VOA慢速英语2018--Can You Find the Clauses?

 

Imagine we are having a conversation about dance. Suddenly I say, “Because I love to dance!”

You might learn something about me: that I love dancing. But you might also look at me strangely since I told you only a reason for something, but I didn’t tell you anything else about it. If my remark does not seem like a complete sentence, that is because it is not!

The words “because I love to dance” are something called a clause¹: a group of words that contain a subject and a verb. You might remember the definition of a clause from a past Everyday Grammar program. Today, we will show you the difference between dependent and independent clauses².

In the example about dance, the subject is “I” and the verb is “love.” But “because I love to dance” does not express a complete thought; it is a dependent clause.

English has three common types of dependent clauses: noun clauses, relative clauses and adverb clauses. It would be unusual to write a paragraph or talk for a few minutes without using at least one of these. In fact, in my first few paragraphs alone, I have used at least two of these types of clauses.

Ultimately³, understanding how clauses work will help you identify and avoid incomplete⁴ or structurally⁵ unsound sentences. And this will strengthen your speaking skills – and especially your writing skills.

What is a clause?

As I just said, a clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. But that structure alone does not guarantee a complete sentence. Clauses can be dependent, or incomplete, or independent or complete.

Every complete sentence in English contains at least one clause; many sentences have two or more clauses.

So, let’s return to our example about dance. If I said to you, “I never miss Samantha’s class because I love to dance,” I would be expressing myself in a complete sentence.

The sentence has two clauses: “I never miss Samantha’s class” and “because I love to dance.”

Independent clauses

Independent clauses contain the main subject and main verb of a sentence. They express clear thoughts and can stand alone as sentences. In our example, “I never miss Samantha’s class” is an independent clause. It is a complete sentence on its own and does not need “because I love to dance” to express a complete thought.

In sentences containing more than one clause, independent clauses are usually called “main clauses.”

Dependent clauses

Now, let’s talk about dependent clauses, also called “subordinate clauses.” Remember, the clause “because I love to dance” contains a subject and verb, but it is still dependent. It leaves you feeling like something is missing. Another good indication that this clause is dependent is that the word “because” signals an adverb clause. But, it only contains one subject and one verb. So, the other part of the sentence – the independent clause -- is missing.

Dependent clauses depend on – or need – independent clauses to express complete thoughts.

Listen to more examples of dependent clauses and decide for yourself: does it seem like something is missing? Listen:

If my aunt arrives by 3pm. That’s an adverb clause.

Who lives in the building. That’s a relative clause.

What you did last summer. That’s a noun clause.

Again: All of these are dependent clauses: They leave you knowing that you need more information to get the complete idea. Words like if, because, who, what, that and other words often – but not always -- signal dependent clauses.

Now, let’s listen to complete sentences for each example:

We can still see the monuments today if my aunt arrives by 3pm.

My friend who lives in the building is away this weekend.

I know what you did last summer.

You may recognize this third sentence as the title of a 1997 American horror film, adapted from a book of the same title.

Each of the examples contains two clauses: a dependent clause connected to an independent clause.

Remember – independent clauses express complete thoughts by themselves. So, “We can still see the monuments today”; “My friend is away this weekend”; and even “I know” are all independent clauses – they are complete sentences on their own. However, their dependent clauses provide more information.

Is it a sentence?

Ok, so we learned that some clauses are complete sentences and some are not. Now, let’s practice a bit.

Listen to some examples. Are they complete sentences? Can you locate the dependent clauses? The independent clauses?

Listen:

After we visited the French Market on Saturday.

Who is crossing Broad Street.

She works with a computer that is older than she is.

I wish that I could live by the beach all summer.

The box that is near the elevator.

Write your answers in the comments section.

Being able to recognize independent and dependent clauses lays the foundation for understanding the three main types of clauses: noun clauses, adverb clauses and relative clauses. And, this is a skill that will go a very long way in helping⁶ you make progress on your English speaking and writing.

Join us again soon when we will tell you about adverb clauses.

I’m Alice Bryant.

Words in This Story

remark – n. something that someone says or writes to express an opinion or idea

unsound – adj. poorly built or in bad condition

monument – n. a building or statue that honors a person or event

title – n. the name given to something, such as a book, song, or movie, to identify or describe it

practice – v. to do something again and again in order to become better at it

foundation – n. something, such as an idea, a principle, or a fact, that provides support for something

go a long way – expression. to be helpful in achieving some goal

1 clause   

n.（正式文件或法律文件的）条款，从句，分句

参考例句：

• The sentence consists of a main clause and a subordinate clause.这句中有一个主句和一个从句。
• What clause do you require in the contract?你要求在合同中订上什么条款？

2 clauses   

从句( clause的名词复数 )； （法律文件等的）条款

参考例句：

• Relative pronouns and adverbs introduce attributive clauses. 关系代词和关系副词引导定语从句。
• Please underline the noun clauses in the passage. 请用线画出短文中的名词性从句。

3 ultimately   

adv.最后地，最终地，首要地，基本地

参考例句：

• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience.那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。
• Vitamin C deficiency can ultimately lead to scurvy.缺乏维生素C最终能道致坏血病。

4 incomplete   

adj.不完全的，不完善的

参考例句：

• The building was left incomplete.那座楼没有完工就停下来了。
• His novel was incomplete when he died.他死的时候他的小说没有写完。

5 structurally   

在结构上

参考例句：

• The house roof was (structurally) unsound. 这屋顶（结构）不牢固。
• Pinhole on shot-hole damage is never structurally significant. 针孔和蛀洞所造成的危害对结构的影响不大。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。