Clause Types Recognition Practice


A clause is a group of related words that contains a subject and a verb.  There are two types of clauses:

  •  Independent or Main Clause: A group of related words containing a subject and verb - and makes sense all by itself.  (Sounds like a sentence, right?  It is!)
  •  Dependent or Subordinate Clause: A group of related words containing a subject and verb - but it does not make sense by itself.  A dependent or subordinate clause needs the independent clause to make sense.

Examples:

When John came into the room, the children clapped.

Independent Clause:  the children clapped
Dependent Clause:  When John came into the room
(Note that if there was just the dependent clause, one would ask, "what happened?")

Both clauses have subjects and verbs: "children clapped" and "John came."  However, in the second one, that word, "when" makes that group of words a dependent or subordinate clause.  "When" is a subordinate conjunction, which you will learn about in the miscellaneous subheading in the clause section.  Subordinate or dependent clauses are introduced by either a relative pronoun (see pronoun section) or a subordinate conjunction.

 
Exercise Directions: Write down the independent clause in the following sentences; then, write down the dependent or subordinate clause.  BE CAREFUL!  Sometimes the dependent clause will separate the independent clause, as shown in this sample sentence....

The little boy, who bought the candy, is my brother.

Independent Clause: The little boy is my brother
Dependent Clause: who bought the candy
 

1. Since I don't have the book, I could not do the report.

2. The well-known poet, who was immortalized, is Edgar Allen Poe.

3. Ginger, who is a girl in room 18, will run for representative.

4. Before the rain came, we were able to go swimming.

5. After we formed the carpool, Dave's driving day was Thursdays.

6. Our travel plans were changed since the plane was canceled.

7. Although I am generally a confident person, I hesitated to take my first swimming lesson.

8. "The Raven" is a poem which was written by Edgar Allen Poe.

9. I admire students who ask for help.

10. Mr. Jones, who is a former engineer, is our math teacher.
 

 

Back to Clauses

Back to Grammar Practice Index