Page 70 - Grammar Glow - 8

Connecting Two Independent Clauses

Two independent clauses may be joined by using coordinating conjunctions. There are seven
coordinating conjunctions. For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

Read the sentences given below.
• I was waiting at the bus stop, and a girl started talking to me.
• The woman was sitting in the restaurant, but she was not ordering anything.
• We can take our umbrellas, or we could wear our raincoats.

• He did not want to criticise the management, nor did he want to provoke the students.
• Karan was late for the meeting, yet he drove with great care.
• Emily was out of milk, so she went to the store.

Test Yourself

I. Write whether the clauses give below are independent or dependent.

1. When Mr Jerry yelled. _____________________
2. They are going on a picnic. _____________________
3. Unless it comes today. _____________________
4. I decided to go along. _____________________
5. When I am finished writing. _____________________
6. We are planning to have a get together. _____________________

7. The sixth graders sang. _____________________
8. Father found it in the drawer. _____________________

Types of Dependent Clauses
Dependent clauses are categorised according to their function in a sentence. There are three main
types of dependent clauses:

1. Noun Clause 2. Adverb Clause 3. Adjective Clause

Noun Clause

The clause that functions as a noun is called the noun clause. It can be a subject, an object (direct
or indirect), a subject complement or an object of a preposition. It may start with a wh-word like
what, who, which, when, where or why, or even with that or how.
Read the sentences given below.

• He knows all about art, but he doesn’t know what he likes. (direct object of know)

• My only worry is that they won’t be here in time. (subject complement)
• That he believes his own story is remarkable. (subject)

• I am highly impressed with this work done at such short notice. (object of the preposition
with)

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