Independent clauses and dependent clauses are used in everyday language to create complex sentences that convey more detailed and nuanced meaning. Here are some examples of how independent clauses and dependent clauses can be used in daily conversation:

  • Independent clause: “I’m going to the store.”
  • Dependent clause: “because I need to buy milk.”
  • Complete sentence: “I’m going to the store because I need to buy milk.”
  • Independent clause: “She finished her homework.”
  • Dependent clause: “although she was tired.”
  • Complete sentence: “She finished her homework although she was tired.”
  • Independent clause: “We went to the beach.”
  • Dependent clause: “if it doesn’t rain.”
  • Complete sentence: “We will go to the beach if it doesn’t rain.”
  • Independent clause: “He called me.”
  • Dependent clause: “after he saw the movie.”
  • Complete sentence: “He called me after he saw the movie.”
  • Independent clause: “They are coming over.”
  • Dependent clause: “when they finish work.”
  • Complete sentence: “They are coming over when they finish work.”

FAQ

  1. What is a phrase? A phrase is a group of words that does not contain a subject and verb and does not express a complete thought. A phrase is not a complete sentence and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
  2. What is an independent clause? An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and can stand on its own as a complete sentence.
  3. What is a dependent clause? A dependent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence. A dependent clause is dependent on an independent clause to form a complete sentence.
  4. How can an independent clause and a dependent clause be combined to form a complete sentence? An independent clause and a dependent clause can be combined by using a conjunction, such as “because,” “if,” or “when.” For example: “I eat pizza because I am hungry.” In this sentence, “I eat pizza” is the independent clause and “because I am hungry” is the dependent clause.
  5. What is the difference between a phrase and a clause? A clause contains a subject and a verb, while a phrase does not. A clause can stand on its own as a sentence, while a phrase cannot. A dependent clause cannot stand on its own as a sentence and is dependent on an independent clause to form a complete sentence, while a phrase is not a sentence and does not require an independent clause to be complete.

Sample Test Questions

Here are some sample test questions about phrases, independent clauses, and dependent clauses:

  1. Identify the noun phrase in the following sentence: “The tall man with the big hat walked down the street.”
  2. Identify the verb phrase in the following sentence: “I have been waiting for you for hours.”
  3. Identify the prepositional phrase in the following sentence: “She put the book on the table.”
  4. Identify the adjective phrase in the following sentence: “The very happy dog wagged its tail.”
  5. Identify the adverb phrase in the following sentence: “She sings beautifully.”
  6. Identify the independent clause in the following sentence: “I eat pizza because I am hungry.”
  7. Identify the dependent clause in the following sentence: “I eat pizza because I am hungry.”
  8. Rewrite the following sentence as a complex sentence using an independent clause and a dependent clause: “I am going to the store. I need to buy milk.”
  9. Rewrite the following sentence as a complex sentence using an independent clause and a dependent clause: “She finished her homework. She was tired.”
  10. Rewrite the following sentence as a complex sentence using an independent clause and a dependent clause: “We went to the beach. It was sunny.”

Answer

  1. The noun phrase is “The tall man with the big hat.”
  2. The verb phrase is “have been waiting for you for hours.”
  3. The prepositional phrase is “on the table.”
  4. The adjective phrase is “very happy.”
  5. The adverb phrase is “beautifully.”
  6. The independent clause is “I eat pizza.”
  7. The dependent clause is “because I am hungry.”
  8. “I am going to the store because I need to buy milk.”
  9. “She finished her homework although she was tired.”
  10. “We went to the beach when it was sunny.”

Independent Clause And Dependent Clause Worksheet