GRAMMAR REVIEW: CLAUSES AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE BUILDING SUPPORTING SKILLS CAMBRIDGE PREPARATION FOR THE TOEFL® IBT TEST

 

CAMBRIDGE PREPARATION FOR THE TOEFL® IBT TEST BUILDING SUPPORTING SKILLS GRAMMAR REVIEW: CLAUSES AND SENTENCE STRUCTURE

 

Sentences are made up of clauses. A clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb. Independent clauses Independent clauses contain a subject and a verb and convey a complete idea. Three types of sentences contain independent clauses: simple sentences, compound sentences, and complex sentences. Simple sentences are made up of one independent clause with one subject and one verb. Read the examples below: Compound sentences are made up of two (or sometimes more) independent clauses that are joined by a conjunction such as and, but, or, nor, or yet: Complex sentences are made up of one or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. A dependent clause is an incomplete sentence. It needs to be connected to an independent clause. For more information about dependent clauses, see below:   Dependent clauses Dependent clauses have a subject and a verb, but they do not form complete sentences. They must be connected to an independent clause. Look at the following dependent clauses: Both of the dependent clause above have a subject and a verb, however, they are not complete sentences. These dependent clauses can be made into sentences if they are connected to independent clauses, as shown in the example below:   Exercise G8-G9 Use Exercises G8-G9 to practice your skills in identifying  sentence structure. EXERCISE G8 Identifying complete sentence Check (√) the complete sentences. 1 _______ Is spreading its wings? 2 _______ The rain came suddenly. 3 _______ Swimming is an invigorating sport. 4 _______ The start of industrialization in the Midlands.   EXERCISE G9 Identifying compound sentences Write S above the subjects. Write V above the verb or verbs. Then write C in front of the compound sentences.   1 _________ Soil is highly fertile in volcanic areas, and volcanic activity offers advantages such as geothermal energy.   2 _________ Women with very narrow pelvises are more likely too experience potentially life-threatening problems during childbirth.

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