ES5000 Chap.8 Sentence Structure and Clause Errors
Sentence Structure and Clause Errors
From clause to sentence
The Week 5 grammar handout builds sentence structure from the bottom up. The simplest sentence is a single clause with a subject, the doer or topic, and a verb, what the subject does or what is said about it. A clause can contain five kinds of element, namely subject, verb, object, complement and adverbial, and only subject and verb are obligatory.
The handout sets out five basic clause patterns built from these elements, from subject and verb alone to subject, verb, object and object complement.
Independent and dependent clauses
An independent clause has its own subject and verb and completes an idea, so it can stand as a sentence.
A dependent clause has a subject and verb too, yet leaves the idea unfinished; its opening word announces the kind of information it contributes, such as because, if, when or a relative pronoun.
The handout describes three kinds: relative clauses that describe nouns, noun clauses that act as subjects or objects, and adverb clauses that modify the main clause.
Three kinds of sentence
A simple sentence has one independent clause. A compound sentence joins two or more independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction and a comma, or with a semicolon.
A complex sentence joins an independent clause to one or more dependent clauses. The handout adds a punctuation rule for adverb clauses: when one comes first it is followed by a comma, and when it follows the main clause no comma is needed.
Where sentences break
Most errors occur at the joins. A fragment is an incomplete clause, or a dependent clause ending with a full stop.
A run-on sentence joins independent clauses with nothing, and a comma splice joins them with only a comma; both are repaired with a conjunction and comma, a semicolon or a full stop. The exercises also target errors inside dependent clauses, such as repeating a pronoun the relative clause already contains, pairing although with but, and using because of before a clause.
What this chapter covers
- 01
Subject, verb, object, complement and adverbial
- 02
Five basic clause patterns
- 03
Independent and dependent clauses
- 04
Relative, noun and adverb clauses
- 05
Simple, compound and complex sentences
- 06
Fragments, run-on sentences and comma splices
Worked example · free
Combining clauses three ways
- 2Join the independent clauses with a conjunction and comma.
- 2Subordinate one clause and place it first, with a comma.
- 2Place the subordinate clause second, without a comma.
Key terms
- Independent Clause
- A clause with a subject and a verb that expresses a complete idea and can stand alone.
- Dependent Clause
- A clause with a subject and a verb that cannot stand alone and adds information to another clause.
- Sentence Fragment
- An incomplete sentence, either a clause missing its subject or verb or a dependent clause ending in a full stop.
- Comma Splice
- Two independent clauses joined by a comma alone, without a conjunction.
- Run-on Sentence
- Two independent clauses joined with no punctuation or conjunction between them.
- Complex Sentence
- A sentence made of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
- Subject Complement
- A noun or adjective after a verb such as be or become that gives more information about the subject.
Sentence Structure and Clause Errors FAQ
What is the difference between a run-on sentence and a comma splice?
Both join independent clauses incorrectly. A run-on sentence has nothing between them; a comma splice has only a comma. Both are fixed the same way: add a coordinating conjunction after the comma, use a semicolon, or split the clauses into two sentences.
Why is a sentence beginning with because sometimes marked as a fragment?
Because a clause starting with because is dependent. If it ends with a full stop, there is no independent clause to complete it. Join it to the main clause, before or after, and it becomes a complete complex sentence.
When does an adverb clause need a comma?
The grammar handout's rule is positional. When the adverb clause comes before the main clause, put a comma after it. When it comes after the main clause, no comma is needed.
Can I shorten a relative clause by dropping who is or which is?
Sometimes, as in the building on the corner instead of the building that is on the corner. The handout notes this works only for some relative clauses and advises that, when in doubt, you keep both the pronoun and the form of be.
Assessment move
Take one page of your own writing and bracket every clause. Mark each as independent or dependent, and check every join against the three repair options for run-ons and comma splices. Doing this twice on real drafts trains the eye faster than exercises alone.
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