DEPENDENT AND INDEPENDENT CLAUSES REVIEW

IB YEAR 2

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and verb. It may or may not express a
complete idea.

An independent or main clause contains a subject and a verb. It is called independent

because it stands as a complete idea on its own.

Example: I do not understand these things.

A dependent or subordinate clause contains a subject and a verb but does not express a
complete idea; thus, it is dependent on another clause – an independent clause – to
complete its idea. A subordinate clause generally begins with a subordinating
conjunction.

Example: If the boy were here, he would wet the coils of line.

Subordinating conjunctions
Time: after, as, as soon as, before, since, until, when whenever, while
Place: where, wherever
Manner: as, as if, as though
Cause: as, because, inasmuch as, since, so that
Concession: although, even though, though
Condition: if, unless

If a clause begins with a subordinating conjunction, then it will be a dependent clause. No

dependent clause can stand on its own as a sentence. It requires an independent clause to
complete the thought.

Section A: Identify whether the following clauses contain a subordinate clause or not.
Write Y if it does and N if it doesn’t.

1. Louis Braille lost his sight in an accident when he was three years old.
2. When he was fourteen, he invented a system of writing for the blind.
3. In the Braille system, letters, number and punctuation are written in units
called “cells”.
4. Each cell contains between one and six dots.
5. Because sixty-three unique combinations of dots are possible, Braille is quite
flexible.
6. Louis Braille determined that these raised dots can be interpreted much faster
than raised lettering.
7. When a single raised dot appears in the number one position, the cell
represents the letter a.
8. Special signs are used to precede numbers and capital letters.
Section B: Identify whether the following clauses are dependent or independent clauses
by marking D or I in the box on the right.

9. The fish kept circling slowly

10.When he had seen the fish come out of the water
11. The hands cure quickly
12.The shark was not an accident
13.As the dark cloud of blood had settled and dispersed in the mile deep sea
14.Everything was beautiful about him except his jaws
15.When they are crisped like claws.
16.When the old man saw him coming

Section C: Each of these sentences begins with a dependent clause. Write an

independent clause to complete the sentence logically.

17. If I kill the fish,

18. While Santiago is dreaming about the lions,

19. Once the sharks eat the fish,

20. Although Santiago works hard,

21. Even though the fish begins to tire,

22. Whether or not the fisherman manages to save his catch,

Section D: Write three sentences about your summer vacation that properly combine a
dependent and independent clause.

23.

24.

25.