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

Dependent or subordinate clause

Back

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

Front

What is the bracketed group of words? [Stomach acid is strong enough to dissolve stainless steel.]

Back

Independent/Main Clause

Front

What is the bracketed group of words? Your stomach digests food [thanks to highly corrosive hydrochloric acid with a pH of 2 to 3.]

Back

Not a clause

Front

What is the bracketed group of words? [This acid also attacks your stomach lining,] which protects itself by secreting an alkali bicarbonate solution. Options: Not a clause, Independent/Main Clause, Dependent/Subordinate Clause.

Back

Independent/Main Clause

Front

What is the bracketed group of words? "it entirely renews itself every four days." Options: Not a clause, Independent/Main Clause, Dependent/Subordinate Clause

Back

Independent/Main Clause

Front

What is the bracketed group of words? 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 bracketed group of words? [They all spin in the same direction] counterclockwise if observed from ‘above’ – except Uranus and Venus

Back

Independent/Main Clause

Front

What is the bracketed group of words? Uranus spins on its side, [while Venus definitely spins in the complete opposite direction.] Options: Not a clause, Independent/Main Clause, Dependent/Subordinate Clause

Back

Dependent/Subordinate Clause