Use these Independent Clauses practice questions to review how to identify complete thoughts, dependent clauses, phrases, and sentence fragments. After answering each question, open the explanation to see why the correct answer is an independent clause.
Independent Clauses Topics Covered
- Independent clauses
- Dependent clauses
- Subordinating conjunctions
- Relative clauses
- Prepositional phrases
- Compound sentences
- Imperative sentences
- Subjects and predicates
- Sentence fragments
Identifying Independent Clauses Practice Questions
Select the answer choice that identifies the independent clause in each sentence.
- The rest of the group already had left
- By the time that he arrived at the house
- That he arrived at the house
- The rest of the group
Show Answer
Answer: A. The rest of the group already had left
An independent clause has a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
The rest of the group already had left can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Choice B is dependent because it begins with By the time that. Choice C is dependent because it begins with That. Choice D is only a noun phrase, not a full clause.
- If it is raining
- You should take
- An umbrella
- You should take an umbrella
Show Answer
Answer: D. You should take an umbrella
You should take an umbrella has a subject, a verb phrase, and a complete thought.
If it is raining is a dependent clause because it begins with the subordinating conjunction if. Choice B is incomplete because take needs an object. Choice C is a noun phrase, not a clause.
- When you go
- Be sure to bring sunscreen
- To the beach
- When you go to the beach
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Answer: B. Be sure to bring sunscreen
Be sure to bring sunscreen is an imperative sentence. In an imperative sentence, the subject you is understood even when it is not written.
The clause can stand alone as a complete command: Be sure to bring sunscreen.
Choices A and D are dependent clauses because they begin with When. Choice C is a prepositional phrase.
- I know that you
- You still are
- I know
- Waiting
Show Answer
Answer: C. I know
I know is an independent clause because it has a subject and verb and can stand alone as a complete sentence.
The longer sentence also includes the dependent clause that you still are waiting. The word that makes the clause dependent on I know.
Choice A mixes the independent clause with part of the dependent clause. Choice B is not the complete idea from the sentence. Choice D is only a verb form.
- This painting is a work
- That has endured
- For many centuries
- A work that has endured
Show Answer
Answer: A. This painting is a work
This painting is a work is an independent clause because it has a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
That has endured is a dependent relative clause. It describes work but cannot stand alone. For many centuries is a prepositional phrase. Choice D is a noun phrase with a dependent clause attached.
- She is a lovely person
- I have always liked her
- Both answers A and B
- Person; I have always
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Answer: C. Both answers A and B
Both She is a lovely person and I have always liked her are independent clauses.
Each clause has a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. The semicolon correctly joins the two closely related independent clauses.
Choice D is not an independent clause because it does not contain a complete thought.
- After the Korean War began
- I was born
- Before it ended
- But before it ended
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Answer: B. I was born
I was born is an independent clause because it can stand alone as a complete sentence.
After the Korean War began and before it ended are dependent clauses. They give time information but cannot stand alone as complete sentences in this context.
- The people in her office
- To ask somebody else
- So she went to ask somebody else
- The people in her office did not know
Show Answer
Answer: D. The people in her office did not know
The people in her office did not know is an independent clause because it has a subject, a verb phrase, and a complete thought.
Choice A is only a noun phrase. Choice B is an infinitive phrase. Choice C includes the coordinating conjunction so, which connects the second idea to the first.
The independent clause inside choice C is she went to ask somebody else, but that exact clause is not one of the answer choices.
- Allen, Pat, and John
- Doris, Shirley, and I
- And Doris, Shirley, and I met them there
- Allen, Pat, and John went together
Show Answer
Answer: D. Allen, Pat, and John went together
Allen, Pat, and John went together is an independent clause because it has a compound subject, a verb, and a complete thought.
Choices A and B are compound noun phrases, not clauses. Choice C includes the coordinating conjunction and, which connects the second independent clause to the first.
The sentence contains two independent clauses: Allen, Pat, and John went together and Doris, Shirley, and I met them there.
- You will need some basic art supplies
- A sketch pad and pencils
- For example, a sketch pad and pencils
- Some basic art supplies, for example
Show Answer
Answer: A. You will need some basic art supplies
You will need some basic art supplies is an independent clause because it has a subject, a verb phrase, and a complete thought.
Choices B, C, and D are phrases. They do not contain both a subject and a complete predicate.
How to Use These Independent Clauses Practice Questions
Answer each question before opening the explanation. Then compare your answer with the rule described in the solution.
If you miss a question, check whether the answer choice can stand alone as a complete sentence. An independent clause must have a subject, a verb, and a complete thought. A phrase or dependent clause may contain useful information, but it cannot stand alone as a sentence.