Worksheet on dependent and independent clauses with interactive exercises and examples.
A worksheet titled "Dependent and Independent Clauses" with a theater ticket graphic, explaining grammar rules and providing exercises for identifying and correcting sentence structures.
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Step-by-step solution for: Dependent and Independent Clauses | Worksheet
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Step-by-step solution for: Dependent and Independent Clauses | Worksheet
It looks like you've uploaded a worksheet titled "Dependent and Independent Clauses" that includes definitions, examples, and 14 practice sentences. Your task is to identify the dependent clause in each sentence and highlight the independent clause.
Let’s go through this step by step.
---
- Independent Clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Dependent Clause: A group of words that has a subject and a predicate but cannot stand alone. It usually begins with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., *because, although, when, since, if, while, until, after, before, unless, so that, even though*).
---
For each sentence:
1. Identify the dependent clause (usually starts with a subordinating conjunction).
2. Highlight the independent clause (the part that can stand alone).
We'll analyze each sentence:
---
#### 1. Physical exercise and heart entertainment are activities that people have used as stress-reducers for over a century.
- Dependent clause: *"that people have used as stress-reducers for over a century"*
→ Begins with *that*, modifies "activities"
- Independent clause: *"Physical exercise and heart entertainment are activities"*
→ Can stand alone.
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *that people have used as stress-reducers for over a century*
- Independent: *Physical exercise and heart entertainment are activities*
---
#### 2. Although the piano player is well known, he was not asked to play at the event this Saturday evening.
- Dependent clause: *"Although the piano player is well known"*
→ Starts with *although*
- Independent clause: *"he was not asked to play at the event this Saturday evening"*
→ Complete thought
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *Although the piano player is well known*
- Independent: *he was not asked to play at the event this Saturday evening*
---
#### 3. Before Chadwick Bosman began his acting career, he studied directing at Howard University.
- Dependent clause: *"Before Chadwick Bosman began his acting career"*
→ Starts with *before*
- Independent clause: *"he studied directing at Howard University"*
→ Can stand alone
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *Before Chadwick Bosman began his acting career*
- Independent: *he studied directing at Howard University*
---
#### 4. Since the canal system of New Orleans was destroyed, the supply will probably go down.
- Dependent clause: *"Since the canal system of New Orleans was destroyed"*
→ Starts with *since*
- Independent clause: *"the supply will probably go down"*
→ Complete thought
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *Since the canal system of New Orleans was destroyed*
- Independent: *the supply will probably go down*
---
#### 5. I need to return to the store because I forgot my essential ingredients for my homemade pizza.
- Dependent clause: *"because I forgot my essential ingredients for my homemade pizza"*
→ Starts with *because*
- Independent clause: *"I need to return to the store"*
→ Can stand alone
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *because I forgot my essential ingredients for my homemade pizza*
- Independent: *I need to return to the store*
---
#### 6. When Savannah records events and memories in her planner, she is more organized for the week ahead.
- Dependent clause: *"When Savannah records events and memories in her planner"*
→ Starts with *when*
- Independent clause: *"she is more organized for the week ahead"*
→ Complete idea
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *When Savannah records events and memories in her planner*
- Independent: *she is more organized for the week ahead*
---
#### 7. As soon as we crossed the bridge, we saw the picturesque view of the curly rays sparkling on the water.
- Dependent clause: *"As soon as we crossed the bridge"*
→ Starts with *as soon as*
- Independent clause: *"we saw the picturesque view of the curly rays sparkling on the water"*
→ Complete sentence
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *As soon as we crossed the bridge*
- Independent: *we saw the picturesque view of the curly rays sparkling on the water*
---
#### 8. Jaxson, who was intrigued by the introduction video, decided to enroll in the leadership training program.
- Dependent clause: *"who was intrigued by the introduction video"*
→ Relative clause starting with *who*
- Independent clause: *"Jaxson decided to enroll in the leadership training program"*
→ Can stand alone
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *who was intrigued by the introduction video*
- Independent: *Jaxson decided to enroll in the leadership training program*
---
#### 9. We walked on the boardwalk until the thunderous clouds rolled in.
- Dependent clause: *"until the thunderous clouds rolled in"*
→ Starts with *until*
- Independent clause: *"We walked on the boardwalk"*
→ Complete sentence
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *until the thunderous clouds rolled in*
- Independent: *We walked on the boardwalk*
---
#### 10. The team's chances of making the playoffs increased dramatically when their division rivals lost big games in June.
- Dependent clause: *"when their division rivals lost big games in June"*
→ Starts with *when*
- Independent clause: *"The team's chances of making the playoffs increased dramatically"*
→ Can stand alone
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *when their division rivals lost big games in June*
- Independent: *The team's chances of making the playoffs increased dramatically*
---
#### 11. Because anime travel is expensive for a family of five, we could go on only one family vehicle for road trips.
- Dependent clause: *"Because anime travel is expensive for a family of five"*
→ Starts with *because*
- Independent clause: *"we could go on only one family vehicle for road trips"*
→ Complete thought
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *Because anime travel is expensive for a family of five*
- Independent: *we could go on only one family vehicle for road trips*
> ⚠️ Note: There might be a typo — “anime travel” likely means “airline travel” or “family vacation travel”.
---
#### 12. Each year, around three million people visit Mount Rushmore, which is a colossal sculpture carved into granite in the Black Hills in South Dakota.
- Dependent clause: *"which is a colossal sculpture carved into granite in the Black Hills in South Dakota"*
→ Relative clause starting with *which*
- Independent clause: *"Each year, around three million people visit Mount Rushmore"*
→ Can stand alone
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *which is a colossal sculpture carved into granite in the Black Hills in South Dakota*
- Independent: *Each year, around three million people visit Mount Rushmore*
---
| Sentence # | Dependent Clause | Independent Clause |
|-----------|------------------|--------------------|
| 1 | that people have used as stress-reducers for over a century | Physical exercise and heart entertainment are activities |
| 2 | Although the piano player is well known | he was not asked to play at the event this Saturday evening |
| 3 | Before Chadwick Bosman began his acting career | he studied directing at Howard University |
| 4 | Since the canal system of New Orleans was destroyed | the supply will probably go down |
| 5 | because I forgot my essential ingredients for my homemade pizza | I need to return to the store |
| 6 | When Savannah records events and memories in her planner | she is more organized for the week ahead |
| 7 | As soon as we crossed the bridge | we saw the picturesque view of the curly rays sparkling on the water |
| 8 | who was intrigued by the introduction video | Jaxson decided to enroll in the leadership training program |
| 9 | until the thunderous clouds rolled in | We walked on the boardwalk |
| 10 | when their division rivals lost big games in June | The team's chances of making the playoffs increased dramatically |
| 11 | Because anime travel is expensive for a family of five | we could go on only one family vehicle for road trips |
| 12 | which is a colossal sculpture carved into granite in the Black Hills in South Dakota | Each year, around three million people visit Mount Rushmore |
---
- Subordinating conjunctions often signal the beginning of a dependent clause: *although, because, since, when, as soon as, before, until, after, while, if, unless, so that, even though, etc.*
- Relative clauses (starting with *who, whom, whose, which, that*) are also dependent clauses.
- Always look for the main idea that can stand alone — that’s your independent clause.
Let me know if you'd like this formatted for printing or want a version with highlighting!
Let’s go through this step by step.
---
🔹 Definitions Recap:
- Independent Clause: A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a complete sentence.
- Dependent Clause: A group of words that has a subject and a predicate but cannot stand alone. It usually begins with a subordinating conjunction (e.g., *because, although, when, since, if, while, until, after, before, unless, so that, even though*).
---
✔ Instructions:
For each sentence:
1. Identify the dependent clause (usually starts with a subordinating conjunction).
2. Highlight the independent clause (the part that can stand alone).
We'll analyze each sentence:
---
#### 1. Physical exercise and heart entertainment are activities that people have used as stress-reducers for over a century.
- Dependent clause: *"that people have used as stress-reducers for over a century"*
→ Begins with *that*, modifies "activities"
- Independent clause: *"Physical exercise and heart entertainment are activities"*
→ Can stand alone.
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *that people have used as stress-reducers for over a century*
- Independent: *Physical exercise and heart entertainment are activities*
---
#### 2. Although the piano player is well known, he was not asked to play at the event this Saturday evening.
- Dependent clause: *"Although the piano player is well known"*
→ Starts with *although*
- Independent clause: *"he was not asked to play at the event this Saturday evening"*
→ Complete thought
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *Although the piano player is well known*
- Independent: *he was not asked to play at the event this Saturday evening*
---
#### 3. Before Chadwick Bosman began his acting career, he studied directing at Howard University.
- Dependent clause: *"Before Chadwick Bosman began his acting career"*
→ Starts with *before*
- Independent clause: *"he studied directing at Howard University"*
→ Can stand alone
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *Before Chadwick Bosman began his acting career*
- Independent: *he studied directing at Howard University*
---
#### 4. Since the canal system of New Orleans was destroyed, the supply will probably go down.
- Dependent clause: *"Since the canal system of New Orleans was destroyed"*
→ Starts with *since*
- Independent clause: *"the supply will probably go down"*
→ Complete thought
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *Since the canal system of New Orleans was destroyed*
- Independent: *the supply will probably go down*
---
#### 5. I need to return to the store because I forgot my essential ingredients for my homemade pizza.
- Dependent clause: *"because I forgot my essential ingredients for my homemade pizza"*
→ Starts with *because*
- Independent clause: *"I need to return to the store"*
→ Can stand alone
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *because I forgot my essential ingredients for my homemade pizza*
- Independent: *I need to return to the store*
---
#### 6. When Savannah records events and memories in her planner, she is more organized for the week ahead.
- Dependent clause: *"When Savannah records events and memories in her planner"*
→ Starts with *when*
- Independent clause: *"she is more organized for the week ahead"*
→ Complete idea
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *When Savannah records events and memories in her planner*
- Independent: *she is more organized for the week ahead*
---
#### 7. As soon as we crossed the bridge, we saw the picturesque view of the curly rays sparkling on the water.
- Dependent clause: *"As soon as we crossed the bridge"*
→ Starts with *as soon as*
- Independent clause: *"we saw the picturesque view of the curly rays sparkling on the water"*
→ Complete sentence
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *As soon as we crossed the bridge*
- Independent: *we saw the picturesque view of the curly rays sparkling on the water*
---
#### 8. Jaxson, who was intrigued by the introduction video, decided to enroll in the leadership training program.
- Dependent clause: *"who was intrigued by the introduction video"*
→ Relative clause starting with *who*
- Independent clause: *"Jaxson decided to enroll in the leadership training program"*
→ Can stand alone
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *who was intrigued by the introduction video*
- Independent: *Jaxson decided to enroll in the leadership training program*
---
#### 9. We walked on the boardwalk until the thunderous clouds rolled in.
- Dependent clause: *"until the thunderous clouds rolled in"*
→ Starts with *until*
- Independent clause: *"We walked on the boardwalk"*
→ Complete sentence
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *until the thunderous clouds rolled in*
- Independent: *We walked on the boardwalk*
---
#### 10. The team's chances of making the playoffs increased dramatically when their division rivals lost big games in June.
- Dependent clause: *"when their division rivals lost big games in June"*
→ Starts with *when*
- Independent clause: *"The team's chances of making the playoffs increased dramatically"*
→ Can stand alone
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *when their division rivals lost big games in June*
- Independent: *The team's chances of making the playoffs increased dramatically*
---
#### 11. Because anime travel is expensive for a family of five, we could go on only one family vehicle for road trips.
- Dependent clause: *"Because anime travel is expensive for a family of five"*
→ Starts with *because*
- Independent clause: *"we could go on only one family vehicle for road trips"*
→ Complete thought
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *Because anime travel is expensive for a family of five*
- Independent: *we could go on only one family vehicle for road trips*
> ⚠️ Note: There might be a typo — “anime travel” likely means “airline travel” or “family vacation travel”.
---
#### 12. Each year, around three million people visit Mount Rushmore, which is a colossal sculpture carved into granite in the Black Hills in South Dakota.
- Dependent clause: *"which is a colossal sculpture carved into granite in the Black Hills in South Dakota"*
→ Relative clause starting with *which*
- Independent clause: *"Each year, around three million people visit Mount Rushmore"*
→ Can stand alone
✔ Answer:
- Dependent: *which is a colossal sculpture carved into granite in the Black Hills in South Dakota*
- Independent: *Each year, around three million people visit Mount Rushmore*
---
✔ Summary Table:
| Sentence # | Dependent Clause | Independent Clause |
|-----------|------------------|--------------------|
| 1 | that people have used as stress-reducers for over a century | Physical exercise and heart entertainment are activities |
| 2 | Although the piano player is well known | he was not asked to play at the event this Saturday evening |
| 3 | Before Chadwick Bosman began his acting career | he studied directing at Howard University |
| 4 | Since the canal system of New Orleans was destroyed | the supply will probably go down |
| 5 | because I forgot my essential ingredients for my homemade pizza | I need to return to the store |
| 6 | When Savannah records events and memories in her planner | she is more organized for the week ahead |
| 7 | As soon as we crossed the bridge | we saw the picturesque view of the curly rays sparkling on the water |
| 8 | who was intrigued by the introduction video | Jaxson decided to enroll in the leadership training program |
| 9 | until the thunderous clouds rolled in | We walked on the boardwalk |
| 10 | when their division rivals lost big games in June | The team's chances of making the playoffs increased dramatically |
| 11 | Because anime travel is expensive for a family of five | we could go on only one family vehicle for road trips |
| 12 | which is a colossal sculpture carved into granite in the Black Hills in South Dakota | Each year, around three million people visit Mount Rushmore |
---
🎯 Final Notes:
- Subordinating conjunctions often signal the beginning of a dependent clause: *although, because, since, when, as soon as, before, until, after, while, if, unless, so that, even though, etc.*
- Relative clauses (starting with *who, whom, whose, which, that*) are also dependent clauses.
- Always look for the main idea that can stand alone — that’s your independent clause.
Let me know if you'd like this formatted for printing or want a version with highlighting!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of independent vs dependent clause worksheet.