English Grammar Demystified - A Self Teaching Guide

184 English Grammar Demystifi ed

1. she watched the World Series (independent clause)


2. she enjoyed it very much (independent clause)

You also should fi nd at least one dependent clause.

Though Rachel usually prefers watching tennis on TV (dependent clause)

Now, what about the punctuation? The introductory, dependent clause requires a
comma. As you know, a compound sentence formed by combining two independent
clauses with a conjunction also requires a comma. So this compound-complex sen-
tence required two commas. Look at another example:

I had planned to drive to work on good weather days, but I couldn’t drive on

any day, because my car was in the repair shop for so long.

In this case, the word because follows a negative verb phrase, couldn’t drive. The
because clause explains why the event didn’t occur. The comma before because
clarifi es that because refers to couldn’t and not to drive.
Find the two independent clauses:

1. I had planned to drive to work on good weather days


2. I couldn’t drive on any day

Find the dependent clause.

because my car was in the repair shop for so long

Mike, who walks to the corner each morning for his newspaper, rarely has his news-
paper delivered; however, on very rainy days, he regrets that good habit.
Find the two independent clauses.

1. Mike rarely has his newspaper delivered


2. on very rainy days, he regrets that good habit

Find the dependent clause.

who walks to the corner each morning for his newspaper