Independent vs.

Dependent Clauses

Objective: I can label clauses as dependent or

independent in order to confirm if a sentence
is complete and correctly punctuated.
Review CLAUSE
● Subject AND predicate
● Two types: independent and dependent

INDEPENDENT CLAUSE
● Can stand alone; it expresses a complete
thought
● Ex: We ate an entire pizza.

DEPENDENT CLAUSE
● Can NOT stand alone
● Contains a subordinating conjunction (a.k.a.
“AAAWWUBBIS word”)
● It feels incomplete, like it “leaves you hanging”
● Dependent clauses MUST be revised; either
remove the AAAWWUBBIS word or add another
clause.
● Ex: Because we ate an entire pizza
AAAWWUBBIS
...ruins a perfectly good clause
and makes it dependent!
Although, After, As, When, While,
Until, Before, Because, If, Since
Although we were tired, we still kept playing.
After the game, we ate an entire pizza.
As the timer ran out, she scored one more point.
When you leave, turn the lights off.
While you were napping, I mowed the lawn.
Until your grades improve, I’m taking your video games.
Before the game starts, please finish your homework.
Because I was late, the game didn’t start on time.
If you don’t want one, you should politely pass the plate.
Since you asked nicely, you can have candy.
Yes, you should memorize these 10+ words!
MEMORY TRICK!
Zombies/monsters metaphor:
once a sentence is bitten by the
AAAWWUBBIS monster, it
becomes dependent!
Although, After, As, When, While,
Until, Before, Because, If, Since
Although we were tired, we still kept playing.
After the game, we ate an entire pizza.
As the timer ran out, she scored one more point.
When you leave, turn the lights off.
While you were napping, I mowed the lawn.
Until your grades improve, I’m taking your video games.
Before the game starts, please finish your homework.
Because I was late, the game didn’t start on time.
If you don’t want one, you should politely pass the plate.
Since you asked nicely, you can have candy.
Yes, you should memorize these 10+ words!
 1. Avoiding fragments

Who cares? a.
b.
Fragment: Because I was tired
Complete: I was tired

1.
WE CARE, for three reasons:
1. Avoiding fragments
2. Comma placement
3. Preventing run-ons
4. *Sentence Types*
Comma placement
a. Dependent, independent.
i. Ex: If you run, the dog will chase you.
b. Inde, dependent, pendent.
i. Ex: My teacher, who loves pizza, ate a calzone.
c. Independent dependent.
i. Ex: I will help you because you asked nicely.

1. Preventing run-ons
a. Not a run-on: Because you are so kind, I will help you.
b. RUN-ON: You are so kind, I will help you.

1. Sentence Types
a. Complex sentences :)
Practice Dependent or Independent?

1. Dep/Ind: If you want my opinion

2. Dep/Ind: He told you not to
3. Dep/Ind: Because I said so
4. Dep/Ind: Only the referee knows
5. Dep/Ind: Until the clock stops

Correct or incorrect?

1. Before we parked, we paid the meter.

2. Brutus, who is enthusiastic, drank too much coffee.
3. I want you to study because this is on the test.
Practice (Answers) Dependent or Independent?

1. Dep/Ind: If you want my opinion

2. Dep/Ind: He told you not to
3. Dep/Ind: Because I said so
4. Dep/Ind: Only the referee knows
5. Dep/Ind: Until the clock stops

Correct or incorrect? All correct

1. Before we parked, we paid the meter.

2. Brutus, who is enthusiastic, drank too much coffee.
3. I want you to study because this is on the test.