Independent Vs. Dependent Clauses

First, I’m going to explain what the clause is. Clause is a group of words that must contain a subject and a verb but there are two types of clauses which is independent and dependent clause. I’m going to explain the grammar rules first for Independent clause, for Independent clause you need to have subject and a verb. The sentence should make sense by itself. It should have a complete thought. For dependent clause you also need subject, verb and subordinating conjunctions, however the Independent clause doesn’t have subordinating conjunctions. Dependent clause doesn’t have a complete thought and it doesn’t make sense by itself. For independent clause it has subject (ex: a boy) and verb (ex: runs.) For dependent clause it contains a subject, verb and subordinating conjunctions (ex: whenever, while, unless.) dependent clause usually, goes after and attached to independent clause. We have 3 examples and the first one is “School sucks, unless there’s no homework and tests”. For explanation “School sucks” is independent because it makes sense by itself and “unless there’s no homework and tests” are dependent because it doesn’t make sense by itself and it’s not complete thought. For our second example “I watch Netflix whenever I feel lonely”. For explanation “I watch Netflix “is independent because it makes sense by itself and “whenever I feel lonely” is dependent because it’s incomplete thought. For our third and last example is “Before I go to sleep, I brush my teeth”. For explanation “Before I go to sleep” is dependent because it doesn’t make sense by itself if it doesn’t have independent and “I brush my teeth” is independent because it makes sense by itself and doesn’t need dependent.

English Questions:
Circle when you think the sentence identifies the Independent clause. Underline when the sentence identifies the Dependent clause.
1. If it’s raining, you should take an umbrella.

2. The people in her office didn’t know, so she wants to ask somebody else.

3. I like eating ice cream, unless it’s my favourite flavour.

4. What is the definition of clause?

5. What are the differences between Independent and Dependent Clauses?

Answers:
1. “You should take an umbrella” it’s an independent clause has a subject (you) and there’s a verb (take). “If it’s raining” it’s a dependent clause because it’s incomplete sentence.
2. “The people in her office didn’t know” that is the independent clause. It makes a complete sentence on its own. It has a subject (people), but no verb. “So, she wants to ask somebody” is a dependent clause, because it basically doesn’t make sense by its own.
3. “I like eating ice cream” it’s an Independent clause because it makes sense by itself and it has a subject which is “I” and it has a verb which is “eating”. “Unless it’s my favourite flavour” it’s a Dependent clause because it doesn’t make sense by its own.
4. Clause is a group of words that must contain a subject and a verb, but there are two types of clauses which is Independent and Dependent clauses.
5. Independent clause, it makes a complete thought and makes sense by its own although there’s no explanation of another group of words next to it. Dependent clause is opposite, which means it doesn’t make sense by itself and it’s not a complete thought.