CLAUSES

INTRODUCTION

A is a group of related words that

has a subject and a verb.

There are two kinds of clauses:

Dependent clauses and Independent clauses.

Clauses are the smaller parts that make a sentence.

‘clause’

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

• An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a grammatical sentence. It has at minimum a subject and verb.

For example:

We are going to take a six-week trip.

More examples of Independent Clauses

• He used a non-stick pan.

• Anita made whole wheat pizza dough.

Dependent Clauses (Subordinate Clauses)

• Clause which does not express any independent thought and can not stand by itself in a sentence, is called a Dependent Clause.

When a dependent word occurs at the beginning of a

clause, that clause is dependent. For example: after,

because, if, since, when, while, etc.

For example:

Before the trial ended.

More examples of Dependent Clauses

• The crew could see the whale, Dependent Clause

which had surfaced only 2 meters behind them.

Independent Clause

More examples of Dependent Clauses

• Ankita is tired Independent Clause

because she only slept for two hours last night.

Dependent Clause

Let’s begin with the test now.

Exercise: Identify whether the following clauses are dependent clause (DC) or Independent Clause (IC).

1. When Mr. Jones yelled

2. I enjoy the opera

3. Although I lost the library book

4. Mom found it in the drawer

5. The fifth graders sang

6. The strength of the man might

7. We're planning to have a party

8. When I'm finished reading

9. They're going on a picnic

10. When the movie is over

ANSWERS:

1. When Mr. Jones yelled Dependent Clause

2. I enjoy the opera Independent Clause

3. Although I lost the library book Dependent Clause

4. Mom found it in the drawer Independent Clause

5. The fifth graders sang Independent Clause

6. The strength of the man might Dependent Clause

7. We're planning to have a party Independent Clause

8. When I'm finished reading Dependent Clause

9. They're going on a picnic Independent Clause

10. When the movie is over Dependent Clause