Distinguishing subordinate clauses from independent clauses is an important aspect of learning not to write in fragments, since one of the most common types of stigmatized fragments in writing is a subordinate clause. Consider, for example, the following complex sentence.
The monkey can see that the banana is ripening.
This sentence contains two clauses: the independent clause and the subordinate clause, that the banana is ripe, contained within it. Apply SAI, and you get
Can the monkey __ see that the banana is ripening?
Employing SAI picks out the independent clause subject, the monkey. Even though the banana is also a subject (of the subordinate clause), SAI will not work with that subject since the banana is not the subject of the independent clause.
*The monkey can see that is the banana __ ripening?
SAI is, therefore, a useful test to determine whether a sentence has the subject that is required in most forms of writing. When SAI is attempted with a sentence without an independent clause subject, it's terrible.
Because he does not like it. → *Because does he not like it?
SAI fails here since because introduces a subordinate clause and there is no independent clause subject. Similarly for other kinds of fragments, SAI will not work since there is no subject.
At the skateboard store. → ??
There is no auxiliary verb and there is no way to turn this into a question.
Here’s a version of this on TeachLing. And a doc version of these last three clause posts is here.
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