Punctuation Pattern Sheet

A clause is a group of related words that has a subject and a verb.  Clauses can be independent or dependent. 

·        An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence.

·        e.g. The Astronomy Club scheduled meetings at an isolated hilltop observatory.

·        A dependent (or subordinate) clause is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence, even though it contains a subject and a verb.

·        e.g. Whenever it could, the Astronomy Club scheduled meetings at an isolated hilltop observatory.

 

Sentences typically obey the following format concerning clauses and punctuation:

Independent clause   .

 Independent clause   ;   independent clause   .

Independent clause	;	however	,	independent clause
	;	therefore	,
	;	consequentlly	,
	;	likewise	,
	;	moreover	,
	;	then	,
	;	still	,
	;	also	,
	;	otherwise	,
	;	nevertheless	,
	;	in fact	,
	;	for example	,
	;	futhermore	,
	;	instead	,

Independent clause	,	and	independent clause	.
	,	or
	,	but
	,	nor
	,	so
	,	for
	,	yet

Although    dependent clause    ,    independent clause    .

Independent clause	although	dependent clause
after	though	where
before	that	wherever
during	so that	what
while	in order that	whatever
once	provided that	why
as	till	how
as if	until	who
as long as	unless	whom
if	whereas	whose
whether	when	which
since	whenever	what
because	although	how

Independent clause	,	nonessential information	,	clause	.
	,	a city that moves to many rhythms	,
	,	I believe	,
	,	on the other hand	,
	,	however	,
Independent		essential information		clause	.
The class		that I failed		was difficult.
The woman		who had diabetes		was frequently thirsty.

Independent Clause	,	afterthought	.
He observed the molecular changes carefully		the way he observed

Independent clause	:	word, word, word	.
		phrase, phrase, phrase
		clause, clause, clause