Name:       Date:      

TYPES OF CLAUSES

Declaration of Sentiments
Elizabeth Cady Stanton

A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb. An independent clause
expresses a complete thought and can stand by itself as a complete sentence.
A subordinate, or dependent clause cannot stand by itself as a sentence because
it does not express a complete thought. Subordinate clauses begin with words such
as since, that, until, which, because, although, when, as if, after, unless, before, if,
and as though.
In the following examples, the subjects are underlined, and the verbs are in bold.
Independent the letters were old and dusty [complete thought]
Clause The letters were old and dusty. [stands alone as a
sentence]
Subordinate that Judy found in the attic [incomplete thought]
Clauses if they had been written by her grandfather [incomplete
thought]
when he was courting her grandmother [incomplete
thought]

Each of the following sentences has both an independent clause and a subordinate
clause. The subordinate clauses are in bold.
The letters that Judy found in the attic were old and dusty.
She wondered if they had been written by her grandfather.
When he was courting her grandmother, he had sent her some love letters.

DIRECTIONS: Identify each word group from Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s “Declaration of
Sentiments” by writing IND for independent clause or SUB for subordinate clause.
1.       we hold these truths to be self-evident
2.       which laid its foundation on such principles
3.       after she was deprived of all rights
4.       while he compelled her to submit to laws
5.       since she was left without representation in the halls of legislation
6.       as to what shall be the proper causes
7.       he has created a false public sentiment
8.       we insist that they have immediate admission

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 1. IND
2. SUB
3. SUB
4. SUB
5. SUB
6. SUB
7. IND
8. IND

© by Savvas Learning Company LLC. All Rights Reserved.