The Comma (continued)
SAT Reading & Writing · Rachel · Class 07 · October 17

The Comma (continued)

2. Dependent Clauses (DC)
The idea · Clauses: IC and DC

1. Clause

  • A clause has a verb and its own subject.
  • A phrase has no verb-and-subject pair: after the storm (phrase) · after the storm passed (clause).

2. IC and DC

  • IC (independent clause): a complete thought; it can stand alone as a sentence.
  • DC (dependent clause, also called subordinate clause): not a complete thought; it cannot stand alone.
  • A DC must be attached to an IC.

3. What makes a clause a DC

  • The word that opens it.
  • Here that word is a subordinating conjunction: although, as, because, if, since, so that, unless, until, when, where, while, whereas.
  • It shows how the DC relates to the IC: when, where, why, under what condition, in spite of what.

4. This DC is an adverb clause

  • It tells about the verb of the IC: when? why? under what condition?
  • Two other kinds come later: the adjective clause (who, which, that; Unit 4) and the noun clause (Unit 6).

5. Sentence structures

  • IC + IC, joined by a comma and and / but / so … = compound sentence (Unit 1).
  • IC + DC = complex sentence.
  • Built differently → punctuated differently.
  • Although the first result was promisingDC, the researchers repeated the trialIC. complex: DC first
  • The alarm soundsIC when the pressure risesDC. complex: DC last
  • The first result was promisingIC, but the researchers repeated the trialIC. compound: IC + IC
Kind of connecting wordWordsWhat it doesBuilds
Coordinating conjunctionand, but, or, so, yet, for, norJoins two parts used in the same way: here, IC + IC.compound sentence (Unit 1)
Subordinating conjunctionalthough, because, when, if, since, unless, while, whereas …Opens a DC and attaches it to an IC.complex sentence (this unit)
Conjunctive adverbhowever, therefore, moreover, for exampleShows how two ideas relate, but joins nothing.— (Unit 5)
Test.
  1. Find every verb with its subject: each pair is one clause.
  2. Look at the first word of each clause: a subordinating conjunction makes it a DC.
  3. Check: at least one IC, and every DC attached to it.
  • C4DC first → a comma after it.
    • The comma marks where the DC ends and the IC begins.
    • Do not add but as well: but joins IC + IC, and a DC is not an IC.
    • Although the first result was promising, the researchers repeated the trial.
    • Although the first result was promising, but the researchers repeated the trial.
    • When the pressure rises, the alarm sounds.
  • C5DC last, telling when, why or under what condition → no comma.
    • It tells about the verb of the IC, so nothing separates them.
    • A period before it would leave the DC alone: a fragment.
    • The alarm sounds when the pressure rises.
    • The trial failed because the sensor overheated.
    • The alarm sounds, when the pressure rises.
    • The trial failed. Because the sensor overheated.
  • C6DC last, setting up a contrast (whereas; although / while meaning “but”) → a comma before it.
    • It does not tell when or why; it adds an opposing fact.
    • The northern slope stays wet, whereas the southern slope dries out by June.
    • The result was accepted, although the sample was small.
    • The northern slope stays wet, whereas, the southern slope dries out by June.

SAT Questions

Question 4 · C4
Certain foods contain high levels of antioxidants, which play a crucial role in protecting the body from the negative effects of free radicals. Although an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body's ability to counteract them can lead to oxidative stress in ______ consuming antioxidants can neutralize harmful effects of free radicals, reducing the risk of heart disease and even some forms of cancer that are linked to oxidative stress.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. cells,
  2. cells
  3. cells, but
  4. cells but
Worked Answer

A. cells,

  1. “Although an imbalance … can lead to oxidative stress in cells” is a DC: it has a subject (“an imbalance”) and a verb (“can lead”), and the subordinating conjunction “Although” attaches it to an IC.
  2. The IC starts at “consuming antioxidants can neutralize …”. DC first, IC second: a complex sentence.
  3. DC first → a comma after it, and no coordinating conjunction is added → A.
Question 5 · C5
In avalanche risk assessment, a critical distinction is made between light and fluffy powder snow, which poses lower avalanche risk due to its loose structure, and highly deceptive and dangerous wind slab snow. Although it may appear highly stable on the surface, a massive chunk of wind slab snow can ______ it is structurally compromised or disturbed with enough force, a frightening scenario that can trigger a massive avalanche.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. cleave; when
  2. cleave, when
  3. cleave. When
  4. cleave when
Worked Answer

D. cleave when

  1. IC: “a massive chunk of wind slab snow can cleave”.
  2. “when it is structurally compromised or disturbed with enough force” is a DC (subordinating conjunction “when”): an adverb clause telling under what condition the snow cleaves. It comes last.
  3. DC last, giving the condition → no comma → D.