The McGraw-Hill Handbook                  Ex. 4.13 pages 118—119

Identifying Clauses

 Remember:   

A clause is a group of words and contains a subject and verb pattern. 
Clauses that make sense and can stand by themselves are independent clauses.
Clauses that sound as if they are parts of a larger piece and cannot stand by themselves are dependent clauses.
Dependent clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions.
Dependent clauses function as adjectives, adverbs or nouns.
All sentences must contain at least one independent clause. 
Not all sentences have dependent clauses.
  1. Before she set out on the Appalachian Trail, she had to buy a good backpack.  

Independent clause: she had to buy a good backpack.  
Dependent clause: Before she set out on the Appalachian Trail  

  1. A retrospective of Georges Seurat’s life was presented to the American public on the centenary of the artist’s death.  

            Independent clause: A retrospective of Georges Seurat’s life was presented to the
                                          American public on the centenary of the artist’s death.  
             Dependent clause: none  

  1. Although Hollywood remains the film capital, New York City’s Upper East Side and Greenwich Village have provided memorable settings for several important movies.  

Independent clause: N. Y. C. …have provided memorable settings for several important movies.  
Dependent clause: Although Hollywood remains the film capital  

  1. When knighthood was in flower, life was bloody and short.  

Independent clause: life was bloody and short  
Dependent clause: When knighthood was in flower  

  1. Women now do many things that society prevented them from doing not long ago.  

Independent clause: Women now do many things  
Dependent clause: that society prevented them from doing not long ago  

  1. In college football, the running game is more important than it is in professional football.  

Independent clause: In college football, the running game is more important  
Dependent clause: than it is in professional football  

  1. A joyous feature of modern American music is New Orleans polyphony, which is the blare and howl of a marching band’s horns along with vibrant drum rhythms.  

Independent clause: A joyous feature of modern American music is New Orleans polyphony
Dependent clause: which is the blare and howl of a marching band’s horns along with vibrant drum rhythms.  

  1. The state of Texas has decided that high school athletes must pass all their academic work if they are to play sports.  

Independent clause: The state of Texas has decided  
Dependent clause: that high school athletes must pass all their academic work  
Dependent clause: if they are to play sports.  

  1. George Armstrong Custer and the Seventh Cavalry perished because they attacked a village where thousands of Indians were ready to fight.  

Independent clause: George Armstrong Custer and the Seventh Cavalry perished  
Dependent clause: because they attacked a village  
Dependent clause: where thousands of Indians were ready to fight.  

  1. Medical evidence has been building up for years to prove that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer and heart disease.  

            Independent clause: Medical evidence has been building up for years to prove
            Dependent clause: that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer and heart disease.

 

Return to the English 24 website.

Return to The McGraw-Hill Handbook Answer Index.

Return to The McGraw-Hill Workbook Answer Index.