Name: _________________________

Dependent and Independent Clauses

Independent Clause-

An independent clause is a group of words that contains ______________________________ and expresses a ______________________________. An independent clause is a ______________________________.

Example: Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz.

Dependent Clause-

A dependent clause is a group of words that contains ______________________________ but does not express a complete thought. A dependent clause ______________________________. Often a dependent clause is marked by ______________________________ or ______________________________.

Example: When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz . . . (What happened when he studied? The thought is incomplete.)

Dependent Marker Word-

A dependent marker word is a word ______________________________ of an independent clause that makes it into a dependent clause.

Example: When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz, it was very noisy.

Some common dependent markers are: after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order to, since, though, unless, until, whatever, when, whenever, whether, and while.

Participles-

Participles are verb forms that ______________________________.  Participles do not function as ______________________________ of a sentence.

Example: Studying in the Sweet Shop, Jim was distracted from his chemistry notes.

Identifying Dependent and Independent Clauses

Mark each clause in the following sentences with an D for a dependent clause and an I for an independent clause.

1. I've applied for three jobs, hoping to get one.
2. Whenever she's nervous, she bites her nails.
3. Moving quickly up the field, Roberto was in a position to score.
4. Since we all pitched in to help, it didn't take long at all.
5. We'll go as soon as I'm off the phone.
6. I have many computer skills, but my sister is the real expert.
7. That's Carla, whose brother is a famous actor.
8. I drank the whole pitcher of lemonade that she made.
9. Although they should know better, many students smoke.
10. Racing around the track, Sally headed for the finish line.
11. You should allow extra time, in case there's traffic.
12. Before you leave, would you please shut the windows?
13. I stood at the window, but I didn't see him.
14. Julie is determined to climb Yosemite's Half Dome although she is afraid of heights.
15. Don't bother to call me on Thursday nights because I'll be watching Survivor.
16. Proofreading his resume one last time, Antonio discovered a spelling error.
17. If you do the laundry, I'll mow the lawn.
18. As long as you're up, will you let the cat outside?
19. If I had a job like yours, I'd quit.

Complete the Sentence

The following are dependent clauses, but they are not paired with independent clauses.  Therefore, they are not complete sentences.  Complete the following sentences, but adding an independent clause.

20. Even if I ace the final exam, ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________.
21. Unless the hurricane changes its current course, _______________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________.
22. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ where you left it last night.
23. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ until it stops raining.
24. Though Megan is shy, _____________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________.
25. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ as if I knew nothing about computers.