Identify dependent and independent clauses

Key Notes:

Definition of Clauses:

• Clause: A group of words with a subject and a verb. Clauses can be independent or dependent.

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Independent Clauses:

• Definition: An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.
• Example: “She went to the store.” (Complete sentence with a subject “She” and a verb “went”.)

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Dependent Clauses:

• Definition: A dependent clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence. It needs an independent clause to make sense.
• Example: “Because she was tired” (Not a complete thought; it needs more information to make sense.)

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Identifying Independent Clauses:

• Look for a subject and a verb that form a complete thought.
• Example: “He finished his homework.” (It can stand alone.)

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Identifying Dependent Clauses:

• Look for words like “because,” “although,” “if,” “when,” or “while” that make the clause dependent.
• Example: “Although it was raining” (Needs more information to be complete.)

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Combining Clauses:

• An independent clause can be joined with a dependent clause using conjunctions.
• Example: “She went to the store because she needed groceries.” (“She went to the store” is the independent clause, and “because she needed groceries” is the dependent clause.)

Let’s practice!