9.12 Bell-ringer and Grammar Notes

Bell-ringer:

Directions: Write the following sentences. Then, define the underlined words using context clues and prior knowledge.

1.     The once dependent child has now become autonomous and needs no one.

2.     The performance went awry when the dancer forgot her steps and made up new ones.

3.     Because my sister would not stop badgering me, I pushed her down the stairs.

4.     “She doesn’t love me!” bawled the heartbroken middle school student.

5.     The benefactor gave the poor most of his clothes and fed the hungry.

Clauses and Sentences

•An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought.

•A subordinate conjunction is a word added to the beginning of an independent clause that makes it into a dependent clause.

•Coordinating conjunctions are used as connecting words at the beginning of an independent clause.

•When the second independent clause in a sentence begins with a coordinating conjunction, a comma is needed before the coordinating conjunction: