for a greater range of expression and meaning. By understanding and using subordinate clauses correctly, writers can create more sophisticated and nuanced prose.
Complex Sentences: Structure and Formation
In English grammar, a complex sentence is a sentence that contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause. The independent clause is a complete sentence and can stand on its own, while the dependent clause relies on the independent clause to make sense. Complex sentences are commonly used in both written and spoken English to convey more complex ideas and relationships between different parts of a sentence.
The structure of a complex sentence is typically as follows: an independent clause + conjunction + dependent clause. The conjunction serves as a bridge between the two clauses and helps to establish the relationship between them. Common conjunctions used in complex sentences include “because”, “although”, “while”, “when”, “where”, and “if”. For example, “I went to the store because I needed some groceries” is a complex sentence with the independent clause “I went to the store” and the dependent clause “because I needed some groceries”.
Formation of complex sentences involves identifying the main idea or independent clause and then adding a dependent clause that provides additional information or context. This can be done by using a subordinating conjunction at the beginning of the dependent clause or by using a relative pronoun to connect the two clauses. It is important to note that the placement of the dependent clause can vary within a complex sentence, depending on the emphasis or flow of the sentence. However, it is generally recommended to place the dependent clause after the independent clause to maintain clarity and coherence.
Overall, complex sentences provide a way to express more nuanced and detailed ideas in English. By combining independent and dependent clauses, we can convey relationships, cause and effect, conditions, and more. Understanding the structure and formation of complex sentences can enhance our writing and speaking skills, allowing us to communicate more effectively and accurately in English.
Subordinating Conjunctions: List and Usage
Subordinating conjunctions are words used to connect two clauses in a sentence where one clause is dependent on the other. These conjunctions introduce adverbial clauses that provide additional information about time, place, condition, reason, or contrast. Here is a list of common subordinating conjunctions:
- After: used to indicate that one event happens after another
- Although: used to introduce a clause that contrasts with the main clause
- As: used to show cause or reason
- Because: used to indicate the reason or cause of something
- Before: used to show that one event happens prior to another
- If: used to introduce a condition or a hypothetical situation
- Since: used to indicate the starting point of an action or situation
- Though: used to introduce a contrasting idea
- Unless: used to introduce a condition that must be met for something to happen
- Until: used to indicate the time or event when something stops or ends
- While: used to show a simultaneous action or situation
Subordinating conjunctions play an important role in creating complex sentences by connecting the dependent clause to the main clause. They provide additional information and clarify the relationship between the two clauses. For example, in the sentence “I will go to the party if I finish my work,” the subordinating conjunction “if” introduces the condition for going to the party, connecting the dependent clause “I finish my work” to the main clause “I will go to the party.”
It is important to note that subordinating conjunctions introduce adverbial clauses, which means they modify the verb in the main clause. This helps to add depth and complexity to the sentence structure, allowing for more varied and nuanced expressions. Understanding the usage of subordinating conjunctions is essential for constructing well-formed and cohesive sentences.
Examples of Complex Sentences with Subordinate Clauses
Complex sentences are made up of one independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses. Subordinate clauses are dependent on the main clause and cannot stand alone as a sentence. They provide additional information or clarify the main clause. Here are some examples of complex sentences with subordinate clauses:
- Although it was raining, Mary went for a walk.
- John visited the museum after he finished his homework.
- The cat ran away when I opened the door.
- I will go to the party if I finish my work on time.
- She is studying hard so that she can pass the exam.
In the first example, the subordinate clause “Although it was raining” is dependent on the main clause “Mary went for a walk.” It provides the additional information that it was raining, but it does not stand alone as a complete sentence.
The second example shows the use of the subordinate clause “after he finished his homework.” It clarifies when John visited the museum and is dependent on the main clause.
Similarly, the third example uses the subordinate clause “when I opened the door” to explain when the cat ran away.
The fourth example introduces the conditional subordinate clause “if I finish my work on time” to indicate that the person will go to the party only if they finish their work on time.
Finally, the last example includes the purpose subordinate clause “so that she can pass the exam.” It shows the reason for studying hard and is dependent on the main clause.
These are just a few examples of complex sentences with subordinate clauses. They demonstrate how subordinate clauses add complexity and additional information to the main clause, enhancing the overall meaning of the sentence.