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The clause
is the basic unit of meaning in English conveys a message can provide information about
what is happening (verb group) who, what is taking part (participant usually a noun group) when, where, how, why surrounding the activity (circumstance)
Examples of clauses
Help!
Help me!
The woman was able to help me. Yesterday the young woman was able to help me. Yesterday the young woman who was passing was able to help me at the scene of the accident. Yesterday the young German woman who was passing was able to help me immediately at the scene of the accident. Yesterday, because of her first aid experience, the young German woman who was passing was able to immediately help me at the scene of the accident.
Parts of a Clause
Generally each clause must have a verb to be classed as a clause Help! Help me! The woman was able to help me.
Parts of a Clause
Participant - who or what is taking part (usually a noun group)
Help! Help me! The woman was able to help me. Yesterday the young woman was able to help me. Yesterday the young woman who was passing was able to help me at the scene of the accident. Yesterday the young German woman who was passing was able to help me immediately at the scene of the accident.
Yesterday, because of her first aid experience, the young German woman who was passing was able to immediately help me at the scene of the accident.
Parts of a Clause
Circumstances (when, where, how, why giving more information about the verb) Help!
Help me!
The woman was able to help me. Yesterday the young woman was able to help me. (When) Yesterday the young woman who was passing was able to help me at the scene of the accident. (Where) Yesterday the young German woman who was passing was able to help me immediately at the scene of the accident. (How) Yesterday, because of her first aid experience, the young German woman who was passing was able to immediately help me at the scene of the accident. (Why)
Parts of a Clause
Identify the verb group, the participant and circumstances in the following - some examples comprise two clauses. You must give some money to charity. All my life I have supported the environment. Cook the biscuits in the oven for twenty minutes. Have you played tennis recently? In each hole, the dog found one or two bones. He ran down the stairs very quickly. All my life I have supported the environment but now I want to give up. I played tennis recently and I enjoyed it immensely. After working hard during the term, Im looking forward to the holidays. He said that he needed a holiday.
Can stand on its own and convey a message Is always finite ie has a Subject (unless in the imperative form)
You must give some money to charity. (Independent) You must give some money to charity (Independent) because you are very rich (Dependent) You must give some money to charity (Independent) and you should give some to me as well. (Independent)
Dependent or Independent?
Activity Identify the dependent and independent clauses
Activity Answers When the tap is turned on, (Dependent) be sure it is not too hot. After five minutes, place the mixture in the oven (Independent) By dialling an emergency number (Dependent, non-finite), I quickly got help. Because I wasnt really sure of myself, (Dependent) I decided not to go. People are destroying the environment (Independent) by logging forests Do you like opera? (Independent) Even though she disagrees with me, (Dependent) she will listen to me They knew (Independent) that I would go.
To make a great pizza, (Dependent, non-finite) you need a good base. I went to Broome, which is a really interesting place.(Dependent)
Interrupting Clause
Joins another clause by interrupting it.
Uses commas to signal its function. My brother, who lives in Canberra, is a public servant. (Interrupting Clause)
As opposed to: My brother who lives in Canberra is a public servant (Embedded clause is part of the nominal group My brother who lives in Canberra.) see Embedded Clause
Broome, which is a really interesting place, is becoming a popular tourist location.
Projected Clause
A dependent clause that comes after saying and some mental verbs to project thoughts, ideas and feelings. I said that my brother lives in Canberra They thought that my brother lived in Canberra
Embedded Clause
Functions inside another clause , ,usually as a part of the noun group or as participant.
Activity
With a partner, analyse the shaded sections of the text in Attachment 11B and then try to find the following language features: Note that there may not be examples of all of these features in the text you choose.
An independent clause and then identify its different parts. Two independent clauses joined by a linking conjunction eg and, but, and then
A dependent clause joined to an independent clause A projected clause A relative clause added to an independent clause A relative clause in an embedded clause.