Independent and Subordinate Clauses

What They Are and How to Use Them

a subject

and

a predicate?

Do you remember the difference between

Identify the subject and predicate in this

sentence:

Mary decided to go home after school.

Mary

Mary / decided to go home after school.

Mary is the subject of the sentence becausethe sentence is describing something Mary did.

Decided to go home after school is the predicatebecause it describes what it is that Mary did.

Divide the sentence into these parts:

So…

If you can find the subject and predicate of a sentencethen you should have no trouble picking out the clause of the sentence.

A sentence clause is a group of words containing a subject and a predicate and is used as a part of a sentence.

There are two main types of clauses…

No! Not this kind of Claus!.

.

These types of clauses:

Independent

and

Subordinate

An independent clause can stand alone if removed from the sentence.

Example of two independent clauses:Mary went straight to the bus stop after school, butshe forgot to take her homework with her.

Mary went straight to the bus stop after school, butshe forgot to take her homework with her.

and

When by itself an independent clause becomes a simple sentence.

A subordinate clause has a subject and a verb but cannot stand by itself as a complete sentence. It is only part of a sentence.

A subordinate clause is always combined in some waywith an independent clause. look for subordinate conjunctions( key words) when, which, as, while, since, because, who…

When she finally reached home, Mary remembered that herhomework was in her desk at school.

The subordinate clause in red cannot stand by itselfwithout the independent clause after the comma.

:

Can you identify the independent clauses in these sentences?

Mary called Bob, and he gave her the next day’s homeworkassignment.

Independent Clause #1: Mary called Bob

Independent Clause #2: he gave her the next day’shomework assignment

Note how these clauses can be sentences all on their own.

Can you identify the independent and subordinate clauses in these sentences?

After Mary finished her homework, she ate dinner.

Independent Clause: she ate dinner

Subordinate Clause: After Mary finished her homework(subordinate conjunction is after)

Subordinate Clause + Independent Clause=Complex Sentence

I decided to make hamburgers for dinner which everyone in the family enjoys.

Another Example:

Independent clause?

I decided to make hamburgers for dinner

Subordinate clause?

which everyone in the family enjoys(subordinate conjunction is which)

Identifying Independent and Subordinate Clauses

1. When mountain biking began in California2. Although regular bikes did not work very well3. Riders made their own bikes for their special needs.4. Mountain bikes are made of strong, light metals.5. Cyclists ride6. After I conquered beginners slopes, I took on the

higher slopes

Practice

1. Until you change those strings, your banjo won’t sound very good.2. Bring your backpack when you come to school today.3. When my Grandmother was young, she listened to Frank Sinatra records.4. Write about your experience while it is still fresh in your mind.5. Miss Kitty is in bed because she has a fever.6. After they finished studying, Juan and Maria went to the movies.6.Because they have a test tomorrow, the students are studying.7. Juan and Marie went to the movies after they finished studying.