The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Of course. Here is the correct categorization for each clause, followed by a detailed explanation.
Correct Answer
Independent Clauses
- the cat’s toy is lost
- Steven will finish it
Dependent Clauses
- if it rains later
- when the party begins
- since Lena has a new blog
- because Keisha is busy
Explanation
To correctly categorize these clauses, it is important to understand the fundamental difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause.
An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. It can stand by itself as a complete sentence. For example, “the cat’s toy is lost” has a subject (“the cat’s toy”) and a verb (“is lost”), and it conveys a full idea. You do not need any more information to understand the core message. The same is true for “Steven will finish it.” This clause has a subject (“Steven”) and a verb (“will finish”), and it makes a complete statement.
A dependent clause, also known as a subordinate clause, also contains a subject and a verb, but it does not express a complete thought. It cannot stand alone as a sentence because it begins with a subordinating conjunction, a word that makes the clause reliant on an independent clause to complete its meaning.
In this exercise, the clauses “if it rains later,” “when the party begins,” “since Lena has a new blog,” and “because Keisha is busy” are all dependent. They start with the subordinating conjunctions “if,” “when,” “since,” and “because.” These words create a question in the reader’s mind. For instance, “if it rains later” leaves you wondering what will happen. “Because Keisha is busy” provides a reason, but the outcome is missing. These clauses must be attached to an independent clause to form a logical and complete sentence, such as “We will cancel the picnic if it rains later” or “I will do it myself because Keisha is busy.”
