Clauses Worksheets - 15 Worksheets Library - Free Printable

Let's solve this worksheet step by step. The goal is to determine whether each group of words is an independent clause (a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence) or a dependent clause (a fragment that needs more information to be complete). If it's independent, we write "independent" on the line. If it's dependent, we add an independent clause to make a complete sentence.

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1. Because he is athletic

- This starts with "Because," which is a subordinating conjunction — this makes it a dependent clause.
- It cannot stand alone; it needs a main clause.
- Add an independent clause: *Because he is athletic, he plays basketball every day.*
- ✔ Answer: *Because he is athletic, he plays basketball every day.*

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2. Don is strong

- This is a complete thought: subject ("Don") + verb ("is") + predicate ("strong").
- It can stand alone as a sentence.
- ✔ Answer: independent

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3. Until we arrive

- Starts with "Until," a subordinating conjunction — this is a dependent clause.
- Needs a main clause.
- Add an independent clause: *Until we arrive, the party will continue.*
- ✔ Answer: *Until we arrive, the party will continue.*

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4. Now that we know

- Starts with "Now that," a subordinating conjunction — dependent clause.
- Needs a main clause.
- Add an independent clause: *Now that we know the truth, we can move forward.*
- ✔ Answer: *Now that we know the truth, we can move forward.*

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5. Xavier is so kind

- Complete thought: subject ("Xavier") + verb ("is") + complement ("so kind").
- Can stand alone.
- ✔ Answer: independent

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6. When we called

- Starts with "When," a subordinating conjunction — dependent clause.
- Needs a main clause.
- Add an independent clause: *When we called, no one answered.*
- ✔ Answer: *When we called, no one answered.*

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7. Despite that I told him

- "Despite that" is not standard grammar. Likely meant to be "Despite the fact that..." or just "Although I told him."
- But even then, this is a dependent clause because it begins with a subordinate idea.
- Let’s fix it slightly for clarity: *Despite the fact that I told him, he didn’t listen.*
- ✔ Answer: *Despite the fact that I told him, he didn’t listen.*

> Note: "Despite that I told him" is awkward and grammatically incorrect. A better version would be "Although I told him..." or "Even though I told him..."

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8. Vinnie made dinner

- Subject ("Vinnie") + verb ("made") + object ("dinner") — complete thought.
- ✔ Answer: independent

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9. This dress is too long

- Complete thought: subject ("This dress") + verb ("is") + complement ("too long").
- ✔ Answer: independent

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10. Since you moved here

- Starts with "Since," a subordinating conjunction — dependent clause.
- Needs a main clause.
- Add an independent clause: *Since you moved here, you’ve made many new friends.*
- ✔ Answer: *Since you moved here, you’ve made many new friends.*

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11. I agree

- Subject ("I") + verb ("agree") — complete thought.
- ✔ Answer: independent

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✔ Final Answers:

1. Because he is athletic, he plays basketball every day.
2. independent
3. Until we arrive, the party will continue.
4. Now that we know the truth, we can move forward.
5. independent
6. When we called, no one answered.
7. Despite the fact that I told him, he didn’t listen.
8. independent
9. independent
10. Since you moved here, you’ve made many new friends.
11. independent

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✔ Summary:
- Independent clauses: 2, 5, 8, 9, 11
- Dependent clauses: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10

Each dependent clause has been completed with a logical independent clause to form a full sentence.