In the following sentence, which is the dependent clause? We played a game while we waited, and then we had dinner.

Rationale

While we waited is the dependent clause.

A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and relies on an independent clause for its meaning. In the given sentence, "while we waited" provides additional information about the timing of the game but does not form a complete thought by itself.

A (we played) YOUR ANSWER

This phrase is part of the independent clause and serves as the main action of the sentence. It can stand alone as a complete sentence ("We played."), indicating that it does not qualify as a dependent clause.

B (then we had dinner) YOUR ANSWER

Similar to option A, this phrase is also part of the independent clause. It presents a complete thought that can stand alone ("Then we had dinner."), thus failing to meet the criteria for a dependent clause.

C (while we waited) CORRECT

This is indeed the dependent clause of the sentence. It provides context to the main action but cannot function independently. The phrase requires an independent clause to convey a full meaning, making it the correct choice.

D (a game) YOUR ANSWER

This phrase serves as the object of the independent clause "we played," making it a noun phrase. It does not present any action or provide additional context, so it cannot be classified as a dependent clause.

Conclusion

In the sentence provided, the dependent clause "while we waited" enhances the meaning by indicating when the action of playing the game occurred, but it cannot stand alone. The other options represent independent clauses or phrases that do not depend on additional information to convey their meaning. Understanding the distinction between dependent and independent clauses is crucial for proper sentence structure and clarity in writing.

In the following sentence, which is the dependent clause? We played a game while we waited, and then we had dinner.

While we waited is the dependent clause.

Related Questions

Related Quizzes

How familiar were you with this question?

Report an Issue

Rate this Practice Test