First Session
Written Expression (1st Semester)
M’hamed Bougara University – Boumerdes
Department of English
Academic Year 2023/2024
Course Title: Written Expression: From Sentence to Paragraph
Course Level: First Year
Course Duration: One Semester
Teachers: Mr. Rahil. H, Ms. Bensoltan, Mrs. Daoud, Dr. Mahfouf , Mr. Lounis, Dr. Belleili
Part One: From Sentence to Paragraph
Types of Sentences
Clauses are the building blocks of sentences. A clause is a group of words that contains
(at least) a subject and a verb.
Clauses
SUBJECT VERB
Ecology is a science
SUBJECT VERB
because pollution causes cancer
Not clauses
to protect the environment
after working all day
There are two kinds of clauses: independent and dependent.
Independent An independent clause
Clauses contains a subject and a verb Subject + Verb
and expresses a complete Examples
thought. It can stand alone as
a sentence by itself. An The sun rose
independent clause is often Water evaporates
with a subject and a verb and
often a complement (Complement)
rapidly in warm climate
zones.
Dependent A dependent clause begins Subordinator +Subject+
Ctauses with a subordinator such as Verb +(Complement)
when, while, if, that, or who. Examples:
A dependent clause does not 1.when the sun rose ...
express a complete thought, 2. because water evaporates
so it is not a sentence by rapidly in warm climate
itself. A dependent clause is zones
also called a sentence 3.whom the voters elected ...
fragment. By itself, it is an 4.if the drought continues
incomplete for another year ...
sentence, and it is an error.
A dependent clause is
formed with a subordinator,
a subject, and a verb.
Subordinators
After/before /that /when/ which
Although /even though/ though/ whenever /while
As, just as/ how/ unless /where/ who
As if/if/ until/ wherever/ whom
As soon as /since /what /whether/ whose
because/ so that
Combining Dependent and Independent clauses:
When the dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction (connecting word) and precedes the
independent clause, separate the clause with a comma.
After
Altough/Eventhough/though
As
As if
As though
As long as
Because
Before
If + Dependent clause + , + Independent clause
So / So that Subordinate clauses are dependent. Independent clauses can stand alone
They can’t They can’t stand alone as complete as complete sentences.
Since because they begin with
Until a subordinating conjunction
Whatever
Where
Wherever Ex: Since I was tired, I decided to go to
bed When
Whether
While
When the dependent (subordinate) clause follows the independent clause, don’t use a comma
before or after the subordinating conjunction (connecting word).
after
altough/eventhough/though
as
as if
as though
as long as
because
before
If
so / so that
Independent Clause + they can’t + Dependent clause
Independent clauses can stand since Subordinate clauses are dependent
alone as complete sentences until They can’t stand alone as complete
whatever because they begin with
where a subordinating
conjunction wherever
when
whether
while
Ex: : I decided to go to bed since I was tired.
Practice1 :
Combine the following dependent and independent clauses with corresponding
conjunction:
Since/after / if (X2) / which / when / Because / Although /As
1) I was walking down Hollywood Boulevard, I bumped into James Bond actor; Daniel
Craig.
2) I’ll ask for explanations.................Ronnie get here.
3) don’t remember his name; I’m sure that man is a famous actor.
4) I’ll ask for a refund for the laptop.....................I bought last week.
5) Denise comes to class late, I’ll tell the assignment.
6) I smashed my car into the oak tree.................I went to the store.
7) the cat is meowing, the dog is barking.
8) I partied all weekend, I never found time to do my homework.
9) The assignment would be easy.........you have taken a grammar course.
Practice 2:
Remember that an independent clause by itself is a complete sentence, but a dependent
clause by itself is an incomplete sentence. Write Indep. next to the complete sentences
and put a period (.) after them. Write Dep. next to the incomplete sentences. The first
two have been done for you as examples.
1. Globalization means more travel for businessmen and women.
2. As business executives fly around the globe to sell their
companies products and services
3. Jet lag affects most long-distance travelers
4. Which is simply the urge to sleep at inappropriate times
5. During long journeys through several time zones, the body's
inner clock is disrupted
6. For some reason, travel from west to east causes greater jet lag
than travel from east to west.
7. Also, changes in work schedules can cause jet lag
8. When hospital nurses change from a day shift to a night shift,
for example
9. Although there is no sure way to prevent jet lag
10. There are some ways to minimize it
11. Because jet lag is caused at least partially by loss of sleep, not
just a change in the time of sleep
12. A traveler should plan to arrive at his or her destination as late
as possible
13. Upon arriving, he or she should immediately go to bed
14. Then the traveler should start to live in the new time zone
immediately
15. Even when the traveler arrives early in the morning and cannot
go to bed immediately
Practice3: Classify the following clauses according to their conveyed meaning:
1)I enjoy sitting by the fireplace and reading.
2)Therefore I got a tutor to help you.
3)The thief ran away.
4) When he saw the fireman.
5) Waiting to have my car's oil changed is boring.
6) Because my weight has increase this year.
7) She wants to travel the world and see wonderful sights.
8)Since there’s a whole in planet Earth’s Ozone layer.
9)The professor always comes to class fully prepared.
10)When the seasonal temperatures increased beyond normal.
Independent Clause Dependent Clause
………………………………… …………………………………..
…………………………………… ……………………………………
…………………………………. ……………………………………
…………………………………. …………………………………….
……………………………………. ………………………………………..
Sources:
- Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue, Writing Academic English, New York: Pearson, 2006.
- Julie Robitaille and Robert Connelly, Writer's Resources: From Paragraph to Essay, Boston:
Thomson Wadsworth, 2007.
- R.R. Jordan, Writing Academic Course, Essex: Pearson, 2003.
