Independent/Dependent Clauses

Front

What is an independent clause?

Back

An independent clause is a group of words that can stand alone as a complete sentence. It has a subject, 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 complete sentence. It has a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought.

Front

What type of words start a dependent clause?

Back

Subordinate conjunctions.

Front

What is a subordinate conjunction?

Back

A subordinate conjunction is a word that connects a dependent clause to an independent clause, such as 'because', 'although', or 'if'.

Front

Identify the independent clause in the sentence: 'She went to the store because she needed milk.'

Back

The independent clause is 'She went to the store.'

Front

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

Back

The dependent clause is 'Although it was raining.'

Front

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

Back

An independent clause serves as the main idea or complete thought in a sentence.

Front

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

Back

A dependent clause provides additional information but cannot stand alone as a complete thought.

Front

Give an example of a sentence with both an independent and a dependent clause.

Back

'I will go to the park if it stops raining.' (Independent: 'I will go to the park'; Dependent: 'if it stops raining').

Front

What punctuation is often used to separate independent clauses?

Back

A comma is often used before a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to separate independent clauses.