1. NAME_____________________________________ DATE________________________
Clause Assignment
Please answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. What is a clause?
2. What are the two types of clauses?
3. Define each type of clause.
A. Identifying Independent and Dependent Clauses
DIRECTIONS: Read each item to determine the clause or clauses present.
--If an item is a sentence consisting of only one independent clause, write IND on the line.
--If an item is a fragment consisting of only a dependent clause, write DEP on the line.
--If the item is a sentence consisting of both an independent and a dependent clause,
write either IND + DEP or DEP + IND to show the order of the clauses as they are written in
the sentence.
1. Banks pay interest on the money that customers loan them. ______________
2. Although savings accounts pay interest, the rate is usually low. ______________
3. When customers take out loans, they pay the bank higher interest. ______________
4. When my brother started college. ______________
5. While opening a checking account has strict requirements, even children can open savings
accounts. ______________
6. Loretta has had a savings account since she was six years old. ______________
7. Because 4th Street Savings and Loan pays high interest. ______________
8. Some banks encourage savings accounts for young people. ______________
9. Other banks charge fees on accounts that have only a few hundred dollars in them.
______________
10. If you leave money in a savings account for at least six months. ______________
B. Identifying IND & DEP clauses. Underline the independent clause and boldface the
dependent clause.
7. Since Eldon hates airplanes, he’ll probably take the train.
8. If you see Rita, please tell her to return my lunchbox that she borrowed last week.
9. Someone forgot to water the roses that grow in the side yard.
10. Wherever you go, you’ll find interesting people.

2. 11. Although the farmer is ready, the ground is still too wet to plow.
12. Most teenagers get an allowance that they can spend however they choose.
13. Some teens spend the money on clothing and other items that they need.
14. Others spend it carelessly on things that are soon thrown away.
15. While in France, Claire saw the Eiffel Tower.
16. The roads were slippery when the snow fell.
17. If you leave money in a savings account for six months, you’ll be surprised at how much
you saved.
18. Loretta has had a savings account since she was six years old.
C. Writing Sentences with Dependent and Independent Clauses.
DIRECTIONS: Write nine sentences total using the criteria below.
a) 3 with only 1 IND clause
b) 3 with 1 IND clause & 1 DEP clause with the IND clause coming first in the sentence
c) 3 with 1 IND clause & 1 DEP clause with the DEP clause coming first in the sentence