relative clause

Examples of relative clause in the following topics:

• Introduction to Pronouns

  • As you can see, relative clauses can be useful in streamlining your writing and improving your flow.
  • Be sure to ask yourself whether the clause actually clarifies a sentence or makes it too long and complicated.
  • The main relative pronouns dealing with things are "that" and "which."
  • Relative pronouns introduce what are called subordinate clauses.
  • Subordinate clauses are phrases within a sentence that modify the subject of the sentence.

• Introduction to Commas

  • When joining two independent clauses, or clauses that could stand on their own as full sentences, place a comma before the conjunction.
  • In this situation, use a comma after the dependent clause.
  • Only use a comma to separate a dependent and independent clause if the dependent clause is first!
  • Still, not using the serial comma is relatively uncommon in American English, except in newspapers and magazines.
  • Occurring at the end of a sentence, cumulative clauses hook up to a main clause and add further information.

• Semicolons

  • Semicolons are used to link related clauses and to separate clauses that contain additional punctuation.
  • Semicolons, like colons and commas, indicate pauses within a sentence to show relationships between words and clauses.
  • Semicolons also link clauses of equal importance, but unlike commas, do not always require a coordinating conjunction.
  • Semicolons can join closely related independent clauses that are not linked with a coordinating conjunction:
  • Semicolons can also be used between independent clauses linked with a transitional phrase or a conjunctive adverb.

• Using Varied Sentence Lengths and Styles

  • The two main categories of clauses are independent clauses and subordinate (or dependent) clauses.
  • A simple sentence consists of a single independent clause with no subordinate clauses.
  • A compound sentence consists of multiple independent clauses with no subordinate clauses.
  • A complex sentence consists of at least one independent clause and one subordinate clause.
  • This sentence contains two independent clauses (one before and one after the comma) and each independent clause contains a subordinate clause ("what you eat" and "what you are").

• Varying Your Sentence Structure and Vocabulary

  • Clauses: The easiest way to vary sentence length and structure is with clauses.
  • Multi-clause sentences can connect related ideas, provide additional detail, and vary the pattern of your language.
  • Clauses can vary in length, too.
  • If this were your paper, you might want to make the next sentence a short one and get to your thesis statement relatively soon.

• Eliminating Comma Splices and Fused Sentences

  • Once you discover where the two independent clauses are "spliced," you can then decide how best to separate the clauses:
  • You can use a semicolon between the two clauses if they are of equal importance; this allows your reader to consider the points together.
  • Or, you can add a word to one clause to make it dependent.
  • If you locate a run-on sentence and find where the two independent clauses "collide," you can then decide how best to separate the clauses.
  • Or, you can add a word to one clause to make it dependent.

• Components of a Sentence

  • (adjective clause)
  • The following are examples of clauses:
  • If the clause could stand by itself—that is, form a complete sentence with punctuation—we call it an independent clause.
  • The following are independent clauses:
  • The following are dependent clauses:

• Common Comma Mistakes

  • Do not use a comma before a dependent clause that comes after an independent clause.
  • Or, you can add a word to one clause to make it dependent.
  • The independent clauses may not have any punctuation separating them, or they may have a coordinating conjunction between them, but without the comma that needs to accompany it to separate the independent clauses.
  • If you locate a run-on sentence and find where the two independent clauses "collide," you can decide how best to separate the clauses.
  • Or, you can add a word to one clause to make it dependent.

• Verb Mood: Indicative, Subjunctive, and Imperative

  • Usually, the subjunctive mood is used in a dependent clause.
  • [Main clause "I wish" is factual and in indicative mood; dependent clause "Paul would eat" is hypothetical and in subjunctive mood.]
  • [Main clause "I suggest" is factual and in indicative mood; dependent clause "we wait until" is hypothetical and in subjunctive mood.]

• Structure of a Sentence

  • A simple sentence consists of a single independent clause with no subordinate clauses.
  • A compound sentence consists of multiple independent clauses with no subordinate clauses.
  • A complex sentence consists of at least one independent clause and one subordinate clause.
  • A compound-complex sentence (or complex-compound sentence) consists of multiple independent clauses, at least one of which has at least one subordinate clause.
  • This sentence contains two independent clauses (one before and one after the comma), and each independent clause contains a subordinate clause ("what you eat" and "what you are").