Independent and Dependent Clauses

Front

What is a clause?

Back

A group of words that belong together with a subject and a verb.

Front

What is an independent or main clause?

Back

It has a subject and a verb, expresses a complete thought, and can stand alone.

Front

What is a dependent or subordinate clause?

Back

It has a subject and a verb, does not express a complete thought, and cannot stand alone.

Front

Identify the type of clause: [This acid also attacks your stomach lining,] which protects itself by secreting an alkali bicarbonate solution.

Back

Independent/Main Clause

Front

Identify the type of clause: [They all spin in the same direction] counterclockwise if observed from ‘above’ – except Uranus and Venus.

Back

Independent/Main Clause

Front

Identify the type of clause: Our Solar System started off as a swirling cloud of dust and gas [before it eventually collapsed into a spinning disc with the Sun at its centre.]

Back

Dependent/Subordinate Clause

Front

What is the function of an independent clause in a sentence?

Back

It can stand alone as a complete sentence.

Front

What is the function of a dependent clause in a sentence?

Back

It cannot stand alone and needs an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

Front

Give an example of an independent clause.

Back

She enjoys reading books.

Front

Give an example of a dependent clause.

Back

Although she enjoys reading books.