Week 5: CLAUSES

This week, we shall focus on CLAUSES.   A clause is an organized group of English words with a subject and a predicate.  There are two types of clauses:  the main clause and the subordinate clause.  The subordinate clause can be further divided into three sub-classes i.e. the adverbial clause, the relative clause and the nominal clause. 

The difference between a phrase and a clause is that a phrase has only either subject or predicate whereas a clause has both subject and predicate in its group of words.  Thus, we can say that a phrase is smaller than a clause. 

The main clause can stand alone as a complete sentence.   Hence, it is often referred to the independent clause.  Another term for it is principal clause.   In contrast, the subordinate cannot stand alone and therefore we can also refer to it as the dependent clause. 

You can test your understanding of independent (main/principal) and dependent (subordinate) clauses by trying out this online exercise at this website: 
http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/clauses_ex1.htm

Week 3: PHRASES

Earlier, we have looked at individual words and classified them according to their word classes, which we call Parts of Speech.  During the previous semester, you have learned nine parts of speech - Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Pronouns, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Interjections and Determiners.  We have revised these grammar items in class.  We have also discussed them in the facebook group "Learn a Word a Day".       

This week, we will study groups of words which function as single units. They are bigger than individual words but smaller than sentences. This is the second level of classification - PHRASES.

Week 2: Nouns or Verbs

For Week 2, students worked in groups to come up with news summaries. Each news summary must be a single sentence so students have to discuss how to fit in all the important information into one sentence only. In their presentation of the news, students have to identify the subject in the sentence and also noun or verb phrases that they have used.

Week 1: Review of Parts of Speech

For Week 1, all three classes (RBT1,RBT2 & MT) have participated in online discussions in the facebook group "Learn A Word A Day" on grammar items they have learnt last semester. Here is a list of the items that were discussed:

1. Nouns
2. Verbs
3. Adjectives
4. Adverbs
5. Pronouns
6. Prepositions
7. Conjunctions
8. Determiners
9. Interjections

Each class has a separate posting for everyone from that class to respond. Each and every student is asked to post at least one comment about a grammar item e.g. defining the item and giving an example to illustrate the item. Students can also respond to comments made by others by giving improved or clearer explanations and examples to further explain or correct inaccurate statements made.

To view these class discussions on the above grammar items, visit the facebook group "Learn A Word A Day" at https://www.facebook.com/groups/183937388301657/

Week 1: Introduction to course outline and assessment

Course Content
4.2 Phrases
4.3 Clauses
4.4 Sentence patterns
4.5 Sentence types
4.6 Concord
4.7 Direct and Indirect Speech
4.8 Active and Passive Voice

Assessment:
On-going assessment (Coursework) - 50%
Written examination at the end of the semester - 50%

Language Study Component of:
Coursework - 50% (Grammar test)
Examination - 40% (Objective & structured questions)