Detailed Explanation of Dependent and Independent Clauses 📚

When you are learning to write sentences, it’s important to understand dependent and independent clauses. These are parts of sentences that help you make your writing clear and interesting.

What is an Independent Clause? ✍️

An independent clause is a group of words that has both a subject and a verb, and it makes complete sense all by itself. This means it can stand alone as a sentence.

Example of an independent clause:

  • I like to play football.
  • The cat is sleeping.

Both sentences tell a complete idea and don’t need any extra information.

What is a Dependent Clause? 🤔

A dependent clause also has a subject and a verb, but it does not make complete sense on its own. It depends on an independent clause to make a full sentence. Dependent clauses often start with words like because, when, although, if, or since.

Example of a dependent clause:

  • Because I was tired
  • When the phone rang

If you read these on their own, they don’t tell the full story. You need to add an independent clause to complete the meaning, like:

  • Because I was tired, I went to bed early.
  • When the phone rang, I answered it quickly.

How to Identify Dependent and Independent Clauses 🔍

  1. Look for a subject and verb: Every clause has a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a verb (what the subject does).
  2. Check if the clause can stand alone:
    If it makes complete sense by itself, it’s an independent clause.
    If it leaves you asking for more information, it’s a dependent clause.
  3. Look for clue words: Dependent clauses often begin with words like because, although, if, when, after, or since.

Practice Identifying Clauses ✨

Sentence: She ran home because it started to rain.

  • Independent clause: She ran home. (makes sense alone)
  • Dependent clause: because it started to rain (needs more information)

Sentence: Although the movie was long, I enjoyed it.

  • Dependent clause: Although the movie was long
  • Independent clause: I enjoyed it.

Tips for Remembering 🎯

  • An independent clause is a complete sentence all by itself.
  • A dependent clause needs an independent clause to make a full sentence.
  • Words like because, if, when, and although often start dependent clauses.

Understanding these clauses will help you write better sentences and understand texts more clearly. Keep practising by finding clauses in your reading and writing!

20 Examination-Style Questions with Answers on Dependent and Independent Clauses 📝

Identify Dependent and Independent Clauses – Year 6 English 📖

Here are 20 examination-style questions to help Year 6 students practise identifying dependent and independent clauses. Each question requires you to decide which clauses are dependent or independent. The answers are provided after each question to check your understanding.

Questions ❓

  1. Identify the independent clause in this sentence:
    When the bell rang, the children left the classroom.
  2. Is the following clause independent or dependent?
    Because it was raining
  3. Find the dependent clause:
    I enjoyed the movie because it was exciting.
  4. Decide if this is an independent clause:
    He ran to catch the bus.
  5. Which part of the sentence is dependent?
    If you finish your homework, you can watch TV.
  6. Is this clause independent or dependent?
    Although she was tired
  7. Identify the independent clause:
    We went to the park after lunch.
  8. Is the clause dependent or independent?
    While they were playing football
  9. Find the independent clause:
    Since it was late, we decided to go home.
  10. Is this an independent clause?
    The dog barked loudly.
  11. Which is the dependent clause?
    After the show ended, the audience applauded.
  12. Decide if this clause is dependent or independent:
    Because I was hungry
  13. Identify the independent clause:
    She was happy because she passed the test.
  14. Is this clause dependent or independent?
    When the rain stopped
  15. Choose the independent clause in the sentence:
    If you study hard, you will do well.
  16. Is the following an independent clause?
    They visited the museum.
  17. Find the dependent clause:
    Before the school started, the teachers prepared the classrooms.
  18. Is this clause independent or dependent?
    While the baby was sleeping
  19. Identify the independent clause:
    I will call you when I arrive.
  20. Choose the dependent clause:
    After we finished dinner, we cleaned the kitchen.

Answers ✔️

  1. Independent clause: the children left the classroom
  2. Dependent clause
  3. Dependent clause: because it was exciting
  4. Independent clause
  5. Dependent clause: If you finish your homework
  6. Dependent clause
  7. Independent clause: We went to the park after lunch
  8. Dependent clause
  9. Independent clause: we decided to go home
  10. Independent clause
  11. Dependent clause: After the show ended
  12. Dependent clause
  13. Independent clause: She was happy
  14. Dependent clause
  15. Independent clause: you will do well
  16. Independent clause
  17. Dependent clause: Before the school started
  18. Dependent clause
  19. Independent clause: I will call you
  20. Dependent clause: After we finished dinner

Keep practising identifying these clauses by looking for the complete thought (independent clause) and the part that depends on it (dependent clause)! 🎉