INI103H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Independent Clause, Sentence Clause Structure, Dependent Clause
19 Sep 2019
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INI103H1: Writing Essays
Lecture #1 : September 17, 2018
Kinds of Sentences and their Punctuation
A sentence may be one of four kinds, depending on the number and type(s) of clauses it
Contains.
An independent clause contains a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
Example:
I wrote my first novel last year.
A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb, but no complete thought.
Example:
after I wrote my first novel last year (by itself this is an incomplete
sentence fragment)
1) Simple Sentence
Has one independent clause.
Examples:
Tom reads novels.
Tom reads newspapers.
Tom reads novels and newspapers.
Tom reads novels, newspapers, and graphic novels (use commas to separate more than
two items in your list).
Tom reads and enjoys novels.
Tom reads, enjoys, and sells novels.
Tom, Harry, and Jen read novels (use commas to separate more than two items in your
list).
2) Compound Sentence
Has two independent clauses joined by
A. a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so),
B. a conjunctive adverb (e.g.however, therefore), or
C. a semicolon alone.
Examples (matching A, B, and C above):
A. Tom reads novels, but Jack reads comics.
B. Tom reads novels; however, Jack reads comics.
C. Tom reads novels; Jack reads comics.
Note: Tom reads novels Jack reads comics is a run-on sentence!
Tom reads novels, Jack reads comics is a kind of run-on called a comma-splice!
Punctuation patterns
(to match A, B, and C above):
A. Independent clause, coordinating conjunction independent clause.
B. Independent clause; conjunctive adverb,independent clause.
C. Independent clause; independent clause.
3) Complex Sentence
Has one dependent clause (headed by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun) joined
to an independent clause.
Examples:
A. Although Tom reads novels, Jack reads comics.
B. Jack reads comics although Tom reads novels.
C. Jack, who reads comics, rarely reads novels.
D. People who read comics rarely read novels.
4) Compound-Complex Sentence
Has two independent clauses joined to one or more dependent clauses.
****CHART I COULDN’T SAVE****
Examples:
While Tom reads novels (dependant clause), Jack reads comics (independent clause), but Sam
reads only magazines (independent clause).
Tom reads novels (independent clause), back Jack reads comics (independent clause because
books are too difficult (dependent clause).
Jack (independent clause), who reads comics (dependent clause), rarely reads novels
(independent clause); however, Tom enjoys novels (independent clause).
People (independent clause) who read comics (dependent clause) rarely read novels
(independent clause); they often find books difficult (independent clause).
Punctuation patterns:
Follow the rules given above for compound and complex sentences.
A compound-complex sentence is merely a combination of the two.
Introducing and Citing Quotations: A Few Key Points
1) Use an “introducing verb” and comma, followed by a new sentence: Marshall McLuhan
claims/states/writes/argues/asserts, “The medium is the message” (9).
