Independent Clause worksheet for learning grammar, including examples and exercises.

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Let’s go through this step by step.

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🔹 What is an Independent Clause?

An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It can stand alone as a sentence.

For example:
- "I went to the store." → This is an independent clause because it has a subject ("I"), a verb ("went"), and a complete thought.

A dependent clause, on the other hand, cannot stand alone — it depends on another clause to make sense.
- "Because I was hungry" → This is a dependent clause (starts with "because") — it doesn't express a complete thought.

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✔ Directions:

Underline the independent clause in each sentence.

Let’s analyze each sentence:

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1. Linda wants to write a novel, but she is afraid to try.
- Two clauses:
- "Linda wants to write a novel" → independent (complete thought)
- "she is afraid to try" → independent
- Both are independent clauses joined by "but".
✔ Underline both:
> 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.
- "Because I don’t know how..." → dependent (starts with "because")
- "I need to call Jim for help" → independent
✔ Underline: I need to call Jim for help

3. I am saving my money because I want to buy a new iPad.
- "I am saving my money" → independent
- "because I want to buy a new iPad" → dependent
✔ Underline: I am saving my money

4. I can’t get my phone to charge, so I must need a new battery.
- "I can’t get my phone to charge" → independent
- "so I must need a new battery" → independent (though "must need" is awkward, it's still a complete thought)
✔ Underline both:
> I can’t get my phone to charge, so I must need a new battery.

5. I had rather jog in the morning, but I usually have to jog in the late afternoon.
- Both clauses are independent.
✔ Underline both:
> I had rather jog in the morning, but I usually have to jog in the late afternoon.

6. When I arrived, Jimmy was surprised to see me.
- "When I arrived" → dependent (starts with "when")
- "Jimmy was surprised to see me" → independent
✔ Underline: Jimmy was surprised to see me

7. Nobody knows the answer to that question.
- Only one clause → independent
✔ Underline: 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.
- Two independent clauses joined by "and"
✔ Underline both:
> I can’t find the remote, and I am too lazy to get up and change the channel.

9. My mother cooked very good fried chicken, but I prefer it to be baked.
- Both are independent
✔ Underline both:
> My mother cooked very good fried chicken, but I prefer it to be baked.

10. Cindy loves to read.
- One independent clause
✔ Underline: Cindy loves to read

11. Although we were tired, we decided to watch the movie anyway.
- "Although we were tired" → dependent
- "we decided to watch the movie anyway" → independent
✔ Underline: we decided to watch the movie anyway

12. I forgot most of the groceries I needed because I forgot my list.
- "I forgot most of the groceries I needed" → independent
- "because I forgot my list" → dependent
✔ Underline: I forgot most of the groceries I needed

13. While Billy made the salad, Cindy made the spaghetti sauce.
- "While Billy made the salad" → dependent
- "Cindy made the spaghetti sauce" → independent
✔ Underline: Cindy made the spaghetti sauce

14. If I was wont to ride with Larry and Mel, I would be late to them know.
- There seems to be a typo or error here.
"If I was wont" → likely meant "If I were willing" or "If I wanted"
"be late to them know" → unclear; possibly meant "be late to meet them" or "be late to know"?
- But assuming intended meaning:
"If I was wont to ride..." → dependent (starts with "if")
"I would be late..." → dependent (conditional)
- However, neither clause is fully independent due to the conditional structure.
- But note: In grammar, "I would be late" is not independent unless it stands alone.
- Actually, "I would be late" is a dependent clause because it's part of a conditional sentence.
- So, this sentence has no independent clause? That can't be right.

Let’s re-express:
Likely intended:
*"If I were going to ride with Larry and Mel, I would be late to meet them."*
Then:
- "If I were going to ride..." → dependent
- "I would be late to meet them" → still dependent (it's a conditional result)

But wait — "I would be late to meet them" could be independent if it stood alone, but in this case, it's tied to the condition.

However, in standard grammar, "I would be late" is not an independent clause in a conditional sentence — it's part of the main clause.

But the entire sentence is a complex sentence with a dependent clause and a main clause.

Wait — actually, "I would be late to meet them" is the main clause and can stand alone as a sentence, even though it's conditional.

Example: "I would be late." → valid sentence.

So:
- "If I were going to ride..." → dependent
- "I would be late to meet them" → independent
✔ Underline: I would be late to meet them

But since the original says:
> "If I was wont to ride with Larry and Mel, I would be late to them know."

That seems grammatically incorrect. Possibly a typo.
Let’s assume it's meant to be:
> "If I were to ride with Larry and Mel, I would be late to meet them."

Then underline: I would be late to meet them

So, underlined: I would be late to meet them

15. Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day because I am going to the beach.
- "Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day" → independent
- "because I am going to the beach" → dependent
✔ Underline: Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day

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✔ Final Answers (Underlined Independent Clauses):

1. Linda wants to write a novel, but she is afraid to try.
2. I need to call Jim for help
3. I am saving my money
4. I can’t get my phone to charge, so I must need a new battery
5. I had rather jog in the morning, but I usually have to jog in the late afternoon
6. 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 cooked very good fried chicken, but I prefer it to be baked
10. Cindy loves to read
11. we decided to watch the movie anyway
12. I forgot most of the groceries I needed
13. Cindy made the spaghetti sauce
14. I would be late to meet them *(assuming corrected version)*
15. Tomorrow is going to be an exciting day

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📝 Summary:

You should underline the independent clause(s) in each sentence. Most sentences contain one or two independent clauses, especially when joined by conjunctions like "but", "and", or "so".

Remember:
- Look for subject + verb + complete thought
- Ignore clauses starting with subordinating conjunctions like because, although, while, if, when, etc.

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or a copy with underlines marked!