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The 1986 Study

Record Number: W4N05

Level Three: Add Clauses

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     Subordinate clauses are in brackets [ ]. / represents the vertical line at the end of a main clause.  The font size of words aleady analyzed has been decreased. The color codes for adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases have been deleted because too many colors seemed distracting. Words which remain to be analyzed are still in 14-point black. 

     The worst day [Adj to "day" I had {in my life}] was yesterday

9/25/86.  / {On the tire} yesterday, I brused my behind. / Now

it hurts. / Plus, Note #1 I almost cracked my head {on the top 

pole.} / The next thing [Adj to "thing" that happened yesterday]

was [PN to "thing was" the  V.C.R. wouldn't record a show [Adj 

to "show" I wanted to watch.]] / Then the most worst thing Note #2 

[PN to "thing *was*" my cat got out and went {in the ceuar.}] /

Then he jumped {in another tunnel} {in the ceuar.} / Finally [Adv to 

"came" when we left] he came out. / I thought [DO of "thought" 

he would fall {in the deep, deep, hole}] / Then I had to take 

care {of Mack.} / Boyy!! Was he heavy  / Then I had 

homework. / I was pooped {at the end} {of the day!} /

     Yesterday, I was left {in the car} {with my baby brother.} / 

[Adv to "was raining, thundering, and lightning" When we were {in the

car}] / it was raining, thundering, and lightning. / As soon  

[Adv to previous "as" as Mark finished his bottle,] he was 

scared {to death.} / I was scared, too. / I told myself [DO of 

"told" [Adv to "am going" "If dad doesn't come now,] I'm going

in {with Mark."}] / So I did. / [Adv to "comes" When I was {out 

of the car,}] here comes my dad! / Whoo! I thought [DO of 

"thought" we were going to get hurt.] / But we didn't. /

     What is your favorite gem? / I had a great time yesterday. /

There's this hill {next to my driveway,} / and [Adv to "is" when 

you go {down it} {on your bike,}] it's {like a roller coaster!} / 

{During the summer} I had to go {to playcamp} / One day {at

playcamp,} we went {to Kings Dominion.} / We got there {by a 

Blue Bird Bus.} / [Adv to "split" When we got there] we split {into

four groups.} / My group people were Diane, Tereasa, Matthew,

and me. / First we went {on Smurf Mountain Roller Coaster!} / I

sat {with my best friend Tereasa} / Boy! Was that fun! / Then

we went {on the Diamond Falls Ride!} / We went up, up, up, / and 

we turned and went {down the slide,} / and Splash! I was 

soaked! / Then we went {in the Troll Mines.} / I didn't look [Adv

to "not" because I was afraid [DO of "was afraid" Note #3 

something would pop out {in front of me.}]] / Then we went {on

the swings, Scooby-Doo, Fairis Wheel,} played a game, climbed a 

net / and Note #4 [Adv to "went" when we got {to the top}]

Tereasa and I went {down the giant tube slide,} / we were going 

to go {on White Water Canion} / but it was closed. / Then we got

some lunch. / Then we played one more game, / and I won a

Giant Pink Dog! / I'll bring him one day, / just tell me 

when! / 

     Yesterday, my mom went to start a fire, / and [Adv to "was" 

when she opened it,] there was a big mouse! / You see [DO

of "see" we have a cat ] / and each time [Adj to "time" he comes

in,] we think [DO of "think" he brings in a mouse or something

and stores it somewhere. ] /
 

Notes

1. I doubt that "plus" is listed in most grammar textbooks as a coordinating conjunction, but I also doubt that fourth graders (or anyone else, for that matter) will object to seeing it functioning here as the equivalent of "and."

2. This incomplete sentence may have been caused by a wavering in STM between two option -- "thing *happened*" and "thing *was*." Because of this writer's previous use of "thing was" followed by a clause as a predicate noun, I have chosen to count this as that construction.

3. I have considered this clause as a direct object based  on the equivalence of "was afraid" with "feared." I would not, however, object to a student who wanted to consider it as adverbial to "was afraid."

4. Students will have problems identifying the end of this main clause. Teachers can point both the the length of the main clause, which is good, and  also to the lack of an "and" before "climbed" (to signal the last item in a series). This "problem" is actually very sophisticated. If the writer had not reintroduced a subject ("Tereasa and I"), this "and" would in fact be the sign of the last item in a series -- "went ... played ... climbed ... and ... went." See also "Language as a Stream of Meaning."
 
 

Progress:
Total Words = 449 Words %
L1: In Prep Phrases  124  28
L1A: + Adj. & Averbs 72 44
L2: + S / V / C 217 92
L3: + Clauses 22 97

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