1. Understanding Clauses:

• Independent Clause:
  • Definition: A clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence. It expresses a complete thought and contains a subject and a predicate.
  • Characteristics:
    • Contains a subject and a verb
    • Expresses a complete idea
    • Can function as a sentence on its own
  • Example: “She enjoys reading.”
    • Subject: She
    • Predicate: enjoys reading
• Dependent Clause:
  • Definition: A clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It depends on an independent clause to complete its meaning. It provides additional information but is not a complete thought on its own.
  • Characteristics:
    • Contains a subject and a verb
    • Does not express a complete idea
    • Often begins with a subordinating conjunction (because, although, if, when, etc.)
  • Example: “because she enjoys reading”
    • Subject: she
    • Predicate: enjoys reading
    • Subordinating Conjunction: because

2. Identifying Independent Clauses:

• Look For: A clause that has a complete thought and can stand alone.
• Keywords: Often appears as a full sentence on its own.
• Example: “He went to the store.”
  • Subject: He
  • Predicate: went to the store

3. Identifying Dependent Clauses:

• Look For: A clause that cannot stand alone and is often introduced by a subordinating conjunction.
• Keywords: Common subordinating conjunctions include because, although, if, when, since, unless, while.
• Example: “when he went to the store”
  • Subject: he
  • Predicate: went to the store
  • Subordinating Conjunction: when

4. Combining Clauses:

• Independent Clause + Dependent Clause: The dependent clause provides additional information to the independent clause.
• Examples:
  • Independent: “She went to the park.”
  • Dependent: “although it was raining.”
  • Combined: “She went to the park although it was raining.”

5. Examples and Analysis:

• Independent Clauses:
  1. “The sun set.”
     • Subject: The sun
     • Predicate: set
  2. “I will call you.”
     • Subject: I
     • Predicate: will call you
• Dependent Clauses:
  1. “Because the sun set”
     • Subject: the sun
     • Predicate: set
     • Subordinating Conjunction: Because
  2. “If I have time”
     • Subject: I
     • Predicate: have time
     • Subordinating Conjunction: If
• Combined Clauses:
  1. “The sun set because the clouds covered the sky.”
     • Independent Clause: The sun set
     • Dependent Clause: because the clouds covered the sky
  2. “I will call you if I have time.”
     • Independent Clause: I will call you
     • Dependent Clause: if I have time

6. Practice Identifying Clauses:

• Independent Clause: “She reads books.”
• Dependent Clause: “although she is very busy.”
• Combined: “She reads books although she is very busy.”

Let’s practice!