Dependent and Independent Clauses - Teach-nology - Free Printable

Let's solve the task step by step.

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Task:

Circle dependent clauses and underline independent clauses in the paragraph titled *"The Bookstore"*.
We are given definitions:

- Independent clause: Expresses a complete thought. Can stand alone as a sentence.
- Dependent clause: Does not express a complete thought. Cannot stand alone.

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Paragraph:

> Kaitlyn went to the bookstore to buy a book with her mom. Kaitlyn wanted to buy a book about horses, but her mom thought that she should buy a book about castles. Kaitlyn said that horses could run fast and that they used to be wild before people tamed them. Her mom said that castles were big and old and had lots of stories about the people that used to live there. They agreed to buy a book that was about both horses and castles. The book was about a princess who rode horses around and lived in a castle. Both Kaitlyn and her mom were happy because they both got what they wanted.

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Step-by-step Analysis:

We will go through each sentence and identify:

- Independent clauses → Underline
- Dependent clauses → Circle

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#### Sentence 1:
Kaitlyn went to the bookstore to buy a book with her mom.

- "Kaitlyn went to the bookstore" → Independent (complete thought) ✔
- "to buy a book with her mom" → Dependent (adverbial phrase, explains *why*; cannot stand alone) ✘
- Note: This is a dependent clause because it starts with an infinitive ("to buy") and depends on the main clause.

✔ Underline: *Kaitlyn went to the bookstore*
⭕ Circle: *to buy a book with her mom*

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#### Sentence 2:
Kaitlyn wanted to buy a book about horses, but her mom thought that she should buy a book about castles.

Break into two clauses joined by "but":

1. Kaitlyn wanted to buy a book about horses
- "Kaitlyn wanted..." → Independent ✔
- "to buy a book about horses" → Dependent (infinitive phrase, dependent) ✘
- So: "Kaitlyn wanted to buy a book about horses" → entire clause is independent, but the phrase "to buy..." is dependent.

2. her mom thought that she should buy a book about castles
- "her mom thought" → Independent ✔
- "that she should buy a book about castles" → Dependent clause (starts with "that", expresses what she thought) ✘

✔ Underline: *Kaitlyn wanted to buy a book about horses*, *her mom thought that she should buy a book about castles*
⭕ Circle: *to buy a book about horses*, *that she should buy a book about castles*

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#### Sentence 3:
Kaitlyn said that horses could run fast and that they used to be wild before people tamed them.

- "Kaitlyn said" → Independent ✔
- "that horses could run fast" → Dependent (subordinate clause introduced by "that") ✘
- "and that they used to be wild before people tamed them" → Another dependent clause
- "before people tamed them" → Also dependent (time clause)

✔ Underline: *Kaitlyn said*
⭕ Circle: *that horses could run fast*, *that they used to be wild before people tamed them*

Note: "before people tamed them" is also a dependent clause — it modifies "wild".

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#### Sentence 4:
Her mom said that castles were big and old and had lots of stories about the people that used to live there.

- "Her mom said" → Independent ✔
- "that castles were big and old" → Dependent (object of "said") ✘
- "and had lots of stories about the people that used to live there" → Still part of the same dependent clause
- "that used to live there" → Dependent (relative clause modifying "people")

✔ Underline: *Her mom said*
⭕ Circle: *that castles were big and old and had lots of stories about the people that used to live there*

(Note: The whole clause after "said" is one long dependent clause.)

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#### Sentence 5:
They agreed to buy a book that was about both horses and castles.

- "They agreed" → Independent ✔
- "to buy a book" → Dependent (infinitive phrase) ✘
- "that was about both horses and castles" → Dependent (relative clause modifying "book") ✘

✔ Underline: *They agreed*
⭕ Circle: *to buy a book that was about both horses and castles*

(Or split: *to buy a book*, *that was about both horses and castles*)

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#### Sentence 6:
The book was about a princess who rode horses around and lived in a castle.

- "The book was about a princess" → Independent ✔
- "who rode horses around and lived in a castle" → Dependent (relative clause modifying "princess") ✘

✔ Underline: *The book was about a princess*
⭕ Circle: *who rode horses around and lived in a castle*

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#### Sentence 7:
Both Kaitlyn and her mom were happy because they both got what they wanted.

- "Both Kaitlyn and her mom were happy" → Independent ✔
- "because they both got what they wanted" → Dependent (reason clause, starts with "because") ✘
- "what they wanted" → Noun clause, dependent (object of "got")

✔ Underline: *Both Kaitlyn and her mom were happy*
⭕ Circle: *because they both got what they wanted*

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✔ Final Answer (with formatting):

> Kaitlyn went to the bookstore to buy a book with her mom.
> Kaitlyn wanted to buy a book about horses, but her mom thought that she should buy a book about castles.
> Kaitlyn said that horses could run fast and that they used to be wild before people tamed them.
> Her mom said that castles were big and old and had lots of stories about the people that used to live there.
> They agreed to buy a book that was about both horses and castles.
> The book was about a princess who rode horses around and lived in a castle.
> Both Kaitlyn and her mom were happy because they both got what they wanted.

Now apply the markings:

- Underline all independent clauses:
- Kaitlyn went to the bookstore
- Kaitlyn wanted to buy a book about horses
- her mom thought
- Kaitlyn said
- Her mom said
- They agreed
- The book was about a princess
- Both Kaitlyn and her mom were happy

- Circle all dependent clauses:
- to buy a book with her mom
- to buy a book about horses
- that she should buy a book about castles
- that horses could run fast
- that they used to be wild before people tamed them
- that castles were big and old and had lots of stories about the people that used to live there
- to buy a book that was about both horses and castles
- who rode horses around and lived in a castle
- because they both got what they wanted

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✔ Summary:

This exercise teaches students how to distinguish between independent (can stand alone) and dependent (cannot stand alone) clauses. By identifying these, students improve their understanding of sentence structure and grammar.

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