Master The Independent Clause Quiz

1. Every independent clause must have both a subject and a verb (predicate).

True

False

Without both a subject and a verb, the group of words is not a complete clause.

Explanation

Without both a subject and a verb, the group of words is not a complete clause.

2. What is an independent clause?

A group of words with no verb at all

A group of words that cannot stand alone

A group of words with a subject and predicate that expresses a complete thought

A question that always starts with a question word

An independent clause has both a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a sentence.

Explanation

An independent clause has both a subject and a predicate and can stand alone as a sentence.

3. An independent clause expresses a complete thought.

True

False

A complete thought is what makes an independent clause able to stand alone as a sentence.

Explanation

A complete thought is what makes an independent clause able to stand alone as a sentence.

4. A simple sentence is made up of one independent clause.

True

False

By definition, a simple sentence has one independent clause and no dependent clauses.

Explanation

By definition, a simple sentence has one independent clause and no dependent clauses.

5. Which group of words is an independent clause?

Running down the street

While the rain poured

The rain poured all night.

After the rain poured all night

‘The rain poured all night.’ is complete and has both a subject and a verb.

Explanation

‘The rain poured all night.’ is complete and has both a subject and a verb.

6. Which sentence is a fragment and NOT an independent clause?

The sun set behind the mountains.

They walked to the park.

Because they walked to the park.

The baby slept all afternoon.

‘Because they walked to the park.’ leaves the idea unfinished, so it is not a complete thought.

Explanation

‘Because they walked to the park.’ leaves the idea unfinished, so it is not a complete thought.

7. The clause 'She ran to the store.' is an example of an __________ clause.

It is a complete sentence with a subject and a verb, so it is independent.

Explanation

It is a complete sentence with a subject and a verb, so it is independent.

Submit

8. A phrase and an independent clause mean the same thing.

True

False

A phrase does not have both a subject and a verb, while an independent clause does.

Explanation

A phrase does not have both a subject and a verb, while an independent clause does.

9. Which change turns the fragment 'When the storm ended' into an independent clause?

When ended

The storm ended.

Ended the storm.

Storm when ended.

‘The storm ended.’ has a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.

Explanation

‘The storm ended.’ has a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.

10. A group of words with a subject and predicate that can stand alone as a sentence is called an __________ clause.

An independent clause is a complete sentence by itself.

Explanation

An independent clause is a complete sentence by itself.

Submit

11. A dependent clause can stand alone as a sentence just like an independent clause.

True

False

A dependent clause needs more information and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

Explanation

A dependent clause needs more information and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

12. What happens to 'Because she was late' if we remove 'Because' and write 'She was late'?

It becomes a phrase with no verb.

It becomes an independent clause.

It becomes a question.

It is no longer a sentence.

‘She was late’ can stand alone as a complete sentence, so it is an independent clause.

Explanation

‘She was late’ can stand alone as a complete sentence, so it is an independent clause.

13. Which of these is an independent clause?

Because the game was exciting

After the bell rang

She ran to the store.

When the rain stopped

‘She ran to the store.’ has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

Explanation

‘She ran to the store.’ has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

14. An independent clause can stand ______ as a complete sentence.

We say it can stand alone, meaning it does not need another clause to make sense.

Explanation

We say it can stand alone, meaning it does not need another clause to make sense.

Submit

15. In the sentence 'When the bell rang, the students left the classroom,' which part is the independent clause?

When the bell rang,

The students

The students left the classroom

When the bell rang, the students

‘The students left the classroom’ has a subject and verb and can stand alone.

Explanation

‘The students left the classroom’ has a subject and verb and can stand alone.

16. The clause 'Because it was raining' is a __________ clause, not an independent clause.

It begins with 'because' and cannot stand alone, so it is dependent.

Explanation

It begins with 'because' and cannot stand alone, so it is dependent.

Submit

17. Which of the following are independent clauses?

The dog barked loudly.

While the dog barked loudly

I finished my homework.

If we have time after school

They laughed at the joke.

A, C, and E each have a subject and verb and make sense on their own.

Explanation

A, C, and E each have a subject and verb and make sense on their own.

Submit

18. In the sentence 'I finished my homework, and I went to bed,' which parts are independent clauses?

I finished my homework

And

I went to bed

My homework

Went to bed

Both A and C are complete thoughts with subjects and verbs.

Explanation

Both A and C are complete thoughts with subjects and verbs.

Submit

19. Which of these are sentence fragments (NOT independent clauses)?

Because the movie was funny

If you finish your homework

While we were eating dinner

We watched a movie together.

The cat chased the mouse.

A, B, and C all leave the idea unfinished and cannot stand alone.

Explanation

A, B, and C all leave the idea unfinished and cannot stand alone.

Submit

20. Which examples correctly describe an independent clause?

It has a subject.

It has a verb (predicate).

It cannot stand alone.

It expresses a complete thought.

It can stand alone as a sentence.

An independent clause must have a subject and verb, express a complete thought, and be able to stand alone.

Explanation

An independent clause must have a subject and verb, express a complete thought, and be able to stand alone.

Submit

Master the Independent Clause Quiz

1. Every independent clause must have both a subject and a verb (predicate).

2. What is an independent clause?

3. An independent clause expresses a complete thought.

4. A simple sentence is made up of one independent clause.

5. Which group of words is an independent clause?

6. Which sentence is a fragment and NOT an independent clause?

7. The clause 'She ran to the store.' is an example of an __________ clause.

8. A phrase and an independent clause mean the same thing.

9. Which change turns the fragment 'When the storm ended' into an independent clause?

10. A group of words with a subject and predicate that can stand alone as a sentence is called an __________ clause.

11. A dependent clause can stand alone as a sentence just like an independent clause.

12. What happens to 'Because she was late' if we remove 'Because' and write 'She was late'?

13. Which of these is an independent clause?

14. An independent clause can stand ______ as a complete sentence.

15. In the sentence 'When the bell rang, the students left the classroom,' which part is the independent clause?

16. The clause 'Because it was raining' is a __________ clause, not an independent clause.

17. Which of the following are independent clauses?

18. In the sentence 'I finished my homework, and I went to bed,' which parts are independent clauses?

19. Which of these are sentence fragments (NOT independent clauses)?

20. Which examples correctly describe an independent clause?