Grammar: Independent & Dependent Clauses

What is the dependent clause in this sentence?

When the president arrived, the crowd cheered.

• When the president arrived,

• the crowd cheered.

What is the independent clause in this sentence?

Although Betty practices the violin daily, she plays terribly.

• Although Betty practices the violin daily,

• she plays terribly.

What is the dependent clause in this sentence?

We watched and waited after the lights went out.

• We watched and waited

• after the lights went out.

What is the independent clause in this sentence?

If a person talks about others, he will talk about you.

• If a person talks about others,

• he will talk about you.

An independent clause:

• has a subject and a verb but no complete thought

• has a subject and a verb and a complete thought

• can not be a sentence on its own

• makes a sentence complex

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

A dependent clause:

• has a subject and a verb but no complete thought

• has a subject and a verb and a complete thought

• can be a sentence on its own

• makes a sentence compound

Tags

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

CCSS.L.7.1A

while the band was playing

• This is an independent clause.
• This is a dependent clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

because she studied diligently

• This is an independent clause.
• This is a dependent clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

she studied diligently

• This is an independent clause.
• This is a dependent clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

although I ate my lunch

• This is an independent clause.
• This is a dependent clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B