Question

Which sentences contain dependent clauses? Select two options. Jaime showed me how to throw a curveball. Alyssa is graduating next year, and so is my sister. I always wondered how Tijen managed to win the race. Barges are slow-moving vessels mostly used to move freight. We're leaving soon, so you'd better hurry if you want to go with us.

Answer 1

A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It can be an independent clause which in itself has meaning, expresses complete thought, the dependent clause does not express complete thought and can not be a sentence, it can not stand alone. If we apply this to the options offered, we can conclude that sentences with a dependent clause are the second and fifth. In the second sentence, the dependent clause is "and so is my sister", which in itself has no thought without the first part of the sentence. In the fifth sentence, the dependent clause is "so you better hurry if you want to go with us" is also a condition, a clause to take action.

Answer 2

A dependent clause,  as its name suggests, is subordinated to another clause. The easiest way to identify this type of complex sentences is by the use of a comma. However, the effectiveness of juxtaposed sentences relies on the amount of additional information we obtain from them. The options that contain dependent sentences are the second and the fifth ones. In the fifth sentence, the advice is to hurry, otherwise the action of going cannot take place. The action is conditioned to a situation stated, the way we are informed is through the details we get from the dependent clause.