Module Two

 

Lesson One

 

Compound Sentences

A compound sentence is composed of two or more independent clauses and no subordinate clauses, as in the following:

1.

The sofa is in the kitchen, and the refrigerator is in the bedroom.

2.

Mary owns the dog, but Joe bathes him, and I walk him.

Sentence (1) has two independent clauses. Sentence (2) has three independent clauses. Note the use of the commas before each non-initial independent clause, including the last ones, which contain the coordinating conjunctions.

There are seven coordinating conjunctions: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so (acronym: FANBOYS)

Exercise: 

Write two compound sentences.  The first one should be in the present continuous tense and include two prepositional phrases.  The second one should be in the present perfect tense and include three independent clauses. 

(1)

 

(2)

Semicolon (;)

You may use a semicolon when you link two independent clauses with no connecting words. For example:

I am going home; I intend to stay there.

It rained heavily during the afternoon; we managed to have our picnic anyway.

They couldn't make it to the summit and back before dark; they decided to camp for the night.

You can also use a semicolon when you join two independent clauses together with one of the following conjunctive adverbs (adverbs that join independent clauses): however, moreover, therefore, consequently, otherwise, nevertheless, thus, etc. For example:

I am going home; moreover, I intend to stay there.

It rained heavily during the afternoon; however, we managed to have our picnic anyway.

They couldn't make it to the summit and back before dark; therefore, they decided to camp for the night.

Exercise: 

Write a compound sentence using a conjunctive adverb that wasn’t used in the examples.  Use the simple past tense.

(1)

 

Exercise:

Locate compound sentences in the textbook essay, A Day in the Life of a Freshman (p. 129).

Composition:

The essay, A Day in the Life of a Freshman, tells us about the day of a freshman student in Seoul.   It is like a very detailed diary.  The style is first person (mostly singular: “I”) narrative.  

The composition task for this module is a first person (mostly plural: “We”) narrative essay.  Students will again form groups.  This time, they will undertake a group event (for example: have a meal or go to the movies together).  Then, as a group, they will write a one-page essay about the event.  The essays will be shared and discussed on week seven.  On week eight, the students will write essays on the same topic in class in test conditions (no outside help).

 

Other Homework:

(1) Read fourth textbook essay and answer all sections except the last one on “Writing and Discussion”.

(2) Prepositions exercise:

http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/durrus/153/gramex26.html#3

(3) Verb tense exercise:

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs9.htm

 

Lesson Two

 

Complex Sentences

(1) Complex sentences with subordinate adverb clauses

A complex sentence contains one independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses, as in the following:

1.

The dog became quiet after his owner shouted at him for biting the boy.

2.

After you write your letter, but before you mail it to your friend, you should proofread it again.

In (1) and (2), the subordinate clauses are italicized, and the subordinators are underlined.

In (1), there is one independent clause and one subordinate clause.  In (2) there are two subordinate clauses attached to one independent clause. Note the use of the coordinating conjunction but to join the two subordinate clauses.

In both sentences, the independent clauses are adverbial (modifying the verbs in the independent clauses.  They start with the subordinating conjunctions after and before.

Adverbs, Adverb Phrases, and Adverb Clauses…

An adverb may be a single word such as quickly, here or yesterday or a phrase such as the day before yesterday or to see my mother. However, adverbs can also be clauses, containing a subject and a full verb.

 

 

 

Look at these sentences:

 

I saw my mother yesterday.

I saw the movie on Friday.

I saw the movie before I left for Calgary.

 

 

In the first sentence, "yesterday" is a one-word adverb, "on Friday" is an adverb phrase, and "before I left for Calgary" is a adverb clause. All of them answer the question "When?", but the adverb clause has a subject ("I") and a full verb ("left"). It is introduced by "before", so it is a dependent clause. This means that it cannot stand alone: "Before I left for Calgary" would not be a full sentence. It needs a main clause ("I saw the movie"). An adverb clause, then, is a dependent clause that does the same job as an adverb or an adverb phrase.

 

Most adverb clauses can be recognized because they are introduced by a particular word or phrase (such as "when", "so that", etc.). These words and phrases are called subordinating conjunctions, and there are many of them, including these:

after, before, until, while, because, since, as, so that, in order that, if, unless, whether, though, although, even though, where

 

Below is another list of words (subordinating conjunctions) which introducing adverb clauses.  This list puts the words in categories.

TIME

CAUSE AND EFFECT

OPPOSITION

CONDITION

after, before, when, while, as, by the time (that), as soon as, since, until, whenever, the first time (that), the next time (that), the last time (that), every time (that) –

 

because, since, as, as long as, so long as, due to the fact that

although, even though, though, whereas, while

if, only if, unless, whether (or not), even if, providing (that), in case (that), provided (that), in the event (that) –

 

 

Exercise:

Identify the correct subordinating conjunctions:

 

1

We keep our bread in the fridge, ________ it doesn't go bad.

since

 

so that

 

although

 

after

 

 

 

 

2

The five-cent coin looks very Canadian, ________ it has a picture of a beaver on it.

since

 

so that

 

though

 

before

 

 

 

 

3

________ Volkswagen cars are cheap, they last a long time.

because

 

in order that

 

although

 

after

 

 

 

 

4

You should give the iron time to heat up ________ you iron your clothes.

because

 

so that

 

before

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

You need proper shoes to go hiking in the mountains, ________ the ground is rough and hard.

because

 

so that

 

even though

 

before

 

 

 

 

6

Hockey players wear lots of protective clothing ________ they don't get hurt.

because

 

in order that

 

though

 

after

 

 

 

 

7

You will have to pay higher insurance ________ you buy a sports car.

if

 

so that

 

although

 

before

 

 

 

 

8

Sharon went to her room ________ she came home from school.

if

 

in order that

 

even though

 

after

 

 

 

 

9

________ the dolphin lives in the sea, it is not a fish -- it's a mammal.

whether

 

so that

 

although

 

after

 

 

 

 

10

You may get malaria ________ you are bitten by a mosquito.

if

 

so that

 

though

 

before

 

 

Exercise:

Locate the adverb clauses in The Ghost Pilot (p. 67).

Exercise:

Write your own complex sentences with adverb clauses:

(1)

(2)

(3)

 

 

Homework:

(1) Prepare for 50-minute test on all the work of module two (composition and grammar, including the other homework of this lesson!).  You should also be prepared to answer questions from material in the first module on subjects, predicates and verb complements.

(2) Read fifth textbook essay and answer all sections except the last one on “Writing and Discussion”.

(3) Prepositions exercise:

http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/durrus/153/gramex26.html#4

(4) Verb tense exercise:

 http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs12.htm

 

 

 

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