Independent vs. dependent clause

Choose the independent clause: After the team won the championship, they celebrated all night.

• After the team won the championship

• they celebrated all night

• the team won

• celebrated all night

Answer explanation

The clause 'they celebrated all night' can stand alone as a complete sentence, making it independent. The other options either depend on a main clause or aren't complete sentences.

Select the dependent clause: The cat hid under the bed because it was scared.

• The cat hid under the bed

• because it was scared

• the bed

• hid under

Answer explanation

The clause 'because it was scared' cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and depends on the main clause. The other options do not form a complete thought.

Complete the sentence: _____ the sun set, we gathered around the campfire.

• As soon as

• While

• Because

• If

Answer explanation

'As soon as' introduces a dependent clause that cannot stand alone, while the other options either don't fit contextually or change the sentence meaning.

Which is the independent clause in this sentence? Even though the package was late, it finally arrived today.

• Even though the package was late

• it finally arrived today

• the package was late

• arrived today

Answer explanation

The clause 'it finally arrived today' can stand alone as a complete sentence. The other options are incomplete or dependent clauses.

Complete the sentence: Although they were tired, _____ finished the marathon.

• they

• he

• we

• she

Answer explanation

The word 'they' completes the independent clause 'they finished the marathon,' which can stand alone as a complete sentence.

True or False: A dependent clause can be a complete sentence by itself.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

A dependent clause cannot stand alone; it needs an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

Which part of this sentence is the independent clause? Despite the traffic, we arrived on time.

• Despite the traffic

• we arrived on time

• the traffic

• arrived on time

Answer explanation

The clause 'we arrived on time' can stand alone as a complete sentence. The other options do not form complete sentences.

True or False: The sentence 'Although she was late, she did not miss the train' contains an independent clause.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The clause 'she did not miss the train' is an independent clause because it can stand alone as a complete sentence.

Identify the dependent clause: Until the sun rises, the streetlights will remain on.

• Until the sun rises

• the streetlights will remain on

• the sun rises

• will remain on

Answer explanation

The clause 'Until the sun rises' cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Select the independent clause: The dog barked loudly when the doorbell rang.

• The dog barked loudly

• when the doorbell rang

• the doorbell

• barked loudly

Answer explanation

The clause 'The dog barked loudly' can stand alone as a complete sentence.