WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SANTA CLAUSE

Dependent Clause Independent Clause

- A group of words that contain a - A group of words that contain a
subject and a predicate (noun and subject and predicate (noun and
verb) verb)

- Is not a complete thought - Is a complete thought

- Can not stand alone - Can stand alone (be a sentence by

itself)
Dependent Clauses often have:

 Marker words

while when although

whenever whether before
since after if
unless until as

Example: Example:

Since I was up all night singing I couldn’t do my homework.

 WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SANTA CLAUSE

Complex Sentence

Dependent Independent
Clause Clause

,
** When a sentence starts with a dependent clause, the
clauses are separated with a comma. **

OR

Independent Dependent
Clause Clause