Independent and Dependent Clauses

What is a clause?

• A group of words that belong together with a subject and a verb.

• A group of words that belong together.

• A noun and a verb

• Anything without a prepositional phrase

Tags

CCSS.L.6.6

CCSS.RI.6.4

What is an independent or main clause?

• A group of words that has a subject and a verb.

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

• It has a subject and a verb, expresses a complete thought, and can stand alone.

• Something with a subordinating conjunction

What is a dependent or subordinate clause?

• A group of words that has a subject and a verb.

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

• It has a subject and a verb, expresses a complete thought, and can stand alone.

• Something with a subordinating conjunction

Tags

CCSS.L.6.6

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

• Not a clause

• Independent/Main Clause

• Dependent/Subordinate Clause

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

• Not a clause

• Independent/Main Clause

• Dependent/Subordinate Clause

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

What is the bracketed group of words? [This acid also attacks your stomach lining,] which protects itself by secreting an alkali bicarbonate solution.

• Not a clause

• Independent/Main Clause

• Dependent/Subordinate Clause

Tags

CCSS.L.6.2A

What is the bracketed group of words? The lining still needs to be replaced continually, and [it entirely renews itself every four days.]

• Not a clause

• Independent/Main Clause

• Dependent/Subordinate Clause

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.]

• Not a clause

• Independent/Main Clause

• Dependent/Subordinate Clause

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

• Not a clause

• Independent/Main Clause

• Dependent/Subordinate Clause

What is the bracketed group of words? Uranus spins on its side, [while Venus definitely spins in the complete opposite direction.]

• Not a clause

• Independent/Main Clause

• Dependent/Subordinate Clause