Independent and Subordinate Clauses worksheet for grammar practice.
Worksheet titled "Independent and Subordinate Clauses" with instructions and 12 sentences for identifying and correcting clause types.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Dependent And Independent Clauses Worksheets - Fill Online ...
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Dependent And Independent Clauses Worksheets - Fill Online ...
You're working on identifying independent and subordinate clauses in sentences. Let’s break this down clearly.
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- Independent (main) clause → expresses a complete thought.
*Example: “Sandy likes to read mysteries.”* — This can stand alone as a sentence.
- Subordinate (dependent) clause → does NOT express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
*Example: “because she wants to be a detective”* — This needs an independent clause to make sense.
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For each sentence, you must:
1. Underline the independent clause ONCE.
2. Underline the subordinate clause TWICE.
Sometimes a sentence has only one clause — if it’s independent, underline it once. If it’s subordinate, it should not appear alone — but in these examples, all are complete sentences, so they contain at least one independent clause.
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#### 1. We didn’t get a cocker spaniel because they have to be groomed.
- Independent clause: “We didn’t get a cocker spaniel” → complete thought.
- Subordinate clause: “because they have to be groomed” → explains *why*; can’t stand alone.
✔ Underline once: We didn’t get a cocker spaniel
✔ Underline twice: because they have to be groomed
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#### 2. Even though Pam practiced daily, she made several mistakes during the recital.
- Subordinate clause: “Even though Pam practiced daily” → starts with subordinating conjunction “even though”
- Independent clause: “she made several mistakes during the recital”
✔ Underline once: she made several mistakes during the recital
✔ Underline twice: Even though Pam practiced daily
*(Note: The comma separates them — that’s a clue!)*
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#### 3. After you cross the state line, you need to turn onto the first road on the left.
- Subordinate clause: “After you cross the state line” → starts with “after”
- Independent clause: “you need to turn onto the first road on the left”
✔ Underline once: you need to turn onto the first road on the left
✔ Underline twice: After you cross the state line
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#### 4. You need to fluff them in the dryer after you take the clothes off the line.
- Two parts:
- “You need to fluff them in the dryer” → independent
- “after you take the clothes off the line” → subordinate (starts with “after”)
✔ Underline once: You need to fluff them in the dryer
✔ Underline twice: after you take the clothes off the line
---
#### 5. If it doesn’t rain today, you need to water the flowers and shrubs.
- Subordinate clause: “If it doesn’t rain today” → starts with “if”
- Independent clause: “you need to water the flowers and shrubs”
✔ Underline once: you need to water the flowers and shrubs
✔ Underline twice: If it doesn’t rain today
---
#### 6. Although some people didn’t want to read the Scarlett Letter, they enjoyed it.
- Subordinate clause: “Although some people didn’t want to read the Scarlett Letter”
- Independent clause: “they enjoyed it”
✔ Underline once: they enjoyed it
✔ Underline twice: Although some people didn’t want to read the Scarlett Letter
---
#### 7. I couldn’t find a place to park when I arrived at the doctor’s office.
- Independent clause: “I couldn’t find a place to park”
- Subordinate clause: “when I arrived at the doctor’s office”
✔ Underline once: I couldn’t find a place to park
✔ Underline twice: when I arrived at the doctor’s office
---
#### 8. I couldn’t imagine vampires sparkling in the sunlight until I saw the movie.
- Independent clause: “I couldn’t imagine vampires sparkling in the sunlight”
- Subordinate clause: “until I saw the movie”
✔ Underline once: I couldn’t imagine vampires sparkling in the sunlight
✔ Underline twice: until I saw the movie
---
#### 9. Until Sandy moved into the neighborhood, nobody liked to ride skateboards.
- Subordinate clause: “Until Sandy moved into the neighborhood”
- Independent clause: “nobody liked to ride skateboards”
✔ Underline once: nobody liked to ride skateboards
✔ Underline twice: Until Sandy moved into the neighborhood
---
#### 10. We all got in trouble for laughing at him when Barry colored his hair green.
- Independent clause: “We all got in trouble for laughing at him”
- Subordinate clause: “when Barry colored his hair green”
✔ Underline once: We all got in trouble for laughing at him
✔ Underline twice: when Barry colored his hair green
---
#### 11. Since you added parmesan cheese to the recipe, it tastes much better.
- Subordinate clause: “Since you added parmesan cheese to the recipe”
- Independent clause: “it tastes much better”
✔ Underline once: it tastes much better
✔ Underline twice: Since you added parmesan cheese to the recipe
---
#### 12. Once we get the background painted, it won’t take long to finish the project.
- Subordinate clause: “Once we get the background painted”
- Independent clause: “it won’t take long to finish the project”
✔ Underline once: it won’t take long to finish the project
✔ Underline twice: Once we get the background painted
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- Look for subordinating conjunctions: because, although, even though, after, if, when, until, since, once, while, etc.
- If a clause starts with one of those, it’s likely subordinate.
- The rest is usually the independent clause — the main idea.
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| Sentence | Independent Clause (underline once) | Subordinate Clause (underline twice) |
|----------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| 1 | We didn’t get a cocker spaniel | because they have to be groomed |
| 2 | she made several mistakes... | Even though Pam practiced daily |
| 3 | you need to turn onto the first... | After you cross the state line |
| 4 | You need to fluff them in the dryer | after you take the clothes off the line |
| 5 | you need to water the flowers... | If it doesn’t rain today |
| 6 | they enjoyed it | Although some people didn’t want... |
| 7 | I couldn’t find a place to park | when I arrived at the doctor’s office |
| 8 | I couldn’t imagine vampires... | until I saw the movie |
| 9 | nobody liked to ride skateboards | Until Sandy moved into the neighborhood |
| 10 | We all got in trouble... | when Barry colored his hair green |
| 11 | it tastes much better | Since you added parmesan cheese... |
| 12 | it won’t take long to finish... | Once we get the background painted |
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Let me know if you’d like this turned into a printable answer sheet or need help explaining any specific sentence! 😊
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🔍 Definitions (from your worksheet):
- Independent (main) clause → expresses a complete thought.
*Example: “Sandy likes to read mysteries.”* — This can stand alone as a sentence.
- Subordinate (dependent) clause → does NOT express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
*Example: “because she wants to be a detective”* — This needs an independent clause to make sense.
---
✔ How to solve:
For each sentence, you must:
1. Underline the independent clause ONCE.
2. Underline the subordinate clause TWICE.
Sometimes a sentence has only one clause — if it’s independent, underline it once. If it’s subordinate, it should not appear alone — but in these examples, all are complete sentences, so they contain at least one independent clause.
---
📝 Let’s go sentence by sentence:
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#### 1. We didn’t get a cocker spaniel because they have to be groomed.
- Independent clause: “We didn’t get a cocker spaniel” → complete thought.
- Subordinate clause: “because they have to be groomed” → explains *why*; can’t stand alone.
✔ Underline once: We didn’t get a cocker spaniel
✔ Underline twice: because they have to be groomed
---
#### 2. Even though Pam practiced daily, she made several mistakes during the recital.
- Subordinate clause: “Even though Pam practiced daily” → starts with subordinating conjunction “even though”
- Independent clause: “she made several mistakes during the recital”
✔ Underline once: she made several mistakes during the recital
✔ Underline twice: Even though Pam practiced daily
*(Note: The comma separates them — that’s a clue!)*
---
#### 3. After you cross the state line, you need to turn onto the first road on the left.
- Subordinate clause: “After you cross the state line” → starts with “after”
- Independent clause: “you need to turn onto the first road on the left”
✔ Underline once: you need to turn onto the first road on the left
✔ Underline twice: After you cross the state line
---
#### 4. You need to fluff them in the dryer after you take the clothes off the line.
- Two parts:
- “You need to fluff them in the dryer” → independent
- “after you take the clothes off the line” → subordinate (starts with “after”)
✔ Underline once: You need to fluff them in the dryer
✔ Underline twice: after you take the clothes off the line
---
#### 5. If it doesn’t rain today, you need to water the flowers and shrubs.
- Subordinate clause: “If it doesn’t rain today” → starts with “if”
- Independent clause: “you need to water the flowers and shrubs”
✔ Underline once: you need to water the flowers and shrubs
✔ Underline twice: If it doesn’t rain today
---
#### 6. Although some people didn’t want to read the Scarlett Letter, they enjoyed it.
- Subordinate clause: “Although some people didn’t want to read the Scarlett Letter”
- Independent clause: “they enjoyed it”
✔ Underline once: they enjoyed it
✔ Underline twice: Although some people didn’t want to read the Scarlett Letter
---
#### 7. I couldn’t find a place to park when I arrived at the doctor’s office.
- Independent clause: “I couldn’t find a place to park”
- Subordinate clause: “when I arrived at the doctor’s office”
✔ Underline once: I couldn’t find a place to park
✔ Underline twice: when I arrived at the doctor’s office
---
#### 8. I couldn’t imagine vampires sparkling in the sunlight until I saw the movie.
- Independent clause: “I couldn’t imagine vampires sparkling in the sunlight”
- Subordinate clause: “until I saw the movie”
✔ Underline once: I couldn’t imagine vampires sparkling in the sunlight
✔ Underline twice: until I saw the movie
---
#### 9. Until Sandy moved into the neighborhood, nobody liked to ride skateboards.
- Subordinate clause: “Until Sandy moved into the neighborhood”
- Independent clause: “nobody liked to ride skateboards”
✔ Underline once: nobody liked to ride skateboards
✔ Underline twice: Until Sandy moved into the neighborhood
---
#### 10. We all got in trouble for laughing at him when Barry colored his hair green.
- Independent clause: “We all got in trouble for laughing at him”
- Subordinate clause: “when Barry colored his hair green”
✔ Underline once: We all got in trouble for laughing at him
✔ Underline twice: when Barry colored his hair green
---
#### 11. Since you added parmesan cheese to the recipe, it tastes much better.
- Subordinate clause: “Since you added parmesan cheese to the recipe”
- Independent clause: “it tastes much better”
✔ Underline once: it tastes much better
✔ Underline twice: Since you added parmesan cheese to the recipe
---
#### 12. Once we get the background painted, it won’t take long to finish the project.
- Subordinate clause: “Once we get the background painted”
- Independent clause: “it won’t take long to finish the project”
✔ Underline once: it won’t take long to finish the project
✔ Underline twice: Once we get the background painted
---
✔ Final Tips:
- Look for subordinating conjunctions: because, although, even though, after, if, when, until, since, once, while, etc.
- If a clause starts with one of those, it’s likely subordinate.
- The rest is usually the independent clause — the main idea.
---
🖊️ Answer Key Summary (for quick reference):
| Sentence | Independent Clause (underline once) | Subordinate Clause (underline twice) |
|----------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| 1 | We didn’t get a cocker spaniel | because they have to be groomed |
| 2 | she made several mistakes... | Even though Pam practiced daily |
| 3 | you need to turn onto the first... | After you cross the state line |
| 4 | You need to fluff them in the dryer | after you take the clothes off the line |
| 5 | you need to water the flowers... | If it doesn’t rain today |
| 6 | they enjoyed it | Although some people didn’t want... |
| 7 | I couldn’t find a place to park | when I arrived at the doctor’s office |
| 8 | I couldn’t imagine vampires... | until I saw the movie |
| 9 | nobody liked to ride skateboards | Until Sandy moved into the neighborhood |
| 10 | We all got in trouble... | when Barry colored his hair green |
| 11 | it tastes much better | Since you added parmesan cheese... |
| 12 | it won’t take long to finish... | Once we get the background painted |
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Let me know if you’d like this turned into a printable answer sheet or need help explaining any specific sentence! 😊
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of independent clause worksheet.
