Review of Clauses

Sentence variety is a strategy to enhance the flow of ideas, intensify points, and sustain the interest of your listeners. Varying the length, rhythm, and structure of sentences are three ways to create variety and interest in your speech.

Objectives

Identify independent and dependent clauses
Explain the purpose of a noun clause
Identify a noun clause

Clauses Review

A clause is a grammatical unit. It is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb.

Independent Clauses:

An independent clause is a complete idea that forms a complete sentence. Notice that all of them include a subject and a verb -- this is a requirement for a clause.

Run! (verb in imperative, implied subject)

I run. (subject + verb)

I run in the park. (subject + verb + prepositional phrase)

I run in the park every day. (subject + verb + prepositional phrase + time)

These sentences express whole ideas. While you are able to add more information, it isn't grammatically necessary.

Dependent Clauses:

As the name suggests, a dependent clause requires additional information. It cannot be used without the support of another clause, an independent clause. Notice a dependent clause still contains a subject and a verb.

When I run

After I run

Although I run

Because I run

All of these clauses leave the listener with the expectation of more information. Those initial subordinating conjunctions (italicized) create a connection between ideas.

When I run, I listen to music.

After I run, I take a shower.

Although I run, I do not enjoy it.

Because I run, I am in good shape.

NOTE: Dependent clauses can also be used after the independent clause.

I listen to music when I run.

I am in good shape because I run.

Exercise 1

Here is a video about the nutritional value of food. As you listen, try to hear if the speaker uses sentences with more than one clause.

Speaking Practice

What crops are grown in your country? What do you know about the history of the production of that crop? How has it changed over time?
The speaker gives some ideas for why food might be less nutritious now than in the past. Why do you think this would be true? Or do you think that this is not true? Explain your reasons for your opinion.
Have you ever grown a garden? What did you grow? Describe your experience. If you haven't had your own garden, have you ever visited a farm or garden maintained by someone else? What do you imagine it is like to care for those plants?

Overview of Noun Clauses

Noun clauses are a type of dependent clause; they have a subject and a verb, but they require additional information. The main purpose of noun clauses is to act as the object of some verbs, gerunds, infinitives, prepositions and participles. There are several different words used to introduce noun clauses: wh-question words, if/whether, and that. We will talk about each of these in more detail over the next two weeks.

Here are some examples of noun clauses:

Noun clause as the object of a verb--

I wonder who is at the door.

I think that grammar is interesting.

Noun clause as the object of a gerund--

He was frustrated because she kept asking if he was comfortable.

Noun clause as the object of an infinitive--

Janice wanted to believe that things would change.

Noun clause as the object of a preposition--

The class talked about how people can improve their financial situation.

Noun clause as the object of a participle--

Convinced that he was right, Mark confronted his roommate about the missing ice cream.

What do you notice about subject-verb placement in these clauses? No matter what word is used to introduce the clause, we keep sentence S-V placement in clauses. We will see more examples of this as we continue looking at noun clauses.

Exercise 2: News Report

You will describe and discuss recent event in your country. You are encouraged to use various types of sentences to enrich the content of their report.

Spend a few minutes to research a recent event (or health issue like the previous videos)
Learn the details about the event or the issue.
Write a script and some bullet points.
Report your findings for no more than three minutes.

More detailed instructions for this assignment are in the assignment News Report.

Exercise 3: Health Thoughts

You will talk about your own thoughts about health while trying to use clauses. You will need to share the same ideas three times under different time constraints.

Think of what your thoughts and experiences are about health that you feel comfortable sharing, such as your exercise plans, a time you were sick or injured, or an experience with a doctor.
Prepare by thinking about as many details as you can. You have 4 minutes to talk about the experience.
You will need to speak of the same experience again, this time in less than 3 minutes.
For the third time, you will explain the experience in 2 minutes.

You do not have to change or add any new content, the purpose of repeating the same topic with reduced amount of time is to encourage you focus on sentence structure more than the sentence meaning.