Clauses

Choose the best independent clause to complete the sentence: "Although the game was exciting, __________."

• our team lost in the final minutes

• losing in the final minutes

• in the final minutes

• because our team lost

Answer explanation

The correct answer is an independent clause, which has a subject ('team') and a verb ('lost') and can stand alone as a complete sentence. 'Losing in the final minutes' is a phrase, 'in the final minutes' is a prepositional phrase, and 'because our team lost' is a dependent clause.

Identify the dependent clause in the sentence: "The dog that lives next door barks whenever the mail carrier arrives."

• The dog that lives next door

• the mail carrier is friendly

• whenever the mail carrier arrives

• The dog barks

Answer explanation

The correct answer begins with the subordinating conjunction "whenever" and does not express a complete thought on its own. "The dog barks" is an independent clause, "the mail carrier is friendly" is another independent clause, and "The dog that lives next door" is a noun phrase containing another clause.

Read the sentence: "The team celebrated after they won the championship." True or False: The underlined part is a dependent clause because it contains a subject and verb but cannot stand alone as a complete thought.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This statement is true. The definition provided correctly describes why "after they won the championship" is a dependent clause. It has a subject ('they') and verb ('won'), but the word 'after' prevents it from being a complete sentence.

Which sentence correctly and logically pairs a dependent clause with an independent clause?

• Unless you study for the test, because it is very difficult.

• Unless you study for the test, you might not get a good grade.

• Unless you study for the test, which covers three chapters.

• Unless you study for the test, after school today.

Answer explanation

This is the only option that correctly pairs a dependent clause ('Unless...') with an independent clause ('you might not...') to form a complete, logical sentence. Option A pairs two dependent clauses, C pairs a dependent clause with another dependent clause, and D pairs a dependent clause with a phrase.

Why is the clause "after the movie ended" considered a dependent clause?

• It does not have a subject.

• It begins with a subordinating conjunction.

• It does not have a verb.

• It expresses a complete thought.

Answer explanation

The word "after" is a subordinating conjunction that makes the clause unable to stand alone. The clause does have a subject ('movie') and a verb ('ended'), but it does not express a complete thought because of the word 'after'.

What type of dependent clause is underlined in the sentence: "I will go to the park if the weather is nice"?

• Noun clause

• Adverb clause

• Adjective clause

• Independent clause

Answer explanation

The clause "if the weather is nice" is an adverb clause because it modifies the verb "go" by telling *under what condition* the action will happen. It is not an adjective clause because it doesn't modify a noun, and it's not a noun clause because it doesn't function as a noun.

Complete the sentence with a clause that answers the question 'When?': "We can eat lunch __________."

• which is my favorite meal

• whatever is in the fridge

• after the assembly is over

• that the cafeteria serves

Answer explanation

The clause "after the assembly is over" is an adverb clause that tells when we can eat lunch. The other options are an adjective clause ('which...'), a noun clause ('whatever...'), and another adjective clause ('that...').

Complete the sentence with a clause that answers the question 'Which one?': "The book __________ is on my desk."

• that I borrowed from the library

• because it is due tomorrow

• is very interesting

• wherever I left it

Answer explanation

The clause "that I borrowed from the library" is an adjective clause that modifies the noun "book" by telling *which one*. The other options are an adverb clause, a predicate, and another adverb clause; they do not modify the noun.

A noun clause often acts as a direct object and can answer the question 'what?'. Complete the sentence with a noun clause: "The scientist discovered __________."

• what caused the reaction

• because the chemicals mixed

• which was a surprise

• in the laboratory

Answer explanation

The correct answer, "what caused the reaction," acts as the direct object of the verb "discovered" and can be replaced by 'something'. 'Because the chemicals mixed' is an adverb clause, 'which was a surprise' is an adjective clause, and 'in the laboratory' is a prepositional phrase.

Three of the sentences below contain an adverb clause. Which sentence contains a different type of clause?

• She left before the sun came up.

• I like the teacher who tells funny stories.

• He ran as if a ghost were chasing him.

• Wherever you go, I will follow.

Answer explanation

The sentence "I like the teacher who tells funny stories" contains an adjective clause ("who tells funny stories") that modifies the noun "teacher." The other three sentences contain adverb clauses that tell when ('before...'), how ('as if...'), and where ('Wherever...').