[English Syntax] Clauses

hello...kali ada sedikit materi tentang Clauses, hasil dari kuliah English Syntax hari ini....tapi ga' sempat bikin tree diagram'na...jadi, makalah apa adanya..hehe

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CLAUSES

A.           Definition

A clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a predicate. A clause may stand as a simple sentence or may join another clause to make a sentence. Therefore, a sentence consists of one, two or more clauses.

Examples:

   ·       He is sleeping.                                                             (one clause)

   ·       The kids were laughing at the joker.                           (one clause)

   ·       The teacher asked a question, but no one answered.  (two clauses)

   ·       I am happy, because I won a prize.                             (two clauses)

   ·       I like Mathematics, but my brother likes Biology, because he wants to become a doctor. (three clauses)

B.            Types of Clauses

1.        Independent Clause

An independent clause can be a sentence by itself. Independent clause is another name for simple sentence.

         Examples:

·      I met the boy who had helped me.

·      She is wearing a shirt which looks nice.

·      The teacher asked a question but no one answered.

·      He takes medicine because he suffers from fever.

·      He became angry and smashed the vase into peaces.

In the above sentences each underlined part shows independent clause. It expresses complete though and can stand as a sentence that is why a main or an independent clause is normally referred as a simple sentence.

2.        Dependent Clause

A dependent clause, in contrast, cannot be a sentence by itself because its meaning is not complete. A dependent clause “depends” on something else to complete its meaning.

         Example:

·      He likes Chinese rice which tastes good.

The clause “which tastes good” in above sentence is a subordinate clause because it does not express complete thought and can’t stand as a sentence. It depends on main clause (he likes Chinese rise) to express complete thought.

          Examples:

·      I met the boy who had helped me.

·      I bought a table that costs $ 100.

·      He takes medicine because he suffers from fever.

·      The teacher asked a question but no one answered.

C.           Types of Subordinate Clause

A subordinate (dependent) clause may function as a noun, an adjective or an adverb in sentence. On the basis of their function in a sentence, subordinate clauses can be divided in to following types.

1.        Noun Clause

A dependent clause that functions as a noun in a sentence is called noun clause.
A noun clause performs same function like a noun in a sentence.

         Example:

·      What he did made a problem for his family.

In above sentence the clause “what he did” functions as a noun, hence it is a noun clause. A noun clause works as a noun that acts as a subject, object, or predicate in a sentence. A noun clause starts with words “that, what, whatever, who, whom, whoever, whomever”.

         Examples:

·      Whatever you learn will help you in future.     (noun clause as a subject)

·      What you said made me laugh.                        (noun clause as a subject)

·      He knows that he will pass the test.               (noun clause as an object)

·      Now I realize what he would have thought.    (noun clause as an object)

2.        Adjective Clause.

A dependent clause that functions as an adjective in a sentence is called adjective clause. An adjective clause works like adjective in a sentence. The function of an adjective is to modify (describe) a noun or a pronoun.

          Example:

·      He wears a shirt which looks nice.

The clause “which looks nice” in above sentence is an adjective clause because it modifies noun “shirt” in the sentence.

An adjective clause always precedes the noun it modifies.

          Examples:

·      I met the boy who had helped me.

·      An apple that smells bad is rotten.

·      The book which I like is helpful in preparation for test.

·      The house where I live consists of four rooms.

·      The person who was shouting needed help.

Adjective clause is introduced by the relative pronouns (who, whom, whose, which, and that). But, it may also be introduced by the subordinate conjunctions when, where, and why.

Example:

·      Only scientists can explain the reason why this disaster happened.

3.        Adverbial Clause

A dependent clause that functions as an adverb in a sentence is called adverbial clause. An adverb clause like an adverb modifies a verb, an adjective or other adverb in a sentence.

Subordinating words in adverbial clause introduce the adverbial clause and connects it with a word in the main clause. The subordinating conjunctions used for adverbial clauses are as follows:

a.    Time: when, whenever, since, until, before, after, while, as, by the time, as soon as

b.    Place: where,wherever

c.    Manner: as, as if

d.   Comparison: as, than

e.    Reason, cause, purpose: as, because, so that, in order that, for fear that, since

f.     Result: so...that, such...that/ ...such that

g.    Condition: if, whether, unless, provided (that), on condition that, as/ so long as, supposing (that)

h.    Contrast, concession: although, though, even though, no matter if, while, even if, whenever, whatever, as much as, whereas

          Examples:

·      Don’t go before he comes.

·      He takes medicine because he is ill.

·      Although he tried a lot, he couldn’t climb up the tree.

·      Unless you study for the test, you can’t pass it.

·      I will go to the school unless it rains.      

·      You are safe as long as you drive carefully.

·      You can achieve anything provided that you struggle for it.

D.           Complex Sentence

A complex sentence is a combination of one independent clause and one (or more) dependent clause(s).

         Examples:

·      Because she was tired, Anna left the party early.

·      Anna left the party early because she was tired.

In a complex sentence, when the dependent clause comes first, separate the clauses with a comma. When the independent clause comes first, do not separate them.

REFERENCES

Oshima, Alice and Hogue, Ann. 2007. Introduction to Academic Writin. 3^rd Edition. New York: Person Education

Wishon, George E. And Burks, Julia M. 1980. Let’s Write English. New York: Litton Educational Publishing

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