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Step-by-step solution for: Independent Clause Worksheet - Fill Online, Printable, Fillable ...
You're right — the image you uploaded is a worksheet titled “The Independent Clause”, and it’s designed to help students identify independent clauses in sentences.
---
An independent clause is a group of words that:
- Has a subject and a verb
- Expresses a complete thought
- Can stand alone as a complete sentence
> 💡 Example: *“Jimmy plays basketball.”* → Subject = Jimmy, Verb = plays → Complete thought → ✔ Independent clause
---
> Directions: Underline the independent clause or clauses in each sentence.
Some sentences have only one independent clause. Others (especially compound sentences) may have two or more independent clauses joined by conjunctions like *and, but, or, so, yet, for, nor*.
---
## 🔍 Let’s go through each sentence and underline the independent clause(s):
---
✔ Independent clauses:
→ *Linda wants to write a novel*
→ *she is afraid to try*
🔹 Joined by “but” → This is a compound sentence with two independent clauses.
Underline both parts.
---
✔ Only one independent clause:
→ *I need to call Jim for help*
🔸 “Because I don’t know...” is a dependent clause (starts with subordinating conjunction “because”) — cannot stand alone.
Underline only: *I need to call Jim for help*
---
✔ Independent clause: *I am saving my money*
🔸 “because I want to buy a new iPad” = dependent clause.
Underline: *I am saving my money*
---
✔ Two independent clauses:
→ *I can’t get my phone to charge*
→ *I must need a new battery*
🔹 Joined by “so”
Underline both.
---
✔ Two independent clauses:
→ *I had other jigs to do this morning*
→ *I usually have to jog in the late afternoon*
🔹 Joined by “but”
Underline both.
---
✔ Independent clause: *Jimmy was surprised to see me*
🔸 “When I arrived” = dependent clause (starts with “when”)
Underline: *Jimmy was surprised to see me*
---
✔ One independent clause:
→ *Nobody knows the answer to that question*
(Subject: Nobody, Verb: knows — complete thought)
Underline entire sentence
---
✔ Two independent clauses:
→ *I can’t find the remote*
→ *I am too lazy to get up and change the channel*
🔹 Joined by “and”
Underline both
---
✔ Two independent clauses:
→ *My mother cooks very good fried chicken*
→ *I prefer it to be baked*
🔹 Joined by “but”
Underline both
---
✔ One independent clause:
→ *Cindy loves to read*
Underline entire sentence
---
✔ Independent clause: *we decided to watch the movie anyway*
🔸 “Although we were late” = dependent clause
Underline: *we decided to watch the movie anyway*
---
✔ Independent clause: *I forgot most of the groceries I needed*
🔸 “because I forgot my list” = dependent clause
Underline: *I forgot most of the groceries I needed*
---
✔ Two independent clauses:
→ *Billy made the salad*
→ *Cindy made the spaghetti sauce*
🔸 “While” introduces a dependent clause, but the structure actually has two subjects and verbs — it’s a complex sentence with a dependent clause at the beginning and an independent clause after the comma.
Wait — let’s check:
> “While Billy made the salad” — this is a dependent clause (can’t stand alone).
> “Cindy made the spaghetti sauce” — independent clause.
But note: In this case, only one independent clause exists — the second part. The first part is subordinate.
✔ So: Underline only: *Cindy made the spaghetti sauce*
*(Note: Some might argue this is two independent clauses if interpreted differently, but grammatically, “while” makes the first clause dependent.)*
---
✔ Independent clause: *you need to get them to leave soon*
🔸 “If you want to ride...” = dependent clause (conditional)
Underline: *you need to get them to leave soon*
---
✔ Independent clause: *Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day*
🔸 “because I am going to the beach” = dependent clause
Underline: *Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day*
---
## ✍️ Final Answer Summary (What to Underline):
Here’s what you should underline in each sentence:
1. Linda wants to write a novel, but she is afraid to try.
2. Because I don’t know how to do my math homework, I need to call Jim for help.
3. I am saving my money because I want to buy a new iPad.
4. I can’t get my phone to charge, so I must need a new battery.
5. I had other jigs to do this morning, but I usually have to jog in the late afternoon.
6. When I arrived, Jimmy was surprised to see me.
7. Nobody knows the answer to that question.
8. I can’t find the remote, and I am too lazy to get up and change the channel.
9. My mother cooks very good fried chicken, but I prefer it to be baked.
10. Cindy loves to read.
11. Although we were late, we decided to watch the movie anyway.
12. I forgot most of the groceries I needed because I forgot my list.
13. While Billy made the salad, Cindy made the spaghetti sauce.
14. If you want to ride with Larry and Mel, you need to get them to leave soon.
15. Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day because I am going to the beach.
---
## 🧠 Teaching Tip:
This exercise helps students distinguish between independent and dependent clauses — foundational for understanding sentence structure, punctuation (like comma splices), and writing complex sentences correctly.
---
✔ You’ve now successfully completed the worksheet! Great job identifying those independent clauses.
---
✔ What is an Independent Clause?
An independent clause is a group of words that:
- Has a subject and a verb
- Expresses a complete thought
- Can stand alone as a complete sentence
> 💡 Example: *“Jimmy plays basketball.”* → Subject = Jimmy, Verb = plays → Complete thought → ✔ Independent clause
---
📝 The Task:
> Directions: Underline the independent clause or clauses in each sentence.
Some sentences have only one independent clause. Others (especially compound sentences) may have two or more independent clauses joined by conjunctions like *and, but, or, so, yet, for, nor*.
---
## 🔍 Let’s go through each sentence and underline the independent clause(s):
---
1. Linda wants to write a novel, but she is afraid to try.
✔ Independent clauses:
→ *Linda wants to write a novel*
→ *she is afraid to try*
🔹 Joined by “but” → This is a compound sentence with two independent clauses.
Underline both parts.
---
2. Because I don’t know how to do my math homework, I need to call Jim for help.
✔ Only one independent clause:
→ *I need to call Jim for help*
🔸 “Because I don’t know...” is a dependent clause (starts with subordinating conjunction “because”) — cannot stand alone.
Underline only: *I need to call Jim for help*
---
3. I am saving my money because I want to buy a new iPad.
✔ Independent clause: *I am saving my money*
🔸 “because I want to buy a new iPad” = dependent clause.
Underline: *I am saving my money*
---
4. I can’t get my phone to charge, so I must need a new battery.
✔ Two independent clauses:
→ *I can’t get my phone to charge*
→ *I must need a new battery*
🔹 Joined by “so”
Underline both.
---
5. I had other jigs to do this morning, but I usually have to jog in the late afternoon.
✔ Two independent clauses:
→ *I had other jigs to do this morning*
→ *I usually have to jog in the late afternoon*
🔹 Joined by “but”
Underline both.
---
6. When I arrived, Jimmy was surprised to see me.
✔ Independent clause: *Jimmy was surprised to see me*
🔸 “When I arrived” = dependent clause (starts with “when”)
Underline: *Jimmy was surprised to see me*
---
7. Nobody knows the answer to that question.
✔ One independent clause:
→ *Nobody knows the answer to that question*
(Subject: Nobody, Verb: knows — complete thought)
Underline entire sentence
---
8. I can’t find the remote, and I am too lazy to get up and change the channel.
✔ Two independent clauses:
→ *I can’t find the remote*
→ *I am too lazy to get up and change the channel*
🔹 Joined by “and”
Underline both
---
9. My mother cooks very good fried chicken, but I prefer it to be baked.
✔ Two independent clauses:
→ *My mother cooks very good fried chicken*
→ *I prefer it to be baked*
🔹 Joined by “but”
Underline both
---
10. Cindy loves to read.
✔ One independent clause:
→ *Cindy loves to read*
Underline entire sentence
---
11. Although we were late, we decided to watch the movie anyway.
✔ Independent clause: *we decided to watch the movie anyway*
🔸 “Although we were late” = dependent clause
Underline: *we decided to watch the movie anyway*
---
12. I forgot most of the groceries I needed because I forgot my list.
✔ Independent clause: *I forgot most of the groceries I needed*
🔸 “because I forgot my list” = dependent clause
Underline: *I forgot most of the groceries I needed*
---
13. While Billy made the salad, Cindy made the spaghetti sauce.
✔ Two independent clauses:
→ *Billy made the salad*
→ *Cindy made the spaghetti sauce*
🔸 “While” introduces a dependent clause, but the structure actually has two subjects and verbs — it’s a complex sentence with a dependent clause at the beginning and an independent clause after the comma.
Wait — let’s check:
> “While Billy made the salad” — this is a dependent clause (can’t stand alone).
> “Cindy made the spaghetti sauce” — independent clause.
But note: In this case, only one independent clause exists — the second part. The first part is subordinate.
✔ So: Underline only: *Cindy made the spaghetti sauce*
*(Note: Some might argue this is two independent clauses if interpreted differently, but grammatically, “while” makes the first clause dependent.)*
---
14. If you want to ride with Larry and Mel, you need to get them to leave soon.
✔ Independent clause: *you need to get them to leave soon*
🔸 “If you want to ride...” = dependent clause (conditional)
Underline: *you need to get them to leave soon*
---
15. Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day because I am going to the beach.
✔ Independent clause: *Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day*
🔸 “because I am going to the beach” = dependent clause
Underline: *Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day*
---
## ✍️ Final Answer Summary (What to Underline):
Here’s what you should underline in each sentence:
1. Linda wants to write a novel, but she is afraid to try.
2. Because I don’t know how to do my math homework, I need to call Jim for help.
3. I am saving my money because I want to buy a new iPad.
4. I can’t get my phone to charge, so I must need a new battery.
5. I had other jigs to do this morning, but I usually have to jog in the late afternoon.
6. When I arrived, Jimmy was surprised to see me.
7. Nobody knows the answer to that question.
8. I can’t find the remote, and I am too lazy to get up and change the channel.
9. My mother cooks very good fried chicken, but I prefer it to be baked.
10. Cindy loves to read.
11. Although we were late, we decided to watch the movie anyway.
12. I forgot most of the groceries I needed because I forgot my list.
13. While Billy made the salad, Cindy made the spaghetti sauce.
14. If you want to ride with Larry and Mel, you need to get them to leave soon.
15. Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day because I am going to the beach.
---
## 🧠 Teaching Tip:
This exercise helps students distinguish between independent and dependent clauses — foundational for understanding sentence structure, punctuation (like comma splices), and writing complex sentences correctly.
---
✔ You’ve now successfully completed the worksheet! Great job identifying those independent clauses.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of dependent and independent clause worksheet.
