Independent & Dependent Clauses #2

Soccer, which is the national sport of many European and Latin American countries, is becoming more and more popular in the United States.

• Independent Clause

• Dependent Clause

• Not a clause

Answer explanation

"Which" is a relative pronoun. When clauses start with relative pronouns, they don't make sense all alone; therefore, this is a dependent clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

During a career that spanned twenty years, Pelé was probably the most popular athlete in the world.

• Independent Clause

• Dependent Clause

• Not a clause

Answer explanation

"During a career" does not have a verb. This is an introductory phrase, not a clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

He was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, but hardly anyone recognizes that name.

• Indpendent Clause

• Dependent Clause

• Not a clause

Answer explanation

"Anyone" is the subject, "recognizes" is the verb. This clause can stand alone and make sense by itself; therefore, it is an independent clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Soccer fans the world over, however, knew Pelé, who was considered to be the world's best soccer player.

• Independent Clause

• Dependent Clause

• Not a clause

Answer explanation

"Who" is a relative pronoun. When a clause starts with a relative pronoun, it won't make sense on its own; therefore, this clause is dependent.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

While he was still a teenager, he led his Brazilian teammates to the first of their three World Cup titles.

• Independent Clause

• Dependent Clause

• Not a clause

Answer explanation

Note that the clause begins with "when" which is a subordinating conjunction, and a comma is used to join it to the independent clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Whenever he played, his skill and agility amazed fans.

• Independent Clause

• Dependent Clause

• Not a clause

Answer explanation

This clause has a subject, a verb, and it makes sense on its own.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Once, he juggled the ball on his foot for fifty yards, eluding four opponents who were trying to steal the ball from him.

• Independent Clause

• Dependent Clause

• Not a clause

Answer explanation

Note that this clause starts with "who" which is a reflexive pronoun. This is technically a subject, and "were trying" is the verb phrase, but this clause does not make sense on its own, so it is subordinate/dependent.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Pelé's skills, which were far above any of his peers, quickly made him an international superstar.

• Independent Clause

• Dependent Clause

• Not a clause

Answer explanation

The subject is "Pelé's skills."

It's verb is "made."

The clause in the center is dependent. If you remove it, what you have left can stand alone as an independent clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

When he first began playing, soccer was less popular in the United States than elsewhere, but Pelé managed to spark considerable interest in the game.

• Independent Clause

• Dependent Clause

• Not a clause

Answer explanation

This clause has a subject and a verb (S = Pelé; V = managed), and it makes sense on it's own. The ", but" is a comma + FANBOYS which is one of the ways to correctly join independent clauses together.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B

Later in his career, people flocked to the stands to see him play with the New York Cosmos.

• Independent Clause

• Dependent Clause

• Not a clause

Answer explanation

This group of words is an introductory phrase. It does not have a verb; therefore, it is not a clause.

Tags

CCSS.L.7.1A

CCSS.L.9-10.1B