Identifying Independent and Dependent Clauses in English

Why is it important to understand the difference between independent and dependent clauses?

• To write longer sentences

• To use punctuation correctly

• To avoid using verbs

• To identify nouns

Which of the following is an example of an independent clause?

• Because the boy over there climbed a tree

• The boy over there

• While the boy over there climbed a tree

• The boy over there climbed a tree

What makes a clause dependent?

• It starts with words like 'while' or 'because'

• It contains a noun

• It can stand alone as a sentence

• It has a subject and a verb

Which word in the sentence 'While the boy over there climbed a tree' indicates that it is a dependent clause?

• tree

• climbed

• boy

• while

Identify the independent clause in the sentence: 'While the boy over there climbed a tree, the girl set up the lawn game.'

• While the boy over there climbed a tree

• the girl set up the lawn game

• While the girl set up the lawn game

• the boy over there climbed a tree

Which of the following words can introduce a dependent clause?

• and

• but

• because

• or

In the sentence 'Arriving late for school, Jonah missed the quiz,' what is the independent clause?

• Arriving late for school

• Jonah missed the quiz

• Arriving late

• for school

What punctuation is used after an introductory dependent clause?

• colon

• semicolon

• comma

• period

Why can't a semicolon be used after a dependent clause?

• Because it is used to separate items in a list

• Because it is used after an independent clause

• Because it is used to end a sentence

• Because it is used before a dependent clause

Which option correctly punctuates the sentence: 'While silly examples can help one to remember the importance of punctuation'?

• While silly examples can help one to remember the importance of punctuation: the girl set up the lawn game.

• While silly examples can help one to remember the importance of punctuation; the girl set up the lawn game.

• While silly examples can help one to remember the importance of punctuation, the girl set up the lawn game.

• While silly examples can help one to remember the importance of punctuation. The girl set up the lawn game.