Independent and Dependent Clauses

Independent and Dependent Clauses

Objective: I can identify independent and dependent clauses in a sentence.​

​What is a Clause?

• a word group that contains a verb and its subject

• used as a sentence or as part of a sentence

• every clause has a subject and verb, but doe​s not always express a complete thought

  • Writers gathered at the home of Gertrude Stein

  • when she lived in Paris

• There are two kinds of clauses: independent clause and dependent clause

​What is an Independent Clause?

• has a subject and verb

• expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a complete sentence

  • The sunset an hour ago.

  • Jean Merrill wrote The Pushcart War, and Ronni Solbert illustrated the book.

  • After I finish studying, I will go to the movies.

​What is a Dependent Clause?

• has a subject and verb

• does NOT express a complete thought and cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence

• Look for an AAAWWUBBIS word that signals the beginning of a dependent clause: Although, After, As, When, Was, Until, Before, Because, If, Since

  • ​that I wanted

  • what she saw

  • since most plants die without light

​

​What is a Dependent Clause?

• a dependent clause is complete only when the clause is attached to an independent clause

  • ​The store did not have the video that I wanted.

  • The witness told the police officers what she saw.

  • Since most plants die with light, we moved our houseplants closer to the window.

• Sometimes the word that begins a dependent clause is the subject of the clause

  • The animals that are in the wildlife preserve are protected from ​hunters

  • Can you tell me who wrote, "America the Beautiful?"

Multiple Choice

Is the blue clause independent or dependent?
Unless we get rain soon, the flowers will die.

• dependent
• independent

Multiple Choice

Is the blue clause independent or dependent?
When we visited Paris, we saw the Eiffle Tower.

• dependent
• independent

Multiple Choice

Is the blue clause independent or dependent?
I will finish my homework after the movie is over.

• dependent
• independent

Multiple Choice

Is the blue clause independent or dependent?

We went to Grocery Kart because we ran out of eggs.

• dependent
• independent

Multiple Choice

Is the blue clause independent or dependent?
The students sat quietly until the bell rang.

• dependent
• independent

Multiple Choice

Is the blue clause independent or dependent?
Since it is the weekend, I will sleep until noon.

• dependent
• independent