Independent and Dependent Clauses

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a sentence. It contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

Front

What is a dependent clause?

Back

A dependent clause is a group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence. It contains a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought.

Front

Identify the independent clause: 'Although it was raining, we went for a walk.'

Back

The independent clause is 'we went for a walk.'

Front

Identify the dependent clause: 'Because she was tired, she went to bed early.'

Back

The dependent clause is 'Because she was tired.'

Front

True or False: 'He baked a cake' is an independent clause.

Back

True

Front

True or False: 'Whenever it is sunny' is an independent clause.

Back

False

Front

Which of the following is an independent clause? 'Until she returns' or 'He went for a walk'?

Back

'He went for a walk' is the independent clause.

Front

What punctuation is often used to separate independent clauses?

Back

A semicolon (;) or a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

Front

True or False: A dependent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence.

Back

False

Front

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

Back

A dependent clause adds additional information to the independent clause but cannot stand alone.