A dependent

An independent
clause is
clause can stand
dependent or
subordinate to Sentence Structure by itself
the main clause

Look at the sentences provided by COCA. Label the highlighted phrases as either
independent (INDEP) or dependent clauses (DEP), then label the sentences as
either simple (S), compound (CD), or complex (CX).

1. The night before she was last seen, she called her mother from the grocery store,
saying that she was picking up ingredients for fish tacos.

2. To be honest, I love tacos so much I would be in that line if it were a Taco Bell
concession stand, but the Asian twist makes it all the more special (if that's really
possible).

3. They would move to Mexico, eat beef tacos and avocado, and develop a tolerance
for the water together.

4. You turned away and rode your bike back to Lajes, passing a few children on
donkeys as you were passed by a few droning cars disappearing into the hills and
bends of the winding road.

5. Within days he packed a suitcase, an ice chest, and his black lab mix, Maya, and
drove across the country.

6. The young bull taunter with the thick black mustache was smiling with the corners of
his eyes at your wife, who was throwing back her head in laughter while touching his
arm from the across the table.

7. From a Motel 6 he made daily excursions into the unfamiliar landscape, living off
ham-and-cheese tortilla wraps.

8. The' 80s were great. The' 90s were even better. But the' 00s so far have been pretty
much a dud.

Using the sentences below, construct the indicated phrases.

Example: Who ate all the leftovers? (Adjective Phrase) Who ate all the leftovers
that were in the refrigerator?
9. The cat climbed the tree. (Prepositional Phrase)
10. She left yesterday for Colorado. (Adjective Phrase)

11. We want to leave. (Adverb Phrase)

12. He started…(Infinitive Phrase)

13. I like…(Gerund Phrase)

Compare the Spanish sentence to their English counterparts. What are the main
differences between the phrases? Write your observations and compare them
with a partner.

17. Enseño inglés.

18. No enseño inglés.

19. Inglés enseño yo.

20. I teach English.

21. I do not teach English.

22. English teach I*.

Translations Traducciones
You will need to translate the Spanish questions to English and the English
questions to Spanish. Write down your translation and ask your partner your
TRANSLATED version of the question. Record your partner’s responses as
well as your translations on the lines provided. Keep in mind that literal
translations will not work.

1. ¿Estás de acuerdo con la idea de que la universidad es importante atender?

¿Por qué?
Your Translation:

Partner’s Response:

2. ¿Tienes hambre? ¿Si tienes hambre, qué quieres comer? ¿Si no tienes hambre,
qué es tu comida preferida?
Your Translation:

Partner’s Response:

3. ¿Tienes ganas de comer comida china después de la clase?

Your Translation:

Partner’s Response:

4. ¿En qué momentos tienes prisa?

Your Translation:

Partner’s Response:

5. ¿A qué le tienes miedo?

 Your Translation:

Partner’s Response:

6. ¿Qué significa éxito para ti? ¿Como vas a tener éxito?

Your Translation:

Partner’s Response:

7. How old will you be in 2025?

Your Translation:

Partner’s Response:

8. When things don’t go well, who do you blame? Yourself, the situation, or others?
Whom is to blame generally?
Your Translation:

Partner’s Response:

9. Are you bored? Is it because the class is boring?

Your Translation:

Partner’s Response:

10. It’s time to eat now. Did you eat already?

Your Translation:

Partner’s Response:

11. Are you careful walking alone at night?

 Your Translation:

Partner’s Response:

12. Is there a profession you would like to pursue? What would you like to be?
Your Translation:

Partner’s Response: