Clauses

Question 0

What are the two types of segmenting language transcripts?

Answer 0

CU (communication unit) and T-unit (minimal terminable unit)

Question 1

In order, what is the hierarchy structures of a sentence?

Answer 1

Word -> Phrase -> Clause -> Sentence

Question 2

Communication Unit (CU)

Answer 2

Consists of an independent (main clause) with its modifiers. Usually used for oral narrative samples.

Question 3

T-unit

Answer 3

consists of an independent (main) clause and any attached dependent (or subordinate) clauses. Usually used for written samples.

Question 4

What is a clause?

Answer 4

• A clause consists of a group of words that are unified by meaning.
• A clause is more complex than a phrase
• Clause have their own subject and predicate
  
  • Similar to a sentence
• An independent or main clause can stand alone
  
  • Similar to a sentence
• Clauses that can stand alone are referred to independent clauses or main clauses.
• Dependent clauses or subordinate clauses, do not form a complete sentence on their own, so they must be combined with another clauses to form a sentence.

Question 5

Clause Elements

Answer 5

Look at table 11.1 and 11.2 on pages 214 and 215

Question 6

Independent clauses

Answer 6

• All sentences must have at least one independent clause
• Two (or more) indepedent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction carry equal weight.
  
  • and, nor, but, or,yet, for, so (and then, so then)
    Ex: I can go to the movie because I don’t have any homework.

See common clause patterns on page 216

Question 7

Dependent clauses

Answer 7

• Unable to stand alone
• Must be attached to an independent clause
  
  • with a subordinating conjunction
    
    • although, since, unless, because, if,when, until, whereas
  • with a relative pronoun
    
    • that, whose, which, whatever
• noun clauses
• adjective (relative) clauses
• adverb clauses
• comparative clauses

Question 8

Noun clauses

Answer 8

• Also called nominal clauses
  
  • always contain a subject
  • always connected to an independent clause
• Function as nouns
  
  • may serve in the roles of subject, object (direct or indirect) or complement
• Often introduced by a relative pronouns
  
  • what, that, who
    
    • connective word what may be deleted making it difficult to identify the noun clause
• What I believe is not important. (subject)
• I don’t believe [that] he told her. (object)
• This is who I am. (complement)

Question 9

Adjective (relative) clauses

Answer 9

• Immediately follow the noun or pronoun the modify in an independent clause.
• Typically introduced by relative pronouns
  
  • what, that, who
• The boy {who keeps calling} is driving me crazy.
• Here’s the book {that I told you about. }
• Here’s the book [that] I told you about.
• In some instance they may be introduced by a preposition
  
  • The tests {with which we demonstrated} are in the clinic
  • The tests {which we demonstrated with} are in the clinic.
• Restrictive
  
  • Narrows down the reference and needed for clarification
    
    • Johnny called the lady {who had invited him to dinner.}
• Nonrestrictive
  
  • Provides additional information but not necessary to recognize the referent.
    
    • Johnny called the lady, {who had invited him to dinner.}

Question 10

Adverbs clauses

Answer 10

• Provide information about time, place, manner, condition, and reason
  
  • answers when, where, how, and why
    
    • When: after, before, since when, while
    • Where: where, wherever
    • How: if
    • Why: because, so that
• I need more coffee {before the day begins}. (time)
• {Wherever you go, } there you are! (place)
• She sang as {though she were a bird}. (manner)
• They won’t go {if it’s raining}. (condition)
• {Because she seems so sad,} we bought her this gift. (reason)

Question 11

Comparative clauses

Answer 11

• Serves to compare the information in the dependent clause with information presented in the independent clause.
  
  • Begin with than or as
• John has more experience {than Richard has.}
• They bought as many Beanie Babies as {they could afford.}

Question 12

Developmental Notes (clauses)

Answer 12

• Brown’s stage IV (35 - 40 months)
  
  • Begin to embed sentence elements
  • Begin to conjoin sentences with “and”
• Brown’s stage V (40- 46 months)
  
  • Begin to use coordinating clauses
  • Begin to use subordinating clauses
• Late Brown’s stage V
  
  • Usually in the object position
  • He ate the cookies {that were mine}.

see table 11.4 on page 223