Page 218 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Unit 12: Subordinating Conjunctions

12.2 Independent Clause Notes

The following patterns are the most common ones in written American English. Each sentence
pattern contains an independent clause that can be a complete sentence.

The independent clause (SVC) contains a subject (S), a verb (V), and a completer (C). The completer
= any word or words that complete the thought.
Subject Verb Completer

The man in the gray suit ran to get out of the rain.
My youngest brother is a very good guitar player.
Most of the patterns contain additional words, phrases, or subordinate clauses that attach to the
main SVC.
Phrases are word groups that function within the sentence. (See the list of phrases in Pattern #3
below):

Subordinate clauses are not complete sentences because they have a subordinator before their
subject. (See the list of subordinators in Pattern # 3 below):
Each basic sentence pattern is indicated by combinations of SVC and ....................... .

SVC = an independent clause that can be a complete sentence.
....................... = a word, phrase, or subordinate clause that is part of a complete sentence.
By combining the ....................... and SVC chunks, you can create the following basic patterns:

#1: SVC. Independent clause (simple sentence)
#2: SVC, and SVC. Independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS)
#3: ......................., SVC. Lead-in word, phrase, or subordinate clause
#4: S, .......................,VC. Interrupting word, phrase, or clause
#5: S that ....................... VC. S who ....................... VC. Necessary or Essential relative clauses

#6: SVC, ........................ SVC: ........................ SVC– ....................... . Additional or Nonessential words,
phrases, or clauses
#7: SVC; ......................., SVC. Sentence; lead-in word, sentence.

Pattern #1: SVC. The independent clause
This pattern may have more than one subject, verb, or completer but not more than one
independent clause.

S V C
SVC. George ate six apples.
S V C
SVC. Driving to Minneapolis takes four hours from my house.
S V C
SVC. That Martha was late to school was a surprise to her mother.
S V C
SVC. Whether Tim goes to the dance is his decision to make.
S & S V C
S&SVC. Helen and Mauren gave a party for Jane.

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