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Clauses

Sentence Level Work

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Aims What is a clause? What is a subordinate clause? How can we use them correctly?

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Task 1

Jo was late for school. She forgot to set the alarm.

Join these sentences together to make one sentence. You may add in any words except ‘and’, ‘but’ or ‘so’

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Examples

Jo was late for school because she forgot to set her alarm.

Jo was late for school when she forgot to set her alarm.

Jo was late for school having forgotten to set her alarm.

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What is a clause?

A clause is one part of a sentence. In the sentence we’ve looked at there are two clauses.

Jo was late for school

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What is a clause?

A clause is one part of a sentence. In the sentence we’ve looked at there are two clauses.

Jo was late for school (Clause 1)

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What is a clause?

A clause is one part of a sentence. In the sentence we’ve looked at there are two clauses.

Jo was late for school (Clause 1) because she forgot to set her alarm.

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What is a clause?

A clause is one part of a sentence. In the sentence we’ve looked at there are two clauses.

Jo was late for school (Clause 1) because she forgot to set her alarm. (Clause 2)

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What are the clauses called?

The clause which makes sense on its own- Jo was late for school- is called a MAIN CLAUSE.

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What are the clauses called?

The clause which doesn’t make sense on its own- because she forgot to set her alarm- is called a

SUBORDINATE CLAUSE.

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Task 2

Try to re-write the sentence. This time, start with the information

about the alarm first and end with the information that Jo was late.

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Examples

Jo was late for school because she forgot to set her alarm.

Jo was late for school when she forgot to set her alarm.

Jo was late for school having forgotten to set her alarm.

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Examples

Because she forgot to set her alarm, Jo was late for school.

When she forgot to set her alarm, Jo was late for school.

Having forgotten to set her alarm, Jo was late for school.

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Examples Because she forgot to set her

alarm, Jo was late for school. When she forgot to set her alarm,

Jo was late for school. Having forgotten to set her alarm,

Jo was late for school.

What do you notice about the difference in punctuation here?

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Rule

When beginning a sentence with a subordinate clause, it must be separated from the main clause by a comma.

Because she forgot to set her alarm, Jo was late for school.

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Task 3

Rewrite the sentence again. This time: Start with the word Jo Then add the information about the

alarm Then finish with the information about

her being late

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Examples

Jo was late for school because she forgot to set her alarm.

Jo was late for school when she forgot to set her alarm.

Jo was late for school having forgotten to set her alarm.

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Examples

Jo, because she forgot to set her alarm, was late for school.

Jo, when she forgot to set her alarm, was late for school.

Jo, having forgotten to set her alarm, was late for school.

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Examples

Jo, because she forgot to set her alarm, was late for school.

Jo, when she forgot to set her alarm, was late for school.

Jo, having forgotten to set her alarm, was late for school.

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Examples

Jo, because she forgot to set her alarm, was late for school.

Jo, when she forgot to set her alarm, was late for school.

Jo, having forgotten to set her alarm, was late for school.

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Examples

Jo, because she forgot to set her alarm, was late for school.

Jo, when she forgot to set her alarm, was late for school.

Jo, having forgotten to set her alarm, was late for school.

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Rule

When using a subordinate clause to split up a main clause, it must be separated on both sides by commas.

Jo, because she forgot to set her alarm, was late for school.

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Task 4

The teacher looked up crossly.John walked in late.

How many varieties of sentence can you create using these two clauses?