Independent and dependent clauses

Independent and dependent clauses

The Clause: Clauses ALWAYS have subjects and verbs Clauses are categorized into 2 groups: Independent (AKA main) Dependent (AKA subordinate) The independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence or thought (not a fragment) The dependent clause CANNOT stand alone; it has a subject and verb, but is a fragment and DEPENDS on a main clause to make sense

An analogy to help: Think of the Main Clause as a manager. Think of the Subordinate Clauses as workers. The Subordinates cannot do the work without the Manager’s approval (otherwise, chaos ensues). Thus, any subordinate clause always needs a main clause to manage them.

Or if that didn’t make sense to you, try this one: The independent clause can be thought of as a parent. Whereas the dependent (subordinate) clauses can be thought of as the children. Hence, the children depend on the parents’ approval to do anything.

A related group of words with a subject and predicate is called a clause. A complex sentence contains an independent and dependent clause.

Independent clause Native Americans lived on the island until they were attacked. Dependent clause Subordinating Conjunction

Here’s a trick! You can check to see if a clauses is independent or dependent by using this following trick: At the beginning of the clause in question, add “It is possible that”

It’s possible that Example: Grew up in Palm Desert I am your 10th grade student this year at LQHS. Also to see what your personality was For example running, playing, jumping. Are any of these independent clauses?

Write I or D for independent or dependent clause. 1. if you live on an island 2. the tides affect your life 3. the water level rises 4. when the tide comes in 5. much of the beach disappears under water 6. until the tide goes out

In the following sentences, identify the independent and dependent clauses. Although it was located next to a school, the Radiac Research Corporation was storing large amounts of medical waste. Cleopatra lived in ancient Egypt, which she ruled. When a crowd gathered for a public rally, the teens told the people about Radiac. Billy fell in the sewer on a neighborhood street as he was playing on a Saturday afternoon.

Furthermore, How do I punctuate two independent clauses that are closely related? USE A SEMICOLON! Or a period

Independent Clause: I need new school clothes. I will go to the mall. Because these sentences (independent clauses) are closely related, they can be joined with a semicolon: I need new clothes ; I will go to the mall. Sub verb independent clause sub verb verb independent clause

If you start a sentence with a dependent clause, use a comma before the independent clause. USE A COMMA! Because I don’t have a car, I can’t go off campus for lunch today. ***If the dependent clause appears after the independent clause, you don’t need any punctuation! Whoo hoo! I can’t go off campus today for lunch because I don’t have a car.

Tools you need to remember: It’s possible that This phrase should make sense at the beginning of an independent clause. Example: Ms. Lock is a wonderful teacher. The students love grammar It doesn’t work in front of dependent clauses like: Although the students did not like grammar

Also, here are some words that trigger the entrance of a dependent clause: ADVERBIAL CLAUSES BEGIN WITHafter although as as far as in order (that) insofar as in that lest unless until when whenever as soon as as if as though because before even if even though how if inasmuch as in case (that) no matter how now that once provided (that) since so that supposing (that) than that though till where wherever whether while why

ADJECTIVE CLAUSES BEGIN WITH that which who whom whose

TASK- what’s cooking? Write one sentence for each following sentence recipe: Recipe #1: Two independent clauses closely related Recipe #2: Complex sentence starting with a dependent clause (use your list of trigger words) Recipe #3: Complex sentence ending with a dependent clause.